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A
NARRATIVE
OF THE
MUTINY,
ON BOARD THE
SHIP GLOBE,
OF NANTUCKET,
IN THE
PACIFIC OCEAN, JAN. 1824
AND THE
JOURNAL
OF A
RESIDENCE OF TWO YEARS
ON THE
MULGRAVE ISLANDS;
WITH OBSERVATIONS ON THE MANNERS AND
CUSTOMS OF THE INHABITANTS.
BY WILLIAM LAY, OF SAYBROOK, CONN. AND
CYRUS M. HUSSEY, OF NANTUCKET:
The only Survivors from the Massacre of the Ship's Company
by the Natives.
NEW-LONDON:
PUBLISHED BY WM. LAY, AND C. M. HUSSEY.
1828.
INTRODUCTION. v
CHAPTER I. 11
CHAPTER II. 27
CHAPTER III. 50
CHAPTER IV. 72
CHAPTER V. 77
CHAPTER VI. 98
CHAPTER VII. 130
CHAPTER VIII. 138
CHAPTER IX. 154
VOCABULARY. 165
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, TO WIT
_District Clerk's Office._
Be it remembered, that on the twenty-fourth day of October, A. D.
1827, in the fifty-second year of the independence of the United
States of America, WILLIAM LAY and CYRUS M. HUSSEY, of the said
District, have deposited in this Office, the title of a Book, the
Right whereof they claim as Proprietors, in the words following, to
wit:
"A Narrative of the mutiny on board the Ship Globe, of Nantucket, in
the Pacific Ocean, Jan. 1824, and a Journal of a residence of two
years on the Mulgrave Islands, with observations on the manners and
customs of the inhabitants. By William Lay, of Saybrook, Conn. and
Cyrus M. Hussey, of Nantucket, the only Survivors from the Massacre of
the Ship's Company, by the Natives."
In conformity to the act of the Congress of the United States entitled
"an act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the Copies of
Maps, Charts, and Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such Copies
during the times therein mentioned:" and also to an act entitled "an
act supplementary to an act, entitled an act, for the encouragement of
learning, by securing the Copies of Maps, Charts, and Books to the
Authors and Proprietors of such copies, during the times therein
mentioned; and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of
Designing, Engraving, and Etching Historical and other Prints."
JNO. W. DAVIS,
_Clerk of the District of Massachusetts._
--------------------
_S. Green, Printer._
--------------------
TO JOHN PERCIVAL, ESQ.
OF THE U. S. NAVY,
Who, under the auspices of Government, visited the Mulgrave Islands,
to release the survivors of the Ship Globe's crew, and extended to
them every attention their unhappy situation required--the following
Narrative is most respectfully dedicated, by
WILLIAM LAY, &
CYRUS M. HUSSEY,
The Authors.
INTRODUCTION.
Formerly whales were principally taken in the North Seas: the largest
were generally found about Spitzbergen, or Greenland, some of them
measuring ninety feet in length. At the commencement of the hazardous
enterprize of killing whales, before they had been disturbed by man,
they were so numerous in the bays and harbours, that when taken the
_blubber_ was for the most part boiled into oil upon the contiguous
coast.
The _pure_ oil and whale bone were only preserved in those days;
consequently a ship could carry home the product of a greater number
of whales than a ship of the same size now can.--Indeed, so plentiful
were the whales in those seas, and taken with such facility, that the
ships employed, were not sufficient to carry home the oil and bone,
and other ships were often sent to bring home the surplus quantity.
But the coasts of these countries, were soon visited by ships from
Denmark, Hamburgh, and Holland, as well as from England; and from
frequently being killed in the shoal water near the coasts, the whales
gradually receded from the shores, and have since been found only in
deeper water, and at a much greater distance from the land.
In the earlier stages of the whale fishery, of which we are now
treating, the ships were generally on the whaling waters, early in
May, and whether successful or not, they were obliged to commence
their return by the succeeding August, to avoid the early accumulation
of ice in those seas. But it not unfrequently happened, that ships
procured and returned with a cargo in the months of June and July,
making a voyage only about three months, whereas, a voyage to the
Pacific Ocean is now often protracted to three years!
Among the early whalers it was customary to have six boats to a ship,
and six men to a boat, besides the harpooner. What at _that time_ was
considered an improved method in killing whales, consisted in
discharging the harpoon, from a kind of swivel; but it was soon found
to be attended with too much inconvenience to be much practised, and
the muscular arms and steady nerves of the harpooner, have ever since
performed the daring duty, of first _striking_ the whale. The ropes
attached to the harpoon, used to be about 200 fathoms in length, and
some instances occurred, that all the lines belonging to six boats,
were fastened together and ran out by one whale, the animal descending
in nearly a perpendicular line from the surface. Instead of going
prepared to bring home a ship load of _oil_, it was customary to bring
only the blubber, and instead of trying the oil out and putting it
into casks on board, the fat of the whale was cut up into suitable
pieces, pressed hard in tubs carried out for the purpose, and in this
situation was the return cargo received at home.
Of so great consequence was the whale fishery considered to Great
Britain, that a bounty of 40s. for every ton, when the ship was 200
tons, or upwards, was given to the crews of ships engaged in that
business in the Greenland seas, under certain conditions. But this
bounty was found to draw too largely upon the treasury; and while the
subject was under discussion in the British Parliament, in 1786, it
was stated that the sums which that country had paid in bounties to
the Greenland fishers, amounted to 1,265,461 pounds sterling. Six
thousand seamen were employed in that fishery, and each cost the
government L13 10s. _per annum_. The great encouragement given to that
branch of commerce, caused so large a number to engage in it, that the
oil market became glutted, and it was found necessary to export
considerable quantities.
In 1786, the number of British ships engaged in the whale fishery to
Davis's Strait and the Greenland seas, was 139, besides 15 from
Scotland. In 1787, notwithstanding the bounty had been diminished, the
number of English ships was 217, and the following year 222.
The charter right of the Island of Nantucket, was bought by Thomas
Mayhew, of Watertown, of Joseph Ferrick, steward to Lord Sterling, in
1641; and afterwards sold to Tristram Coffin, and his associates, who
settled upon it in 1659. On the 10th of May, 1660, Sachems, Wonnook,
and Nickannoose, for and in behalf of the nations of the Island, in
consideration of the sum of 26_l._ sterling, conveyed by deed, about
half of the Island, to the first ten purchasers, who afterwards took
in other associates.
Whaling from Nantucket, was first carried on from the shore in boats.
In 1672, James Loper entered into a contract with the inhabitants of
the Island, for the purpose of prosecuting the whale fishery, by which
it appears that James Loper agreed to be one third in the enterprize,
and sundry other people of the Island, the other two thirds, in every
thing connected with the undertaking. It was further stipulated, that
for every whale killed by any one of the contracting party, the town
should receive five shillings, and for the encouragement of James
Loper, the town granted him ten acres of land in some convenient
situation, and liberty for the _commonage_ of three cows, twenty sheep
and one horse, with necessary wood and water for his use, on condition
that he should follow the _trade_ of whaling for two years, build upon
his land, &c. &c.
Thus it will be seen that the commencement of whaling at Nantucket,
was on a very small scale, and practised only along the shores of the
Island;--whereas, at this time, our ships leave no seas unexplored in
pursuit of these monsters of the deep. We might pursue the subject
through the various stages of improvement up to this time, but it
would swell this introduction beyond the limits designed. It is
proper, however, to observe that the present number of ships employed
in the whale fishery from Nantucket, is about 70, averaging about 350
tons each, and manned by about 1500 seamen.
NARRATIVE, &c.
CHAPTER I.
The Ship Globe, on board of which vessel occurred the horrid
transactions we are about to relate, belonged to the Island of
Nantucket; she was owned by Messrs. C. Mitchell, & Co. and other
merchants of that place; and commanded on this voyage by Thomas Worth,
of Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard. William Beetle, (mate,) John Lumbert,
(2d mate,) Nathaniel Fisher, (3d mate,) Gilbert Smith, (boat steerer,)
Samuel B. Comstock, do. Stephen Kidder, seaman, Peter C. Kidder, do.
Columbus Worth, do. Rowland Jones, do. John Cleveland, do. Constant
Lewis, do. Holden Henman, do. Jeremiah Ingham, do. Joseph Ignasius
Prass, do. Cyrus M. Hussey, cooper, Rowland Coffin, do. George
Comstock, seaman, and William Lay, do.
On the 15th day of December, we sailed from Edgarton, on a whaling
voyage, to the Pacific Ocean, but in working out, having carried away
the cross-jack-yard, we returned to port, and after having refitted
and sent aloft another, we sailed again on the 19th, and on the same
day anchored in Holmes' Hole. On the following day a favourable
opportunity offering to proceed to sea, we got under way, and after
having cleared the land, discharged the pilot, made sail, and
performed the necessary duties of stowing the anchors, unbending and
coiling away the cables, &c.--On the 1st of January 1823, we
experienced a heavy gale from N. W. which was but the first in the
catalogue of difficulties we were fated to encounter.--As this was our
first trial of a seaman's life, the scene presented to our view, "mid
the howling storm," was one of terrific grandeur, as well as of real
danger. But as the ship scudded well, and the wind was fair, she was
kept before it, under a close reefed main-top-sail and fore-sail,
although during the gale, which lasted forty-eight hours, the sea
frequently threatened to board us, which was prevented by the skillful
management of the helm. On the 9th of January we made the Cape Verd
Islands, bearing S. W. twenty-five miles distant, and on the 17th,
crossed the Equator. On the 29th of the same month we saw sperm
whales, lowered our boats, and succeeded in taking one; the blubber of
which, when boiled out, yielded us seventy-five barrels of oil.
Pursuing our voyage, on the twenty-third of February we passed the
Falkland Islands, and about the 5th of March, doubled the great
promontory of South America, Cape Horn, and stood to the Northward.
We saw whales once only before we reached the Sandwich Islands, which
we made on the first of May early in the morning. When drawing in with
the Island of Hawaii about four in the afternoon, the man at the mast
head gave notice that he saw a shoal of black fish on the lee bow;
which we soon found to be canoes on their way to meet us. It falling
calm at this time prevented their getting along side until night fall,
which they did, at a distance of more than three leagues from the
land. We received from them a very welcome supply of potatoes, sugar
cane, yams, cocoanuts, bananas, fish, &c. for which we gave them in
return, pieces of iron hoop, nails, and similar articles. We stood off
and on during the next day, and after obtaining a sufficient supply of
vegetables and fruit, we shaped our course for Oahu, at which place we
arrived on the following day, and after lying there twenty hours,
sailed for the coast of Japan, in company with the whaling ships
Palladium of Boston, and Pocahontas of Falmouth; from which ships we
parted company when two days out.--After cruising in the Japan seas
several months, and obtaining five hundred and fifty barrels of oil,
we again shaped our course for the Sandwich Islands, to obtain a
supply of vegetables, &c.
While lying at Oahu, six of the men deserted in the night; two of them
having been re-taken were put in irons, but one of them having found
means to divest himself of his irons, set the other at liberty, and
both escaped.
To supply their places, we shipped the following persons, viz: Silas
Payne, John Oliver, Anthony Hanson, a native of Oahu, Wm. Humphries, a
black man, and steward, and Thomas Lilliston.--Having accommodated
ourselves with as many vegetables and much fruit as could be
preserved, we again put to sea, fondly anticipating a successful
cruise, and a speedy and happy meeting with our friends. After leaving
Oahu we ran to the south of the Equator, and after cruising a short
time for whales without much success, we steered for Fannings Island,
which lies in lat. 3, 49 N. and long. 158, 29 W. While cruising off
this Island an event occurred which, whether we consider the want of
motives, or the cold blooded and obstinate cruelty with which it was
perpetrated, has not often been equalled.--We speak of the want of
motives, because, although some occurrences which we shall mention,
had given the crew some ground for dissatisfaction, there had been no
abuse or severity which could in the least degree excuse or palliate
so barbarous a mode of redress and revenge. During our cruise to Japan
the season before, many complaints were uttered by the crew among
themselves, with respect to the manner and quantity in which they
received their _meat_, the quantity sometimes being more than
sufficient for the number of men, and at others not enough to supply
the ship's company; and it is fair to presume, that the most
dissatisfied, deserted the ship at Oahu.
But the reader will no doubt consider it superfluous for us to attempt
an unrequired vindication of the conduct of the officers of the Globe
whose aim was to maintain a correct discipline, which should result in
the furtherance of the voyage and be a benefit to all concerned, more
especially when he is informed, that part of the men shipped at Oahu,
in the room of the deserters, were abandoned wretches, who frequently
were the cause of severe reprimands from the officers, and in one
instance one of them received a severe flogging. The reader will also
please to bear in mind, that Samuel B. Comstock, the ringleader of the
mutiny, was an officer, (being a boat-steerer,) and as is customary,
ate in the cabin. The conduct and deportment of the Captain towards
this individual, was always decorous and gentlemanly, a proof of
intentions long premeditated to destroy the ship. Some of the crew
were determined to leave the ship provided she touched at Fannings
Island, and we believe had concerted a plan of escape, but of which
the perpetration of a deed chilling to humanity, precluded the
necessity. We were at this time in company with the ship Lyra, of
New-Bedford, the Captain of which, had been on board the Globe during
the most of the day, but had returned in the evening to his own ship.
An agreement had been made by him with the Captain of the Globe, to
set a light at midnight as a signal for tacking. It may not be amiss
to acquaint the reader of the manner in which whalemen keep watch
during the night. They generally carry three boats, though some carry
four, five, and sometimes six, the Globe, however, being of the class
carrying three. The Captain, mate, and second mate stand no watch
except there is _blubber_ to be boiled; the boat-steerers taking
charge of the watch and managing the ship with their respective boats
crews, and in this instance dividing the night into three parts, each
taking a third. It so happened that Smith after keeping the first
watch, was relieved by Comstock, (whom we shall call by his sir name
in contradistinction to his brother George) and the _waist boat's
crew_, and the former watch retired below to their births and
hammocks. George Comstock took the helm, and during his _trick_,
received orders from his brother to "keep the ship a good full,"
swearing that the ship was too nigh the wind. When his time at the
helm had expired he took the _rattle_, (an instrument used by
whalemen, to announce the expiration of the hour, the watch, &c.) and
began to shake it, when Comstock came to him, and in the most
peremptory manner, ordered him to desist, saying "if you make the
least damn bit of noise I'll send you to hell!" He then lighted a lamp
and went into the steerage. George becoming alarmed at this conduct of
his unnatural brother, again took the _rattle_ for the purpose of
alarming some one; Comstock arrived in time to prevent him, and with
threatenings dark and diabolical, so congealed the blood of his
trembling brother, that even had he possessed the power of alarming
the unconscious and fated victims below, his life would have been the
forfeit of his temerity!
Comstock, now laid something heavy upon a small work bench near the
cabin gangway, which was afterwards found to be a boarding knife. It
is an instrument used by whalers to cut the _blubber_ when hoisting it
in, is about four feet in length, two or three inches wide, and
necessarily kept very sharp, and for greater convenience when in use,
is two edged.
In giving a detail of this chilling transaction, we shall be guided by
the description given of it by the younger Comstock, who, as has been
observed, was upon deck at the time, and afterwards learned several
particulars from his brother, to whom alone they could have been
known. Comstock went down into the cabin, accompanied by Silas Payne
or Paine, of Sag-Harbour, John Oliver, of Shields, Eng., William
Humphries, (the steward) of Philadelphia, and Thomas Lilliston; the
latter, however, went no farther than the cabin gangway, and then ran
forward and _turned in_. According to his own story he did not think
they would attempt to put their designs in execution, until he saw
them actually descending into the cabin, having gone so far, to use
his own expression, to show himself as brave as any of them. But we
believe he had not the smallest idea of assisting the villains.
Comstock entered the cabin so silently as not to be perceived by the
man at the helm, who was first apprised of his having begun the work
of death, by the sound of a heavy blow with an axe, which he
distinctly heard.
The Captain was asleep in a hammock, suspended in the cabin, his state
room being uncomfortably warm; Comstock approaching him with the axe,
struck him a blow upon the head, which was nearly severed in two by
the first stroke! After repeating the blow, he ran to Payne, who it
seems was stationed with the before mentioned boarding knife, to
attack the mate, as soon as the Captain was killed. At this instant,
Payne making a thrust at the mate, he awoke, and terrified, exclaimed,
"what! what! what!" "Is this----Oh! Payne! Oh! Comstock!" "Don't kill
me, don't;" "have I not always----" Here Comstock interrupted him,
saying, "Yes! you have always been a d--d rascal; you tell lies of me
out of the ship will you? It's a d--d good time to beg now, but you're
too late," here the mate sprang, and grasped him by the throat. In the
scuffle, the light which Comstock held in his hand was knocked out,
and the axe fell from his hand; but the grasp of Mr. Beetle upon his
throat, did not prevent him from making Payne understand that his
weapon was lost, who felt about until he found it, and having given it
to Comstock, he managed to strike him a blow upon the head, which
fractured his skull; when he fell into the pantry where he lay
groaning until despatched by Comstock! The steward held a light at
this time, while Oliver put in a blow as often as possible!
The second and third mates, fastened in their state rooms, lay in
their births listening, fearing to speak, and being ignorant of the
numerical strength of the mutineers, and unarmed, thought it best to
wait the dreadful issue, hoping that their lives might yet be spared.
Comstock leaving a watch at the second mate's door, went upon deck to
light another lamp at the binnacle, it having been again accidentally
extinguished. He was there asked by his terrified brother, whose agony
of mind we will not attempt to portray, if he intended to hurt Smith,
the other boat-steerer. He replied that he did; and inquired where he
was. George fearing that Smith would be immediately pursued, said he
had not seen him.--Comstock then perceiving his brother to be shedding
tears, asked sternly, "What are you crying about?" "I am afraid,"
replied George, "that they will hurt me!" "I _will_ hurt you," said
he, "if you talk in that manner!"
But the work of death was not yet finished. Comstock, took his light
into the cabin, and made preparations for attacking the second and
third mates, Mr. Fisher, and Mr. Lumbert. After loading two muskets,
he fired one through the door, in the direction as near as he could
judge of the officers, and then inquired if either was shot! Fisher
replied, "yes, I am shot in the mouth!" Previous to his shooting
Fisher, Lumbert asked if he was going to kill him? To which he
answered with apparent unconcern, "Oh no, I guess not."
They now opened the door, and Comstock making a pass at Mr. Lumbert,
missed him, and fell into the state room. Mr. Lumbert collared him,
but he escaped from his hands. Mr. Fisher had got the gun, and
actually presented the bayonet to the monster's heart! But Comstock
assuring him that his life should be spared if he gave it up, he did
so; when Comstock immediately ran Mr. Lumbert through the body several
times!!
He then turned to Mr. Fisher, and told him there was no hope for
_him_!!--"You have got to die," said he, "remember the scrape you got
me into, when in company with the Enterprise of Nantucket." The
"scrape" alluded to, was as follows. Comstock came up to Mr. Fisher to
wrestle with him.--Fisher being the most athletick of the two, handled
him with so much ease, that Comstock in a fit of passion _struck him_.
At this Fisher seized him, and laid him upon deck several times in a
pretty rough manner.
Comstock then made some violent threats, which Fisher paid no
attention to, but which now fell upon his soul with all the horrors of
reality. Finding his cruel enemy deaf to his remonstrances, and
entreaties, he said, "If there is no hope, I will at least die like a
man!" and having by order of Comstock, turned back too, said in a firm
voice, "_I am ready!!_"
Comstock then put the muzzle of the gun to his head, and fired, which
instantly put an end to his existence!--Mr. Lumbert, during this time,
was begging for life, although no doubt mortally wounded. Comstock,
turned to him and said, "I am a bloody man! I have a bloody hand and
_will_ be avenged!" and _again_ run him through the body with a
bayonet! He then begged for a little water; "I'll give you water,"
said he, and once more plunging the weapon in his body, left him for
dead!
Thus it appears that this more than demon, murdered with his own hand,
the whole! Gladly would we wash from "memory's waste" all remembrance
of that bloody night. The compassionate reader, however, whose heart
sickens within him, at the perusal, as does ours at the recital, of
this tale of woe, will not, we hope, disapprove our publishing these
melancholy facts to the world. As, through the boundless mercy of
Providence, we have been restored, to the bosom of our families and
homes, we deemed it a duty we owe to the world, to record our
"unvarnished tale."