_Q._ Was there any thing like mutiny on board the ship during her pa.s.sage to the Sandwich Islands?
_A._ No.
_Q._ How many men belonged to the ship on sailing from Nantucket?
_A._ Twenty-one in all.
_Q._ Did any run away at the Sandwich Islands?
_A._ Six men ran away, and one was discharged.
_Q._ How many men were shipped in their places?
_A._ John Oliver, of Shields, England; Silas Payne, of Rhode Island; Thomas Lilliston, of Virginia; William Steward, of Philadelphia, (black;) Anthony Henson, of Barnstable; and a native of the Sandwich Islands.
_Q._ On what day or night did this murderous mutiny take place?
_A._ On Sunday night the 26th of January, this year; in the morning of that day there was a great disturbance, in consequence of Joseph Thomas having insulted the Captain, for which he was whipped by the Captain, with the end of the main buntline. The part of the crew not _stationed_ stood in the hatchway during the punishment.
_Q._ Did any thing happen in consequence, during that day?
_A._ No: I lived aft; I heard nothing about it; Capt. Joy of the Lyra, was on board nearly all day.
_Q._ How were you stationed during the night?
_A._ The Captain, first and second mates, kept no watch during that night; the rest of the crew were stationed in three watches, in charge of the third mate and boat-steerers.
_Q._ Who had charge of the first watch during that night?
_A._ I had charge of the watch from 7 to 10 o"clock. At 8 the Captain came on deck, and had two reefs taken in the topsails, and at 9 went down, leaving me the orders for the night, to keep the ship _by the wind_, until two o"clock, and not to tack until the other watch came up; and on tacking, a light to be set for the Lyra who was in company, to tack also.
At 10 o"clock I went below, being relieved by the boat-steerer Comstock, to whom I pa.s.sed the orders given me by the Captain,----(Here follows a detailed account of the mutiny, with which the reader has already been made acquainted.)
_Q._ Do you believe that Joseph Thomas had any knowledge of Comstock"s intent to commit murder that night?
_A._ I think he must have known something about it, according to his talk.
_Q._ Do you believe that any other person in the ship, besides those persons who committed the murder, knew of the intention?
_A._ Thomas Lilliston knew about it, because he went to the cabin door with an axe, and a _boat knife_ in his hand, in company with the murderers, but he did not go below.
_Q._ Did you live with them aft, afterwards?
_A._ No: I lived in the forecastle, but all on board eat in the cabin.
_Q._ Name all the persons you left on the Island, where you cut the cable of the ship and escaped.
_A._ Silas Payne, John Oliver, (being the princ.i.p.al mutineers next to Samuel B. Comstock,) Thomas Lilliston, Rowland Coffin, _William Lay_, _Cyrus M. Hussey_, Columbus Worth, Rowland Jones, and the Sandwich Island native, called Joseph Brown. The last five I believe ignorant of any knowledge of the intent to murder.
_Q._ What became of Samuel B. Comstock, who was the head mutineer after he landed upon the Island?
_A._ He was shot on the morning of the 17th Feb. by Silas Payne, and John Oliver, his a.s.sociates in all the mutiny and murderous course they had pursued, and buried five feet deep on the beach near their tent; a chapter was read from the bible by me, acting under the orders of Payne, and muskets were fired by his orders, by the men.
_Q._ Why did they murder Comstock?
_A._ For giving away to the natives clothes and other articles before they were divided.
_Q._ Were the natives friendly and quiet?
_A._ Yes; very peaceable, gave away any thing they had; bread fruit, cocoanuts and other things.
_Q._ How did Joseph Thomas conduct himself during the pa.s.sage from the Isle to this port?
_A._ In common, when help was called, he was the first man disobedient, and frequently said he would do as he pleased.
_Q._ Did he often speak of the murder, or of his knowing it about to take place?
_A._ I only remember, having heard him twice. I told him when we arrived, I would inform the American Consul of it; to which he replied, he should own all he knew about it.
_Q._ To what State does he belong to your knowledge?
_A._ To the State of Connecticut, he says.
(Signed) GILBERT SMITH.
Sworn to, before me at Valparaiso, this eighteenth day of June, 1824.
(Signed) MICHAEL HOGAN, U. S. Consul.
The examination of the others who came in the ship, was but a repet.i.tion of the foregoing. All, however, concurred in believing, that Joseph Thomas was privy to the intention to mutiny, and murder the officers.
The ship was then furnished with necessary sails and rigging, and placed in charge of a Captain King, who brought her to the Island of Nantucket, arriving on Sunday 21st November, 1824. Another examination was held before Josiah Hussey, Esq. and all testified, as before the American Consul at Valparaiso.
Thomas, who was put in irons as soon as the land was discovered, was arraigned before the above named justice, and after an elaborate hearing, the prisoner was committed to jail, to take his trial at the following term of the U. S. District Court, and the witnesses recognised in the sum of three hundred dollars each.
Leaving Thomas, awaiting his trial, and the others in the enjoyment of the society of their families and friends, we will return to the Mulgrave Islands, the scene of no inconsiderable portion of our distresses and adventures.
On the 17th Feb. when night came, the watch was set consisting of two men, whose duty it was to guard against the thefts of the natives. At about 10 P. M. all hands were awakened by the cry; "The ship has gone, the ship has gone!" Every one hastened to the beach and verified the truth of the report for themselves. Some who were ignorant of the intention of Smith and others, to take the ship, were of opinion that the strong breeze then blowing, had caused her to drag her anchor, and that she would return in the morning.
The morning came, but nothing was to be seen upon the broad expanse of ocean, save here and there a solitary seagull, perched upon the crested billow. Payne in a paroxism of rage, vented the most dreadful imprecations; swearing that could he get them once more in his power, he would put them to instant death. Not so with us; a ray of hope shot through our minds, that this circ.u.mstance might be the means of rescuing us from our lonely situation.--The writers of this narrative were upon the most intimate terms, and frequently, though carefully, sympathized with each other upon their forlorn situation. We dare not communicate our disaffection to the Government of the two surviving mutineers, (Payne and Oliver,) to the others, fearing they might not agree with us in opinion, and we had too good reason to believe, that there was _one_, who although unstained by blood, yet from his conduct, seemed to sanction the proceedings of the mutineers.
The natives a.s.sembled in great numbers around the tent, expressing great surprise at the ship"s having left,--Payne gave them to understand that the wind had forced her to sea, and that from her want of sails, rigging, &c. she must be lost, and would never return.--The natives received the a.s.surance with satisfaction, but it was evident, Payne apprehended her safe arrival at some port, and his own punishment; for we were immediately set to work, to tear one boat to pieces, for the purpose of raising upon another, which was to have _a deck_; Payne, alleging as a reason for this, that the natives might compel us to leave the Island. We leave the reader to judge, however, of his motives, while we proceed to give an account of what actually did transpire.
The natives in considerable numbers continued to attend us, and while the work was progressing, exhibited a great deal of curiosity. Their deportment towards us continued to be of the most friendly nature, continuing to barter with us, giving us bread fruit, cocoanuts, &c.
for which they received in return, pieces of iron hoop, nails, and such articles as we could conveniently spare.
The small Islands of this groupe are frequently only separated by what are sometimes denominated causeways, or in other words, connected by reefs of coral, extending from the extreme point of one Island and connecting it with another. These reefs are nearly dry at low water, and the communication is easily kept up between them by the natives on foot.
On the 19th, in the morning, having obtained permission, several of us left the tent, travelling to the Eastward.--After crossing upon the causeways to several adjacent islands, we discovered numerous tracks of the natives in the sand, and having followed them about seven miles, came to a village consisting of about twenty or thirty families; and were received by them with great hospitality. They presented us with bread fruit and the milk of cocoanuts, while the wonder and astonishment of those who had not as yet seen us, particularly the women and children, were expressed by the most uncouth grimaces, attended with boisterous laughter, and capering around us. What more particularly excited their astonishment was the whiteness of our skins, and their mirth knew no bounds when they heard us converse.