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MUTINY ON BOARD THE ESSEX.
W bile the Essex was laying at tbe
Marqiieseas Islands, recruiting her
crew from one of the long and ardu
ous cruises in tbe Pacific, Commodore
Forcer was informed through a servant
of one of the officers, that a mutiny
had been planned, and was on the eve
of consummation. That it was tbe
intention of the mutineers to rise upon
the officers — take possession of tbe
ship — and, after having remained as
long as they found it agreeable at the
Island, to hoist the black flag and
'' cruise on their own account.' Hav
ing satisfied himself of the truth of
the information, Commodore Porter
ascended to the quarter deck, and
ordered all tbe crew to be snmmoned
aft. Waiting till the last man had
come from below, he informed them
that be understood that a mutiny was
on foot, and that be had summoned
them for the purpose of inquiring
into its truth.
' Those men who are in favor of
standing by the ship and herotneers,'
said the Commodore, ' will go over to
the starboard side — those who are
against them will remain where they
are.'
The crew to a man, moved over to
the starboard side. The ship was still
as the grave. Fixing bis eyes on
them steadily and sternly for a few
moments, the Commodore said —
' Robert White — step out I'
Tbe man obeyed, standing pale and
agitated — guilt stamped on every
lineamentof hiscountenance — in front
of his comrades. The Commodore
looked at him a moment — then seizing
a cutlas from the nearest rack said in
a suppressed voice, but in tones so deep
that they rung like a knell upon the
ears of the guilty among the crew —
' Villain ! — you are a ringleader
of this mutiny — jump overboard 1'
The man dropt on bis knees, im
ploring for mercy— saying that he
could not swim.
' Then drown, you scoundrel I'
mid the Commodore, springingtowards
him to cut him down — 'overboard
instantly 1' And the man jumped
over the side of tbe ship.
He then turned to tbe trembling
crew, and addressed them with mnch
feeling — the tears standing upon his
bronzed cbeek as be spoke. He
asked them what be bad done, thai
his ship should be disgraced by a mu
tiny. He asked whether he had ever
dishonoured the flag— whether be had
ever treated them wilh other than
kindness — whether they bad ever been
wanting for any thing to their comfort,
that discipline and tbe rules of the
service would allow — and which it
was in bis power to give. At the
close of his address, be said —
' Men 1 — before I came on deck,
I laid a train to the magazine ! — and
I would have blown all on board to
eternity before my ship should have
been disgraced by a successful mutiny
— I never would have survived tbe
dishonor of my ship ! — go to your
duty .'
Tbe men were much affected by the
Commodore's address, and immedi
ately returned to their duty, showing
every sign of contrition. They were
a good crew, but bad lieen seduci-d by
the allurements of the islands, and
tbe plausible representations of a
villain. That they did their duty to
their flag, it is only necessary to say —
that the same crew fought the ship
afterwards against the Phebe and
CAerub, in tbe harbour of Valparaiso,
where, though tbe American flag
descended — it descended in a blaze of
glory which will long shine on tbe
pages oi history.
But mark the sequel of this mutiny
— and let those who in calm security
of their lire-sides, are io severe upon
Ibe course of conduct pursued by
officers in such critical situations, see
bow much innocent blood would have
been saved, if White had been cut
down instantly, or hung at the yard
arm. As he went over board, he suc
ceeded in reaching a canoe, floated a
little distance and paddled ashore.
Some few months afterwards, when
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 a party of natives, attacked
the ship, killed two of the officers and
a number of the men, and it was wilh
great difficulty that she was prevented
from falling into their hands. Tbe
blood of those innocent men, and lives
of two meritorious officers, would been
spared, if tbe wretch bad been put to
instantdeath — as wastke Commander's
intention.
Pruscic Acid. — Death caused by
prussic acid, says a German paper,
is only apparent; life ii immediately
restored by pouring acetate of potash
and commou salt, dissolved in water,
on the head and spine. Some time
since, Mr. Rogerson, a chemist, in
stituted a series of experiments on
animals for tbe purpose of observing
the effects of prussic acid, and of dis
covering the means to be pursued in
case of poisoning by that fluid. He
then, if we mistake not, invited tbe
attention of the medical profession to
the fact, that rabbits poisoned with
prussic acid could bs at once recovered
from appaient death by merely pour
ing cold water over the bead and
spine. — Evening Paper, Aug. 9.
Pbeysntioh BiTTia thin Com ? It it a
fact beyond dispute, that molt of the diseases
with which the human race are afflicted, are
the result of a disordered state of tbe blood.
To remedy this, tba occasional use of Pier's
Lira Pilu should be had recourse to, and
sickness presented as well as cured.
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