Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-07-01
Captured
BY CoDvicts

Copyright, 1902, by H. L. Harold.1
We had discharged our cargo at
Georgetown from the brig Albatross
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 a yawl.
Three days later and 100 miles to the
south our lookout sighted the craft and
her convict crew. In quarter Of an
hour the yawl lay off our port bow
within speaking distance.
Hello, captain! Our ship went down
off here pointing to the east yesterday
afternoon. We have neither food nor
drink, and we ask you, in the name Of
humanity, to supply u.s."
81 have nothing to spare, and warn
you to keep off, shouted the captain
| in answer to 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, five 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 fierce
yell from every convict, and those with
muskets opened fire. Captain Rothsay
was killed and the second mate wound
| ed 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-
victs while they were trying to board.
AS chief officer 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: e5
1--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. If 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 was allowed to choose a mate
from among my men. After that a
council was held among the eight Of US
as to what place should be steered for.
/ brought them the charts from the
cabin, and after long debate it was
decided to run for the Amazon river.
From the very first 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 men were separated,
and two Of the convicts were kept I'M
der arms to act as sentrieS. 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 it was the sixth day after our cap
| ture before we drew in with the coast.
Morans orders were to avoid Para by
entering the north mouth, and when
we were fairly in the river he told me
| their plans. I was to take them in the
brig up as far as the mouth of the
Xingu 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 to come to anchor for
| want of a breeze. About the time we
| anchored the demeanOr of the convicts
seemed to change for the worse. 1t
appeared as If three or four Of them
were anxious to pick quarrel with
our men. That evening the second
mate found opportunity to say to me:
depend upon it, Mr.. Lenox, they
never meant to stand by their bargain.
1 shouldn't be surprised if they were
planning to cut our threats and scuttle
the brig"
l strongly suspected them Of some
evil intention, but nothing came Of it
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 boat, and they were rum
maging about the whole afternoon. At
about 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 sudden and furious
attack. We got possession Of two of
the muskets and were making a good
fight of it, though bound to be beaten in
the end, when a Brazilian gunboat,
| which was On hpr wav nm the river