A HORRIBLE STORY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 356, 19 February 1881, Page 3

A HORRIBLE STORY.

According to the ‘St. James’ Gazette, ■‘in a lately published book, written by Rear-Admiral Werner, of the German navy, a strange story is told of the way in which many years ago, in 1836, a French man-of-war went down with all hands onboard in West Indian waters. The ship had been in commission for two years on the Antilles station, and during the whole of the time her captain, who is described as an incarnation of cruelty, had exercised his ingenuity in tormenting in every possible way both the officers and men of his crew. So well had he succeeded, that the lives of all on board had been- rendered ,a burden to them, while the captain'himself .was hated with an intensity of which proof was soon to be given. Orders at length ■ came for the ship to return home. Not long -«fter the anchor had been weighed it became evident that a heavy squall was coming down,on the ship, and the captain directed the officer of tne watch to shorten sail. The orders were, given, but not a man moved.■•.Again the orders were repeated, this time by the captain himself ; but stilLnut-n man moved. ~-i This is, mutiny,’ criedthe s captain, and then a hundred voices . exclaimed, ‘ We will not, shorten sail;’ In vain the terrified captain appealed to the officers to support him. They stood silent, and neither threats nor promises availed to move officer or. man, ...sava only a few who were noted as . spies and favourites of the captain.. . - A few miniites more and the squaiL struck - the - ship,. ; ,,Ia a moment the vessel was thrown upon her beam ends./ ‘ Out away, the ' masts,!’ shouted the captain : but, still not a man moved'. -In another minute,, however, the rigging carried away, . the jpasv, went by the. board, and thus, "-relieved, the ship righted herself. Then the long-Buppreseed rage-, pf the crew gave .itself, and rushing aft, they seized the' -.A fewmißUtea.moref and he would ha>e tolWed the rigging, but the first! lieutenant going, below, opened the door of ths magazine and fired .his.pistol into There vyas,; a loud report, and . the ship ,was /no: >more. An hour afterwards’ an American vessel .one /of the craw.,who ..told the .story, of what had happened,, and died; shortly ‘afterwards.