The Columbus journal., 1911-02-01
KILLING 4 MuTINY
Dramatic Incident IN the Early
History Of Our Navy.
the PLOT ON THE OLD ESSEX
cemmeders Porter Get Wind % ths
Conspiracy Just - u Was Rip% and

csmmsdees Peetsr Get Wind q tls
Conspiracy Just ~ Il Was Rips. and
HE Prompt and Drastic Action cs~.
ID the Crew and Savsd tlhs Ship.
There has never been . neet mutiny
Of a 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 Somers, which was discov.
efed before It came to q head and re-
suited In the execution at sea Of Philip
Spencer. midshipman. son Of the then
secretary Of war. and one petty odlcer
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 IN attempted
mutiny on board. Here u IN account
Of how 1t was suppressed which ID
vouched for % authentic: while the
Essex was lying at the Aarquesas IS
lands. recruiting and refreshing her
crew from one Of the long and artiuous
cruises In the Pacific. Commodore Por-
ter was Informed through q servant Of
one Of the ofncesS that q mutiny had
been planned and was On the eve Of
consummation; that It was the inten-
tion Of the mutineeEs to rise upon the
omcers, take possession Of the ship and
after having remained ~ long - they
found agreeable at the island to hoist
the black dag and cruise On their own
account
Having satisfied himself Of the truth
Of the Information, Commodore Porter
ascended to the Quarterdeck and Or
dered all the crew to be summoned AFT.
Waiting until the last man had come
from below, he Informed them that he
understood that q mutiny was on foot
and that be 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 omcers.' said
the commodore. will 60 over to the
stafboard side: those who are against
them viii remain where they are The
crew to q man moved over to the star
board side. The ship was still - 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 eountenance. In front
Of his comrades.
The commodore looked at him a
moment. then. seizing . cutjess from
the nearest rack. said in q suppressed
voice. but In tones 50 deep that they
rang like q knell upon the earn Of the
guilty among the crew: villain! You
are the ringleader of this mutiny!
Jump overheard The man dropped
on his knees. imploring for mercy. say
ing that he could not swim. Then
drown. you scoundreI!' said the COM
modore. springing toward him to cut
him down Overheard instantly!
And tho man Jumped over the side Of
the ship. He then turned to the trem-
hing crew and addressed them with
much feeling. the tears standing upon
his bron1ed cheek ~ he spoke. He
asked them what be had done that his
ship should be disgraced BY mutiny.
He asked whether he had ever dis
honored the dag. whether be had ever
treated them with other than kindness.
whether they had ever been wanting
for anything to their comfort that dis
cipline and the rules Of the service
would allow and that II waS In his
power to give.
AT the close Of his address be said:
Men. before I came on deck laid .
train to the magazine. and ! would
have blown all on board into eternity
l,oHono nv chin ahossla haze hoon f9fS-