THE LENNIE MUTINY.

Patea Mail, Volume II, Issue 116, 20 May 1876, Page 2

THE LENNIE MUTINY.

THRILLING NARRATIVE OP THE STEWARD, The steward of the ship Lennie lias been interviewed, and gives a narrative? of the mutiny. As early as four o’clock on the morning of the 31st October, while the ship was in the Bay of Biscay, the steward, who was sleeping in his berth, heard on the dock above a frightful commotion. Dressing himself as speedily as lie could he. ran to get on deck, but found he was prevented by the hatchways being fastened down. As lie stood listening to the horrible violence and uproar going on above lie hoard terrible moans and gurgling sounds as if the captain was speaking witli his throat cut, and almost in the last hours of death was saying “ Oh, yon are not sailors, you are .slaughterers, you arc slaughterers.” Directly after that lie heard another rash, and footsteps as of a man running away, and from what ho could hear, it seemed rs Though a rush wasthen being,made alter the second mate, who was probably trying to escape to the rigging. Immediately upon this ho heard five-shots fired, and then a heavy thud on deck as though a man had been fetched down. After the murderous work had .proceeded about an hour and a half, at half past five some one came down to the steward. (.Inn of the mutineers then addressing him, said, “ Here, we are finished now.” The steward, a fleeting surprise, said, “Oh; what have yon finished ?” “Tim captain and the mates,” replied the mutineers. “ Now, can yon take charge of the ship ?” The steward replied, “ Yes, where do yon want to go ?” “To Greece,” replied the mutineers; “ can yon take ns to Gibraltar, and we’ll find Greece.” The steward replied that it was all right; ho would take the ship safe. When he got on dock be saw that it was covered with blood, and that five of the men were on- ■ gaged -in,washing it off. Three others were over the front, and throe beside them were over the stern, engaged in y' cutting away the name of the boat. Some of the men then went down below and got the captain’s clothes, whilst others went about and ransacked the ship and another man took possession of the medicine chest. In this dreadful situation, with the murderous gang masters of the situation, and feeling by their looks that they were uncertain as to whether they should trust him alive; with their dreadful secret, lie came to the conclusion that he had no other alternative But apparently to become their willing servant. He then asked them whether they had any further orders to give, and the. reply was, “ No, work to Gibraltar.” After endeavoring to deceive them by first making sail that way, he next, in the middle of the following night, steered for the Bristol Channel. The next morning one of the men went to the steward and said, “ Why, you ain’t, going to Gibraltar, you are making

for the| Bristol Channel.” The steward repliedj You never mind where lam S-oing, yon mind your own business.” The mntinccr then -went forward, and calling the gang together told them that the steward was selling them, A consultation was held among them, and they seemed uncertain whether they . should butcher him too, or still trust him with the ship. They then came forward to him in a body and said, “ Look here, steward, you had nothing, to do with the murder, so you are all right, but mind you don’t try to sell us at your peril.” The steward replied, “ Oh, never mind what that man says ; don,t you think that I would try to sell you.” He then put out to sea, but as soon as the mutineers, were again off their gnard or asleep, he early on the following morning changed the course again towards