The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-02-25
KILLING ] MU7INY
Dramatic Incident In the Early
History of Our Navy.
THE PLOT ON THE OLD ESSEX


Conspiracy Just as II Was Ripe, and
His Prompt and Drastic Action Cow
ed the Crew and Saved the Ship.
There has never been a feet mutlny
or a squadron mutiny In the United
States navy. The most notorious case
in the naval history of this country
was the conspiracy to mutlny on the
| brig of war Somers, which was dlscov-
cred before II came to head and re-
suited I'm the execution at sea of Philip
Spencer. midshlpman, 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 promptltude 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
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 10 the Pacific. Commodore Por-
ter was Informed through a servant of
one of the officers that a 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 as long as they
found agreeable at the island to hoist
the black flag and cruise on their own
account
Having satisfied himself o" the truth
of the information, Commodore Porter
assembled 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
understood that a 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 man moved over to 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
ond n nif oil or1flf cfo
llneament of his countenance, in front
of his comrades.
"The commodore looked at him
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
Jump overboardr The man dropped
on his knees, imploring for mercy, say
Ing that he could not 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-
bAhS NltW anu iuultSStu lutDu Will
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,
whether they had ever been wanting
| For. no To l,aN te
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 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 Sc
Cuiily VI thtlI HltSlucS, dIe 50 SeNtIe
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 at
little distance and padded ashore
aft .Hov,
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 party or natives, attacked the
ship, killed two of the officers and
number of men. and 1t was with great
difficulty that she was prevented from
falling into their hands."-New York
Post.