The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-12-22


ton. The end Is sure against us. Our
original agitation was just; our pres
ent obduracy is madness. The ship Is
suspected 1t Is believed by the rest
of the fleet-by ships like the lnvlncl-
ble-that we're weak-knecG, selfish
and lacking in fidelity 10 the cause.
That's not true bur we are In this poA
siion-we have either 10 fight or to
run. and perhaps TO do both.
Make no mistake. The government
are not towards; the admiralty are
gentlemen of determination. If men
like Admiral Howe support the admr-
alty-Howe, one of the best friends
the Seaman ever had-what do you
tlQnk the end Will be2. Hive you heard
what happened Mt Spithead? The SEN
men chivvled Admiral Alan Gardner
and his colleagues aboard n ship. He
caught hold of n seaman Delegate by
the collar and shook him. They closed
in on him. They handled him roughly.
He sprang on the hammock MEETINGS
put the moose of the hangingrop
round his neck, and said TO the men
who advanced menacingly:
off you will return to your duty
you may hang me at the yardarm"
THAT'S the kind of stuff our al
mirals are made of. We have no quar-
rel with the majority of our Officers
They're straight, they're honest, and
they're true to their game. Our quar-
rnI is Wit 10 MI un
atty; our struggle Is with the people
of the kingdom, who have not seen TO
II that our wrongs are put right, that
we have food to eat. water to drink
and money TO spend"
He waved hand, ms though to
sweep away the criticisms he felt must
be rising against him.
Don't think because I've spent -four
years in prison under the sterncst dis,
Cipline the world offers, and have
never been n seaman before. that I'm
not fitted to espouse your cause. BY
Heaven, nm---I AMI am know
the wrongs you've suffered fye
smelled the water you drink. I've
tasted the rotten ment. Eve seen the
honest seaman who has been for yeats
upon the main We seen the sears
upon his back goi 'rH o brutal officer
who gave him too z . Job to do, md
logged him for not doing it. I know
of men who. feyered with bad food,
have fallen, from the main masthead,
or hive slipped overheard glad IN gu
because of the wrongs they've suffered.
"1'll tell you what our fate viii be-
and then I'll put a question to YOU. We
must either give up our stock of pro
visions or run for it. Parker and the
other Delegates proclaim their com
radeship; yet they have hidden from
us the kings proclamation and the
friendly resolutions of the London mer-
chants. ] say our only hope is 10 es-
cape from the Thames. | know that
| skill will he needed, but If we escape,
what then? ! say, If we escape, he
cause, as we sail out, orders will be
given for the other mutiny ships to at
tack us. We shall BIZ fired on; we
shall risk our lives. You've done that
before, however aud will do It again.
I'm not inclined To surrender, or 10
stand by men who have botched our
business for us. I'm for making for
the sea. and, when get there, I'm for
striking for the West Indies, where
there's a British fleet lighting Briain's
enemies. and for Joining in and fight.
ing with them I'm for getting out of
this river and away from Englnnd. It's
II bold rlan, but it's good one.
want to know If you're with me. Re
member. there's danger getting out
and there's danger when aud IL we get
out. The other slips may pursue us.
The Portsmouth fleet may FAB us. We
may be caught, and, If we are, we
must take the dose prepared for us
but I'm for making a strong rush, go
ing without fear, and asking no favor.
won't surrender here; It's too COW
ardly ] want TO know, will you come
to the open sen with me?
1--WE may have To fight when we get
out; but I'm for taking the Ariadne
into the great world battle when we
can find it. This want to usk Isn't
1t worth while making n great fight In
our own Way, aud showing that British
seamen can nj once be mutincers and
patriots? We have a pilot who knows
the river. We can 20 to the West In
dian islands, TO the British fleet there.
It's doom and de1th to stay here; and
IL may be doom AMI death to go If
we try To break free. and arc fired Oh,
the admiralty may approve of u.s. he
cause we've broken away from the
rest. See now, isn't that the thing to
do? I'm FOR getting out. Who's COM
ing with mc?"
Suddenly a burly sailor pushed for
ward. He had the head of viking.
His eyes were strong with enterprise
He had Il hand like ham, with long,
hairy fingers.
captain said he, you've put the
thing so there can be only one answer
to 1t. As for me, I'm sick of the way
this mutiny has been bungled from
first to last. There's been one good
thing about it only-we'ye got order
without cruelty, we've rehelled without
arrangement; but we've missed the
way, and we didn't deal with the adj