The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-02-28
KILLING 4 hUT|AY
Dramatic Incident In the Early
History of Our Navy.
THE PLOT ON The OLD ESSEX
Commodore Porter Got Wind of the
Coaspirac$Just as II Was Ripe. and
His Prompt and Drastic Action Cow.
ed thu Crew and Saved the Ship.


There has never been n feet mutlny
or a squadron mutiny In the @untcd
States navy. The most notorious case
In the naval history of this country
was the conspiracy to mutiny on the
brig of war Somcrs. which was dscov-
cred before It came to head and re,
suited In the execution NJ sea of PHILIP
Spencer. midshipman, son of the then
secretary of war, ana one petty officer
and one seaman.
Another famous case was the one In
which Commodore Porter acted with
such vigor and promptitude that he
completely crushed the rebelllous spirit
that had manifested itself and saved
his ship.
When Commodore Porter was In COM
mand of the Essex in the early history
of our navy there was an attempted
mutlny on hoard. Here is an account
of how it was suppressed which Is
vouchcd for as authentic: while the
Essex was lying ut the Marqnesas is
lands, recruiting and refreshing her
crew from one of the long and arduous
cruises In the Pacific. Commodore Por-
ter was Informed through a servant Of
one of the officers that n mntiny had
been planned ana was on the eve of
contamination; that 1t was the inten-
ton Of the mutineers To rise upon the
officers, take possession II the ship and
after having remained as long as they
found agreeable at the island to hoist
the black has and cruise on their own
account
Having satisfied himself Of the truth
of the information, Commodore Porter
ascended to the quarterback and or
dered all the crew to be summoned aft
Waiting until the last man had come
from below, he informed them that he
that mutiny was on foot
and that he had summoned them for
the purpose Of inquiring into its truth.
Those men who are in favor of stand
Ing by the ship and her officers. said
the commodore, will go over to the
starboard side: those who are against
them will remain where they are The
crew TO a man moved over to the star
board side. The ship was still as the
grave. Fixing his eyes on them stesnl-
lily and sternly for a few moments the
commodore said. Robert White. step
OUT The man obeyed, standing pale
and aglfatcd guilt stamped on every
lneament of his countcnance. in front
of his comrades
THE commodore looked ut him
moment then, Selling cutless from
the nearest rack. said in n suppressed
voice but Ia tones 50 deep that they
rang Ike a knelI upon the ears of the
guilty among tie crew: Villain, You
are the ringleadcr of this mutiny!
Jump overheard" The man dropped
on his knees, tmpIorinG for mercy, say
ing that he could nor swim. Then
drown, you scoundrelr said the com
modore, springing toward him to cut
him down Overheard instantly~
And the man jumped over the side of
the ship. He then turned TO the trem-
bling crew and addressed them with
much feeling, the tears standing upon
his bronzed cheek as he spoke. He
asked them what he had done that his
ship should be disgraced by a mutiny.
He asked whether he had ever dis
honored the flag. whether he had ever
treated them with other than. kindness.
they had ever been wanting
for anything to their comfort that dis
cipline and the rules of the service
would allow and that 1t was in his
power to give.
AT the close Of his address he said:
Men, before | came on deck ! laid
train to the magazine, and | would
have blown all on board into eternity
before my ship should have been dis
graced by a successful mutiny.
never would have survived the dis
honor of my ship. Go to your duty
The men were much affected by the
address and Immediately
returned to their duty, showing every
Sign of contrition.
But mark the sequel of this mutiny
and let those who, In the calm Sc
'urity Of their tiresides. are so severe
upon the course of conduct pursued by
officers In such critical situations see
how much innocent blood would have
been saved If White had been cut
down instantly or hanged at the yard
arm. AS he went overheard Ia sue
ceeded In reaching canoe floating at
4 little distance and padded ashore.
Some few months afterward, when
Lieutenant Gamble Of the marines
was Mt The islands, in charge of one OF
the large prizes, short handed and In
distress. this same White, at the head
Of party OF natives, attacked the
ship, killed two Of the officers and
of men, and 1t was with great
difficulty that she was prevented from
falling into their hands. New York
Post
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