MUTINY ON THE AMERICAN WHALESHIP JOHN AND WINTHROP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 8987, 27 February 1888, Page 6 (Supplement)

MUTINY ON THE AMERICAN WHALESHIP JOHN AND WINTHROP.

One of the mates of the Petrel, Mr. John Young, a native of Norfolk Island, and a trustworthy person, handed to our correspondent on the Island the following statement :—January 2, 1888, spoke the John and Winthrop, who reported that about the 20th of December the ship stood in for the East Cape of New Zealand to regulate chronometer. At eleven p.m. the same night, while the officer on deck went to call the relieving officer, the watch on deck came aft in their stockings, locked the cabin doors, battening down the steerage and forescuttle, then cutting all the boats falls except the bow boat's, which they lowered, and eight men left the ship in her. After some difficulty the foremast hands got loose and released those confined aft. Sail waa made on the ship, and she stood in for the land to try and intercept the deserters, and at daylight they were discovered a mils and, a-half from the shore. The wind was blowing strong, and the ship soon came up with the boat, and they were called upon to surrender, but took no heed, bo two bomb lances and several revolver shots were fired at them without effect A carbine was then brought into play, when they down sail and gave themselves up. They were put in irons, and received, some a dozen, and somo two dozen lashes, '