HOW CAPT AKEY SAVED HIS LIFE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 338, 10 October 1879, Page 7

HOW CAPT AKEY SAVED HIS LIFE.

(From the Eurelta Leader.) Capt. Akey, who killed a man in Nevada the other day, was mining in Tuolumne County, Cal., when the war broke out, and, with a number of other residents, volunteered his services. A company was raised, all good men, and he was elected captain. Much to their disappointment the Government decided to keep them in California, and they were ordered to Humboldt Bay. Akey's head was turned by the authority conferred upon him, and he began a series of petty persecutions which almost drove his men mad. They bore it for months, until it passed beyond the limits of endurance, and then they resolved to end it. This resolve took the form of a determination never to obey another command of Akey's. This was nothing more nor less than mutiny, and was punishable with death ; but the boys preferred that to the tyranny under which they had groaned and suffered so long.

An order had been received to proceed from Humboldt Bay to Red Bluffs, and Akey went by way of the ocean to San Francisco, while the company crossed the mountains. They were encamped on the bank of the Sacramento River when he arrived, and the crisis came as soon as he put his foot in the camp. He called the company out on parade, and ordered all thoss who had resolved to repudiate him to step two paces to the front. Ninety men, the entire company, firmly took the steps. The Sheriff of Tehama County was with them, and, turning to that officer, he asked him if he would assist him in arresting the orderly sergeant. The officer replied that he would, and the two started to do so. when they were both covered with fifty revolvers, the ominous click of which sounded painfully intense. The sheriff took to his heels and never stopped until he reached the ferry, a quarter of a mile distant, but Akey confronted the angry men as coolly as if nothing extraordinary was happening. The colour never left his face, nor did a tremor disturb his equanimity, although he fully realised that the men were thirsting for bis blood. Nothing but bis bravery saved him, for they had fully determined upon killing him, but, as he ran his eyes up and down the line and said, " Boys, the odds are too much," they respected his courage, dropped their weapons, and allowed him slowly to retire. The upshot of the affair was that he was relieved of his command, and, after an investigation of the circumstances, was discharged from the service. There was at first a determination on the part of the Government to court-martial the soldiers, but the offence was finally condoned, and they served out their term of enlistment, doing good work for their country. It is the only instance of the kind on record of a mutiny going unpunished.