THE BOUNTY MUTINY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1765, 19 July 1888, Page 4

THE BOUNTY MUTINY.

The mutiny on board H.M.S Bounty in 1789, the remarkable career of the survivors on the Pitcairn Islands, and the subsequent exodus of those people to Norfnlk Island, are matters of history, but facts which have recently come to light revive interest in the event, John Adams, (says the New Zealand Herald), while serving on a man-of-war under his real name, Alexander Smith, saved the life of a midshipman on board by bravely jumping after him when he fell overboard. The young man, on returning home, related his narrow escape, and his relatives, desirous of acknowledging the brave conduct of Smith, who could not then be found, placed £IOO to his credit at the bank, the interest to accumulate until the reward was claimed. Many Smiths have claimed that reward, but were unable to establish their claims or identify themselves with the man ofwar or the incident. John Adams, the Bounty mutineer, cr Alexander Smith, as he actually was, has left three grandsons in Norfolk Island. John, the oldest grandson, who is now 60 years of age, being informed of the circumstances, proceeded recently to Sydney to establish the claim of the family. It is said that he thoroughly succeeded in identifying his grandfather with the plucky seaman who rescued this officer from a watery grave, and, after placing the affair in the hands of respectable firm of solicitors in Sydney, has now returned to Norfolk Island. Will it be believed that the investment of £IOO, some time prior to 1789, has now accumulated by interest and compound interest to the vast sum of £96,000? And yet that is the sum said to be now available for subdivision amongst the descendants of John Adams, the leader ot the Bounty mutiny. The facts as connected with the mutiny of the Bounty are so much matters of history that it is hardly necessary to refer to them. When Pitcairn Island was visited by the British frigates Briton and Tagus in 1814 there was a population of forty-eight, but only two of the original mutineers were survivors, and of these Alexander Smith, who had assumed the name of John Adams, was one. He was at the head of the colony, and was looked up to with the greatest reverence, and not undeservedly, as his character had undergone a thorough change, and he had not only long led a moral and religious I'fe, but succeeded in imbuing his little community with similar habits. He died in 1829, at the age of 63.