MUTINY ON THE HIGH SEAS.

New Zealand Colonist and Port Nicholson Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 65, 14 March 1843, Page 3

MUTINY ON THE HIGH SEAS.

At the Thames Police-office, Lqp4pu> on Monday, Samuel Ogg, aged 30, Peter Maybone, 38, Thomas Morgan, 22, James Ratree, 17, James Latoo, 46, James Willan, 25, John Higgin, 50, Charles Johnstone, 39, and Benjamin Present, forming part of the crew of the ship Ann Hall, of Liverpool, were charged with mutiny on the high seas, within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty of England. Francis Lugenby Horrad, the commander of the ship, was then c.alled and sworn. He stated that he was' master of the Ann Hall, on a voyage from Liverpool to Charleston, in ballast. • Although ! some symptoms of insubordination had pjeviously appeared, there was no particular occur-

rence until about the ’22nd of January last. On that day, a part of the crew, the larboard watch, were ordered to go over the side to scrub down the ship to make ready for painting. This they refused to do, and they were then told if they would not scrub outside they should do it inside. At this period a seaman named Juckman, who was then on the mizen topsail-yard, seeing witness in an altercation with the hands, sung out, “ Damn the ship !” with other offensive observations, which witness repeated. On coming from aloft, he asked the man how he dared make use of such language aft, to which Juckman replied,—on board a merchant ship he did not know aft from forward. Juckman then stooped down, and said he wished a flash of lightning would take the ship. He pulled the man up from the deck, and asked him what he meant by such conduct. Juckman then struck him on the mouth with a stave. Witness immediately kuocked the man down in self-defence, and a scuffle ensued. Juckman got away, aud seized an iron belaying-pin, and was about to strike him, but the crew interfered and took him away-. About twenty minutes past one next morning, he went on deck and ordered the mate to get the studding sails out. About five or six hours afterwards, he looked from his bed-cabin and saw that the sails were not set. He called for the second mate, and asked him why he had not got the studding-sail booms run out. The second mate answered, that he had done all he possibly could. Witness told him he must get some one to do duty, and, at the same time, ordered him to pack his things, take them into the cabin, and do duty as a seaman. About eight o’clock on the same night, witness went to the forecastle hatchway and ordered the second mate to come upon deck and do his duty. The second mate declared he would not do his duty till he was reinstated. He ordered all the sails to be furled and the top-gallant and topsail-yards to be sent down. Every soul on board refused to do it.. Witness, on apprehending danger,, then went to the carpenter’s tool chest, which was close to the cabin door, and took out his adze, and went below to the state-room. Whilst stowing away the adze, some portion of the crew made fast the cabin door and detained him there. He took up the adze, cut down the door, and went upon deck. Mr. Broderip : —“ Did you take the adze with you ?” Witness :—“ Yes, sir." The witness, in continuation, said that he proceeded to walk the deck with the adze on his shoulder for about twenty minutes. In turning the deck, the carpenter, Samuel Ogg, seized hold of the adze and threw him down. The whole of the crew then came up, and while some assisted the carpenter in keeping him down, others pinioned his arms, and took him into the state cabin and laid him on his bed. This treatment continued during the remainder of the outward-bound voyage, and he was deprived of all the command of the vessel and control over the crew, and was closely watched. On making Charleston, the pilots came on board, to whom he appealed, and the case was make known to the British Consul and the American authorities, who interfered and investigated the matter. A portion of the crew were committed to goal, previous to their being sent to England in a ship of war. The twelve men at the bar were sent home as passengers on the return voyage. They were committed for trial.