The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-02-10
Captured
 By CoDvicts


 and were ready to start on our return voyage to Liverpool when the captain was notified that ten French convicts from the penal settlement of Cayenne had escaped to sea in yawL
 Three days later and 120 miles to the south our lookout sighted the craft and her convict crew. In a quarter of an hour the yawl lay on our port bow within speaking distance.
 Hello. captain! Our ship went down on here polntlng to the easo yesterday afternoon We have neither food nor drink. and we ask you. In the name of humanity. to supply us"
 'I have nothing to spare. and I warn you to keep of" shouted the captain in answer Co the request.
 We had seen no arms among them and had supposed them to be without weapons of any sort. To our great sur prise. i've muskets, taken from the guard when they escaped, were sud denly lifted Into view. while four oars dropped Into the water. and the yawl made for our bows. There was a fierce yell from every convict, and those with muskets opened fire. Captain Rothsay was Killed and the second mate wound cd even before they had hooked on. We scalded them with boiling water and fought them with whatever we could lay hold of. but within five min utes the brig was captured We had a foremost hand killed in the fight on deck. and none of us escaped injury. As an offset we killed two of the con vlcts while they were trying to board.
 As chief officer I was asked about our cargo and destination, and on the other hand the leader informed me that they were sorry to interrupt our voyage. but intended to use the brig to make good their escape.
 The first thing was to get rid of the dead bodies. They allowed us to sew them In canvas before they went over board. and then our wounded men were made comfortable. After the burial the leader said to us:
 "we mean you no harm. We are des- perate men and Intend to make our es- cape. After We have been landed in some safe place you may sail away with your brig IT you try to deceive us. we will show you no mercy"
 I was further informed that I must act as captain and navigate the brig, and I was allowed to choose a mate from among my men. After that a council was held among the eight of us as Co what place should be steered for. | brought them the charts from the cabin. and after a long debate it was decided to run for the Amazon river.
 From the very first I had hoped that we might retake the brig. but the con victs would only trust us SO far. The watches were SO divided by order of Moran that our meu were separated, and two of the conyicts were kept un- der arms Co act as sentr1es. Moran and the second mate had quarters aft with me. while all the others berthed forward. All of us were under sur veillance. and no two Of us were ever left alone together While none of them could take the wheel, they kept constant watch on the compass.
 The winds were light and variable, and lt was the sixth day after our cap ture before We drew in with the coast. Moran's orders were to avoid Para by entering the north mouth. and when we were fairly in the river he told me their plans. l was to take them in the brig up as far as the mouth of the Xlngu river. and they then would pull up the stream in the yawl and make for the diamond district. We were not above thirty miles up the river when we were obliged Co come Co anchor for want of breeze. About the time we anchored the demeanor of the convicts seemed to change for the worse. lt appeared as if three or four of them were anxious to pick a quarrel with our men. That evening the second mate found opportunity to say to me:
 Depend upon it. Mir. LenOx, they never meant to stand by their bargain. I shouldn't be surprised If they were planning to cut our threats and scuttle the brig"
 I strongly suspected them of some evil intention, but nothing came of 1t that night. Next morning We had wind and tide in our favor. and at noon, when we anchored again. we had made twenty-five miles. Right away after dinner the yawl was lowered and Moran began to outfit her. Whatever they thought could be made useful was placed in the boaE and they were rum maging about the whole afternoon. At about 6 o'clock Moran ordered all Of the old crew of the brig Into the cabin. Every man of us at once realized that the climax was at hand, and, acting in concert. we made a sudden and furious attack. We got possession of two of the muskets and were making good fight of it. though bound to be beaten in the end. when a Brazilian gunboat which was on her way up the river, sheered alongside of us and had grap- pled on before some of us saw her. Her presence put an end to the fight, Of course. We had two men wounded,
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