Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1911-02-03
.ILLING A MUTINY
'amatlo Incident In the Early
Hlstory'of Our Navy.
fHE PLOT ON THE OLD ESSEX
Commodore Porter Got Wind Of the
Conspiracy Just ss II Was Ripe, and
His Prompt and Drastic Action Cow
cd the Crew and Saved the ship.

His Prompt and Drastic ACTION Cow
ed the Grew and Saved the ship.
There has never been feet mutlny
or a squadron mutluy In the United
States navy. The most notorious case
in the naval history Of this country
was the conspiracy TO mutlny on the
rlg OF war Somera, which was dlseov.
red before Il came to n head and re-
ultcd In tho execution at sea Of Philip
ipenccr. mdshlpman, son OF the then
ecretary of war, aud one petty officer
nd one seaman.
Another famous case was the one ip
which Commodore Porter acted with
such viRor and promptllude that he
completely crushed the rebellious spirit
that had manifested itself and saved
his ship
When Commodore Porter was In CON,
inand OF the Essex IN the early history
OF our navy there was an attempted
mntlny on board. Here N an account
OF how Il was suppressed which fs
vouched for as authentic: "while the
Essex was lying at the Marquesas is-
lands. recruiting ana 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 q mutlny had
been planned and was on the eve Of
consummation: that II was the inten-
tlon of the mutineers TO rise upon the
officers. take possession OF the ship and
after having remained as long as they
found agreeable at the island TO hoist
the black iiag and cruise on their own
account
Having satisfied himself OF the truth
OF the information. Commodore Porter
nseendcd TO the quarterback and or.
dered all the crew 10 be summoned aft.
Waiting until the last man had come
from below, he Informed them that he
understood that mutiny was on foot
aud that he had summoned them for
the purpose of inquIrlng into Its truth.
Those men who are In favor OF stand.
Ing by the ship aud her officers said
the commodore, will 20 over to tho
starboard side. those who are against
them VIII remain where they are The
crew to man moved over 10 the star
board side. The ship was still as the
grave. Fixing his eyes on them stead.
lily and sternly for few moments. the
commodore said. Robert White, step
out The man obeyed, standing pale
ana agitated, guilt stamped on every
llneament OF his countenance. In front
Of his comrades.
'rhe commodore looked at him
moment. then. SELLING a cutless from
the nearest rack, said In a suppressed
voice, but In tones so deep that they
rang like knell upon the ears of the
guilty among the crew: Villain! You
are the ringleader of this mutinyi
Jump overboard!' Tho man dropped
on his knees, imploring for mercy. say
Ing that he could not swim. Then
drown, you scoundrelr said the com.
Hodore, springlng toward him to cue
aim down. Overheard instantlyf
Aud the man jumped over the side of
he ship. He then turned to the trem.
ling crew and addressed them with
much feeling. the tears standing upon
lis bronZed cheek as hc spoke He
sked them what he had done that his
hip should be disgraced by mutiny.
J asked whether he had ever dis.
'ored the flag. whether, he had ever
'ted them with other than kindness,
ther 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 a
train to the magazine. and I would
have blown all on board into eternity
before my ship should have been dis
graced by n successful mutiny.
never would have survived the dis.
honor of my ship. Go to your duty
The men were much affected by the
commodore's 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 se-
curity of their firesides, are so severe
upon tho 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 no went overheard he sue
cceded in reaching a canoe floating at
a little distance and padded ashore.
Some few months afterward, when
Lieutenant Gamble of the marines
was at the islands, In charge of one of
the large prizes, short handed and In
distress. this same White, at the head
of a party of natives, attacked the
ship, killed two Of the officers and a
number of men. and 1t was with great
difficulty that she was prevented from
falling into their hands."-New York
Post.