MUTINY ON THE HIGH SEAS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 4072, 7 April 1874, Page 2

MUTINY ON THE HIGH SEAS.

It has already been briefly reported that the Trevelyan, which has arrived at Port Chalmers, spoke and boarded the barque Satsunia, of Sunderland, bound to the Cape of Good Hope. The following are the particulars obtained : — STATEMENT 0? THB CAPTAIK. I, William Leslie, master of the barque Satsuma, of Sund&rland, on a passage from Cardiff to Table Bay with a full cargo of coals, was, on the morning of the 29th January, about 5 o'clock, surprised in my bed while asleep, by three men seizing me. One of them, the instant I raised my head, put a rope with a slip-knot over it, trying to strangle me ; another had a hatchet above tie j the third had a revolver pointed at me ; and the three of them with murder in their eyes. I, with the Btrength which despair alone gives, sprang from my bed, closed with and pushed through them on my way to the fore-cabin where the mate was asleep, dragging the man after me who had the rope round my ne«k, but did not reach him before my skull was laid upen by one or more blows from the hatchet, tho blood streaming down my face and blinding me. My head reeled, and I felt I could Bink on the deck. I reached the mate's berth, who in an instant sprang from his bed, and saved me once or more from being killed. Gathering all my strength again, I rushed from the mate's cabin and up the companion, and astoundingly dragged the man who still kept hold of me with the rope round my neck on to the poop. When I got there, I could get no assistance ; but shortly afterwards was joined by the mate, who was soon overpowered by one of the mutineers, who w?s a very powerful man. At this time, I managed to sever the rope ; but from being half-strangled, loss of blood, and suffering from the effects of the blows from the hatchet, I hardly knew what occurred. All that I can remember is, there seemed to be revolvers in all directions, for tho shots were whizzing round us, and one of them aimed a blow at my head with a handspike, which partly hit me, kaooking me down the companion. After that I did not know what took place for some time, thinking all on my side were shot or drowned. Shortly after the mate came to me, having got clear of them by some means. I was rery weak, and sat down in the after cabin, and was guarded from the skylight by one of the mutineers, who had a revolver in his hand. The mate was ordered from me, they at this time having the full charge of the ship. The cook, one of them, was sent down to the cabin, and handed up six rifles UDdor cover of their revolvers. They then looked down the skylight, and asked what boat they should take ; and after my telling them, they coolly asked if I was muoh hurt. On saying that I was, they said they wero sorry for it j that if I, being suoh a powerful man, had kept quiet I should have been all right. They then took the secoud boat in size, with mast, sail, and six oars ; one bag of bread, a breaker of water, wine, whisky, rum, one cheese, one ham, one log-line, a bag of nails, a compasß, a chart from the mate, pipes, tobacco, matches, some small cordage, also clothes belonging to other members of the crew. They were now calling for the Dunn, as they wanted to hang him before leaving. When I heard what was wanted, 1 begged of the ringleader (steward) to spare his life. At this time ono of them had been down below, and had called for him to come out, and fired his revolver in the dark several times. He was Btowed away under some rope, so he could not find him. They then took the rammer belonging to the large gun, at the same time putting a spike in the gun, also taking a quantity of black paint to disguise the boat, she then being white, with green border, and with blue bottom inside. They also cut many of the running ropes, taking saw, chisel, and lifebuoy, the ringleader sitting above, looking down the skylight, with a revolver in his hand, giving his orders in the coolest manner possible. Shortly after, the six left the ship, it being nearly calm, standing to the west. SECOND MATE'S BEMAItKS. At 5 a.m. I was in charge of the deck, and had just finished my coffee, when the steward came behind me and seized me by the shoulders, two others coming to help him. They threw me on the deck, one of them getting on the top of me, and another one of them held a pistol to my forehead, and said if I spoke he would blow my brains out, and the other two lashed my hands and legs. I asked them what they wero going to do, and they said if I kept quiet they would not hurt me ; if nob, they would throw me overboard* They then slung me with a rope, and lowered me down tho after hold, and then put the hatch on. I shortly after heard the captain cry for holp, and heard a rushing going on aft. Shortly after one of them looked down the hatch to see if I was still lying there. I asked him where the captain was, and I was told that he was dead. After the boat had left the ship tho mate came and set mo free. REMARKS Or DUNN, A.B. After 5 a.m. I was asleep on the deck, and was awoke by Beetram, and told to go on the forecastle. I went to the door, but found it was fast, and was told that something wrong was going on, and if I interfered it would be worie for me. Shortly after, Beeing a disturbance on the quarter-deck, and knowing they had revolvers, I hid myself in the hold. After being there some time, I heard voices telling me to come out, but did me no harm.