A STRANGE STORY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3781, 9 February 1881, Page 3

A STRANGE STORY.

According to the St. James' Gazette," "in a lately published book, written by Bear-Admiral Werner, of the German navy, a strange 1 si;ory is told of the way in which, many years ago, in 1836, a French man-of-war went down with all hands on board 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 caplnin, 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 after the anchor had been weighed, it became evident that a heavy squall was coming down on the ship, and the captain directedthe 'officer of the 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; still not a man moved. • This is a mutiny,' cried the captain, and then a hundred voices answered, 'We will not shorten sail.' In vain the terrified captain appealed to the officers to support him. They sW^od sjlei^and neither threats nor promises! availed ;to make man or officer move, save only a few who were noted 8S spies., and favourites of the captain. A few winutes more and the squall struck the' ship. In a moment the vessel was thrown upon her beam ends. 'Cut away the masts!' shouted the captain; 'but still not a man moved. In another > minnte, however, the rigging was carried away, the masts went by the board, and thus relieved, the ship righted herself. Then the long suppressed rage of the crew broke forth, and rushing aft, they seized the captain. A few minutes more and he would have followed the rigging, but the first lieutenant going below, opened the door of the magazine and fired his pistol into it. There was a loud report, and the ship was no more. An hcfcr afterwards an American vessel passing over the spot; picked up one of the crew ,vbo told the, story of what hap. pened^nd died' shortly afterwards.