THE MUTINY ON BOARD THE JUNIOR.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 557, 6 March 1858, Page 4

THE MUTINY ON BOARD THE JUNIOR.

CAPTURE OF THREE OF THE MUTINEERS. It cannot be wondered that the particulars

recorded in the 'Empire' on the arrival of the American Avhaler, Junior, caused great excitement, and that all were anxious steps should be taken to bring to justice those ruffians, who in cold blood, and so far as we at present are aware, without the slightest provocation, murdered the captain and third officer of that ship, and then mutilated the lifeless bodies ©f their victims. The intelligence was no sooner received in Sydney than measures were instituted -for securing the perpetrators of-these murderous deeds. The American Consul was consulted, and, with as little delay as possible, arrangements were concluded for despatching a steamer in search of the mutineers. It is now unnecessary- to recapitulate what has already transpired with reference to this/rightful tragedy; but wewillat once proceed to a narration of events which have transpired since the Junior arrived in port, and the result of the cruise of the Illawarra, which steamer was despatched in search of the mutineers. For the following particulars we are indebted to Mr. Lord, second officer of the Junior, who went with the steamer to identify the men should any of them be captured. The Blawarra left Sydney on Thursday the 14th instant, at 1 p.m., having on^ board an inspector and sergeant of police, with a large constabulary force, all thoroughly armed; she put into Wollongong the same day for coals, remained there a few hours, and arrived at Merimbula on the 15th instant. On reaching there they learned that a boat with four men armed had landed, that the boat had heen seized, and the men taken up on suspicion of smuggling, and forwarded to Two-fold Bay. - The circumstances- connected with the capture of the mutineers have been detailed to us by a person on board the Illawarra, and Mr. Lord, the second officer of the Junior, has assured us that they are substantially correct. Plummer's boat's crew after arriving at Merimbula remained three days at Bernasconi's public house, but in consequence of expressions made use of by some of the men, who boasted of the services their pistols had performed, and the duties they might ere long have to do, Mr. Bernasconi .became alarmed, ordered all bis household to arm themselves well, and despatched a messenger on horseback- Ao Panbula for police assistance. Plummer called himself Captain Wilson—said that he bought the boar at Melbourne, that the other men were in his.employ, and'that he was bound for Sydney. The result of the message despatched to Panbula was the arrival of a constable named Valentine, who, after obtaining the requisite" information, .adopted a stratagem for the capture of themenivwhich, if the account be true, reflects on him the greatest credit, and entitles him'to more tharHhe mere thanks of the community. Valentine, it appears, arranged j for a number of men to be secreted, and after watching narrowly the movements of the men, saw the mutineers embark in their boil and shove off. He then - went to the beach and hailed them, and seeing Mm alone and unarmed, they returned without hesitation. Valentine examined the boat, and said he must detain both it and the crew on suspicion of being smugglers. He commenced taking the arms out of the boat, and on a given signal he was joined by a number of men, who seized the muskets and compelled the crew to surrender. Cartha has since escaped, and on the day the Illawarra left Twofold Bay it was reported that a man, whose description corresponded with that of Cartha, had bailed up a man and robbed him. The authorities at Twofold Bay found nothing to subtantiate the charge of being smugglers, and so far dismissed them, but owing to the doubtful representations of the men, and other suspicious circumstances, they were (pending the time which might elapse in communicating with or receiving intelligence from Sydney) kept in custody during the night, but allowed to go at large under surveillance during the day. This lenity was, it appears, extended to them in consequence of their somewhat plausible statements and the unconcern manifested by them being looked upon as, to a certain extent, indicative of their innocence. On the Illawarra arriving at Twofold Bay, Mr. Lord, with some constables, went.to the gaol and saw the three men, who were identified by Lord as part of the crew of the Junior, namely, Cyrus Plummer, alias Captain Wilson; Jacob Tike, the carpenter; and Charles Stanley, a seaman. On the second officer showing himself to the men they appeared much alarmed; but Plummer, after some hesitation, said "As Mr. Lord is here, I'll own all and give my proper name—l am Cyrus Plummer." He said that Cartha had escaped; but the only information he gave respecting the missing boat was, that she had been stove in beaching and completely destroyed, but that the men had all been saved. He also stated that one of his own crew had gone in the other boat to assist in bailing her. out. as she was very leaky. A report has, however, been circulated, that a stick had been found in the boat covered with blood, and human hair attached to it, which, if true, gives rise to the suspicion that the missing m m has been murdered. The three men refused to answer any further questions; but Plummer made every inquiry about the ship and the crew, asked if the mate was alive, and coolly stated that he was not a man of his word, as he had promised not.to go to Sydney. The steamer afterwards proceeded to Gabo Island, and heard

j that Plummer's boat had been there, but that ! none of the men landed, they only enquiring the way to Twofold Bay. The steamer went twice to the Ninety-mile Beach, but without discovering any traces of the other boat; she then returned to Twofold Bay, took the three men on board heavily ironed, and sailed for Sydney. The Illawarra arrived here yesterday morning early, and landed the prisoners at the Circular Quay, who were placed in the dock at the Water Police Office, and remanded until Monday morning. Plummer said they had killed no one, and that • one side of a story was very good until the other was heard. These are, we believe, all the particulars connected with this frightful tragedy, and although some parts of this report may not be substantially correct; in a matter which lias caused so much excitement, we have thought it right to report any rumours, as well asanuMsputable facts connected therewith. It may be as well to mention that the chief officer^ who was so severely wounded in the arm, is progressing favourably under the professional care of Dr. Nathan. — JEm]>ire,-Jaa. 23.