Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1911-03-02
KILLING 4 MUTINY
Dramatic Incident In the Early
History of Our Navy.
TIE PLOT ON THE OLD ESSEX

Conspiracy Just as 1t Was Ripe, and
His Prompt and Drastic Action Cow
ed the Grew and Saved the Ship.
There has never been a fleet mutlny
or squadron mutiny in the United
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 discov-
cred before il came TO n head and re-
suited in the execution at sen Of Philip
Spencer. midshipman, son Of the then
secretary Of war. and 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 rebellious 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
mutiny on board Here IS an account
of how 1t was suppressed which Is
vouched for as authentic while the
Essex was lying at the Marquesas is
lands. recruiting and refreshing her
crew from one Of the long and arduous
cruises IN Pacific Commodore Por-
ter was inf med through a servant Of
one of the oiiceiS that mutny had
been planned ami was on the eve Of
cOnsummHti0n; that ii WIS the inten
ton of the mutnccrs 10 rise upon the
officers, take possession of the ship and
after having remained as long rs they
found agreeable ut the island to hole
the black Fl ana cruise on their ov
account
Having satisfied himself of the truth
of the mformatina Commodore Porter
dered all the crew to br summoned aft
Waiting until The last NAN had come
from below he informed them that he
understood 'hat mutjny was on foot
and thar he had summoned them for
the purpose Of inqniring Into its truth
Those men who are IN favor of stand
ing by the ship ana her officers, said
the commodore, will go over 10 the
starhoard side; those who are against
them win remain where they are The
crew to man moved over to the star
board side The ship was stiIl as the
grave. Fixing his eyes on them stead
fly and sternly for few moments, the
commodore said, Robert White steP
out The man obeyed, standing pale
and agitated. guilt stamped on every
lineament OF his countenance, in front
of his comrades.
THE commodore looked at him
moment, then. Selling cutless from
the nearest rack, said in suppressed
voice, but in tones so deep that they
rang like a knell upon the ears of the
guilty among the crew: villain. You
are the rlugleader Of this mutiny
Jump overhoardr The man dropped
on his knees, imploring for mercy, say
ing that he could not swim Then
drown YOU scoundrel! said the com
modore. springiug 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 rs he spoke He
asked them what he had done chat his
ship should be disEraced by mutiny
He asked whether he had ever dis.
honored the flag whether he had ever
treated them with other than kindness,
whether they had ever been wanting
for anything to their comfort that dis
yciplne ana the rules of the service
would allow and that it was in his
power to give
AT the close Of his address he said:
Men. before ! came on deck | laid q
train TO the magazine. and would
have hlowT all on board into eternity
before my ship should have been dis
graced by successful mutiny
never would have survived the dis
honor of my ship &c 10 your duty
The men were much affected by the
commodore's address and Immediately
returned to their duty showing every
sign of conuition.
But mark the sequel Of this mutiny
curity of their 6resides. 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 he sue
ceeded in reaching a canoe floating a
a little distance and padded ashore
Some few months afterward, whet
Lieutenant Gamble Of the marine.
was at the islands in charge of one d
the large prizes, short handed and II
distress. this same White at the hea,
of a party Of natives attacked th'
ship. killed two Of the officers and
number Of men, and It was with grea
difficulty that she was prevented from
falling into their hands."-New Yorl
Post.