Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1921-08-25

first to last. mere Deen one SOou
thing about il Only-we've got ORDER
without cruelty, we've rebelled without
ravagement; but we've missed the
way. and we didn't deal with the ad-
miralty commissioners as we ought. SO
I'm for joining up with the captain
here"-he waved hand toward Dyck
-"and making for open sea. AS sure
as Gods above they'll try to hammer
us; but it's the only way"
He held a handkerchief dirty, red
silk thing.
"See," he continued, "the wind Is
right to take us out. The other ships
won't know what we're going to do un-
til we start. I'm for getting off. I'm
pressed man. l haven't seen my girl
for five years, and they won't let me
free in port to go and see her. Nothing
can be worse than what we have to
suffer now, so let's make break for
it. That's what l say. Come, now,
lads. three cheers for Captain Cal
houn!"
A half-hour later, on the captains
deck, Dyck gave the order to pass east
ward 1t was sunset when they start
ed, and they had not gone thousand
yards before some of the mutineering
ships opened fire on the Ariadne. The
breeze was good, however, and she
sailed bravely through the leaden
storm. Observation-Disclosures she was
hit, but she sped on. BY daylight the
Ariadne was well away from the land.
The first thing Dyck had done, after
escaping from the river, was to study
the wants of the Ariadne and make an
estimate for the future with GreenOck,
the master. He calculated they had
food and water enough to last for
three months, even with liberal pro-
visioning. Going among the crew, he
realized there was no depression
among them; that they seemed to care
little where they were going. 1t was,
however, quite clear they wished to
tight-to fight the enemies Of England.
Perhaps no mutineer in the history
of the world ever succeeded, as did
Dyck Calhoun, in holding control over
fellow-mutineers on the journey from
the English channel to the Caribbean
sea. AS boy Dyck had been an eX-
pert sailor, had studied the machinery
of q man-of-war, and his love Of the
sea was innate and deep-seated; but
his present success was based upon
more than experience. Quite apart
from the honor of his nature, prison
had deepened in him the hatred Of In
Justice. In soul he was bitter; in body
he was healthy, powerful and sane.
Slowly, sternly, yet tactfully, he had
broken down the many customs Of ship
life injurious to the welfare Of the
men. Under his system the sailors
had good coffee for breakfast, instead
of horrible mixture made Of burnt
biscuits cooked In foul water He gave
the men pea soup and rice instead Of
burgoo and the wretched oatmeal mess
which was the staple thing for break
fast. He saw to it that the meat was
no longer q hateful, repulSive mass,
two-thirds bone and gristle, and before
it came into the cooks hands capable
of being polished like mahogany. He
threatened the COOK with punishment
if he found the meals ill-cooked.
OF the common sailors, on the whole,
Dyck had little doubt. He had in
formed them that, whatever happened,
they should not be in danger; that the
ship should not join the West Indian
fleet unless every man except himself
received amnesty. If the amnesty was
not granted, then one Of two things
should happen-the ship must make
for a South American port, or she must
fight. Fighting would not frighten
these men.
1t was rather among the midship-