Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1911-04-20
KILLING A MU7lNY
Dramatic Incident In the Early
History Of Our Navy.
THE PLOT ON THE OLD ESSEX


Commodore Porter Got Wind Of the
Conspiracy Just as II Was Ripe, and
His Prom. and Drastic Action Cow
ed the Grew and Saved the Ship.
There has never been fleet mutiny
or ii squadron mutiny in the United
1 States navy The most notorious case
I in the naval history of this country
was the conspiracy to mutiny on the
| bri. OF wn,. Somcrs. which was discov-
cred before j: came to Il head and re-
s.,it~,l In the execution at se:, of Philip
| Sp nccr mislshpman. son of the then
sc retarv eft wa. and one petty officer
and one. Se.,lnal.
Another famous; case was the one In
which Commoa re Porter acted with
such vigor ami promptitude that he
completely crushed the rebellious spirit
| that had manifested itself and saved
his ship.
| When Commodore Porter was In com.
n.and of the Essex III the early history
of our navy there was an attempted
mufiny on board. Here is an account
OF how 1T was suppressed which is
| vouclled for as authentic: while the
Essex was lying ut the Marquesas 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 mutiny had
been planned and was on the eve of
consummation; that 1t was the inten.
ton of the mutineers to rise upon the
| officers. take possession of the ship and
after having remained MS long as they
founsl agreeable at the island to hoist
the black flag and 'cruise on their own
account
Having satisfied himself of the truth
Of the information, Commodore Porter
assembled to the quarterback and or
%ered all the crew to be summoned Mt
Waiting until the last man had come
from below, he informed them that he
understood that n mutlny was on foot
aud that he had summoned them for
the purpose of inluiring into Its truth.
Those men who are In favor of stand.
Ing 10y the ship and her officers said
the commodore. will go over to the
| starboanl side: those who are against
them will remain where they are The
rev to n man moved over to the star
board side. The ship was still MS the
grave. Fixing his eyes on them stead
lily and sternly for few moments, the
commodore said. Robert White, step
ont The man obeycd, standing pale
and agitated, guilt stamped on every
lnean,ent of his countenance, in front
Of hi. comrades.
The commodore looked Mt him a
moment. then, selling cutless from
the nearest rack, said in n 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 mutiny!
Jump overheard" The man dropped
Oh his knees, imploring for mercy, say
ing that he could not swim. Then
drown. You scoundrel! said the com
modorc. springing toward him to cut
him down. Overheard Instantly!
Aid 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 bronZcd cheek as he spoke. He
asked them what he had done that his
ship should be disgraced by mutiny.
He asked whether he had ever dis
lonored 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
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 l would
have blown all on board into eternity
before my ship should have been dis
erncca by successful mutiny. l
newer would have survived the dis
honor of my ship. Go to your duty
The men were much affected by the
comEodore's address and Immediately
returned to their duty, showing every
sign of contrition
But mark the sequel of this mutiny
"Iu iet tuoSc Wno Ill tnC calm Sc
rurity of their fircsides. are so severe
upon the course of conduct pursued by
officers i'm such critical situations see
how much innocent blood would have
been saved If White had been cut
Gown instantly or hanged ut the yard
arm AS he went overheard he sue
ceeded In reaching canoe floating at
IL little distance and padded ashore.
Some few months afterward, when
Lieutenant Gamble Of the marines
was ut the islands, III charge Of one of
the large prizes, short handed and In
distress, this same White, ut the head
of 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.
Nora Was Wise.