_STATE OF HOSTILITIES, DISPOSITION OF THE PRIZE, ANOTHER MUTINY. FATE OF
THE LEADER. PLAN FOR LIBERATING THE PRISONERS. THE EXPEDITION. HAVANA.
THE RESULT. THE MEETING OF FRIENDS. A NEW OFFICER._
|At the time the Constance left the port of Boston, hostilities were
already the result of the oppression of the British parliament upon
the American colonies; indeed the town was already besieged by the
continental army under General Washington. The battles of Lexington,
Concord, and Bunker Hill, had resulted in a general resort to arms,
by every true hearted son of liberty. Although the commander-in-chief,
General Howe, (Gen. Gage having been superceded) would not admit that
he was _besieged_, but spoke of his situation and that of the army
as laying in winter quarters only, yet he knew full well that all
communication with the country was entirely cut off, and that even by
water he could not depend upon the safe arrival of provisions unless
under strong convoy. His own table at the same time showing a lack of
fresh provisions, while the soldiers suffered both in this respect and
for the want of fuel, which was so scarce as to lead them to destroy
small wooden tenements and convert them into fire-wood. In fact the
British garrison were suffering all the inconveniences of a besieged
town. The Americans had already fitted out several privateers, poorly
armed to be sure, but they were manned by young and indomitable spirits,
whose determination and consciousness of the justice of their cause
rendered them almost invulnerable, and they did seem ever victorious.
The captures they frequently made of provisions and ammunition were of
material assistance to Washington and the army gathered upon the
skirts of the town. They were but inefficiently supplied with food and
clothing, and as to ammunition and implements of war; every article
thus captured was a perfect Godsend to their limited stock, while in
munitions of war their enemies had nothing to desire, their supply was
abundant.
We are not obliged to depend solely upon books of history and old musty
records for information relating to this important era in our national
history, no. There are grey haired old men among us, whose eyes are not
yet dim and whose spirits still burn bright; men who were early fostered
at the foundation of liberty, and who spilled their blood in their
country’s cause. They will tell you of these things as having occurred
in their day and generation, and in which they acted a part. They will
tell you of the hardships and vicissitudes of a people struggling for
freedom, and of the almost incredible sufferings cheerfully endured
by all in furtherance of the great and holy cause in which they had
embarked.
When we realize the state of affairs at the time the brig left Boston,
we shall see that Channing was fully justified in the capture of the
vessel he had thus encountered. The captain of the barque was unprepared
for such an enemy and had supposed the brig to be one of the roving
buccaniers of the day, which crowded the tropical seas at that period
but when he found that he had struck his flag to a privateer of the
American colonies as he was informed, his rage was absolutely unbounded;
he was beside himself with passion.
‘I would rather have sunk where I lay, or have been taken by the
fiercest pirate on the ocean than to have struck St. George’s flag to a
rebel,’ said he.
‘The matter was beyond your control,’ answered Captain Channing, ‘and
you certainly are no more to blame in the premises than you would be had
you struck your flag to a buccanier as you had supposed.’
‘Poor consolation,’ said the enraged Englishman scornfully.
‘The very best I can offer nevertheless,’ was the answer.
‘And what do you propose to do with us now you have got possession,’
asked the captain of the barque. ‘Hang us up, all at the yard arm? eh?’
‘You will be treated as prisoners of war, sir,’ was the mild reply.
The prisoners were being secured and continued below, when Terrence
Moony came aft to the quarter deck, where he stood with his hat off,
twirling in his hands, endeavoring to attract the attention of his
commander, who at length observing him asked:
‘Well, Terrence what’s in the wind now.’
‘Plase yer honor, I’ve a frind here wid your permission, as wants to
jine the brig, sir,’ answered the Irishman.
‘A recruit?’ asked Channing, ‘and from among the prisoners; no,
Terrence, we only want our own countrymen, unless indeed it may be one
of yours, who are most surely with us in heart at least.’
‘That’s jist it, your honor, he’s Irish to the back bone of him.’
‘If that’s the case, Terrence, and you will be responsible for his
good behaviour, we will register his name and he shall be paid with the
rest.’
‘Oh, long life to ye’s and all sich,’ said Terrence.
The honest Hibernian actually danced with delight. He had by one of
those singular freaks of fortune, which do sometimes occur, met among
the prisoners an old school-mate, or rather townsman, for precious
little schooling had Terrence ever en-enjoyed. The man was very happy to
join his comrade and to serve in the brig in behalf of the colonists.
The crew of the prize consisted of fourteen seamen with three officers.
One of the latter was killed outright during the engagement and three of
the former. Captain Channing had learned a lesson by his former cruising
that he would not soon forget. He now divided the crew of his prize,
placing half in each vessel under close confinement. There were two
among them who represented themselves to be Americans, and who willingly
accepted the proposition to join the crew of the brig. Channing could
poorly afford to spare his first mate Jack Herbert, but he concluded to
place him in command of the barque, with six of the crew of the brig to
work her, assisted by the two Americans just named as having joined the
victors. This being done Herbert was ordered to keep as near as possible
to the brig, that both might act in concert when it should be found
necessary.
The ‘George of Bristol’ proved to be a rich prize. She had a large store
of small arms, and ammunition, besides a considerable sum of money
in specie, with a light cargo of fruit and was bound for the port of
Boston, having just taken in her cargo.
Both vessels now stood for the island of Cuba. Channing, who was
unacquainted in these seas, was fortunate enough to find a couple of
trusty men among his crew, who had been for several years in the West
India trade as seamen. These men proved of great service to him on this
occasion in the capacity of pilots.
The day after the capture of the barque, Channing stood by the taffrail
of the Constance looking towards the barque which was following in his
wake, when suddenly he observed a commotion on the deck, and taking his
glass he could easily discern that there was a fight or some unusual
commotion at least. The topsails of the brig were thrown aback, the
vessel hove to, and entering a boat, Channing pulled towards the barque,
which was now coming up to where the Constance lay. As he reached her
side, he overheard the loud voices of the crew in contention, and a cry
for help or mercy, from some on deck. The crew were evidently so
much engaged that they had not observed the approach of Channing, who
actually ascended the side of the prize before he was observed. What was
his surprise to find Jack Herbert, his first mate, and whom he had just
placed in command of the barque, bound and bleeding upon the deck,
while two of the men he had detailed from his own crew stood over him
to protect him from further violence from the remainder of the crew!
He leaped upon the deck between the two parties with a pistol in either
hand and a face upon which determination of character shone out like a
star.
‘Mutiny?’ said he half enquiringly.
‘Why you see, your honor--’ ventured one of the men.
‘Peace then,’ said Channing, ‘who made you spokesman for this ship?’
‘We thought, your honor,’ commenced another.
‘Stay, fellow, no excuse, there is none. Unbind that man,’ he said in
a voice so low and musical that one would have thought it was a farce
being rehearsed instead of a scene of blood. But those about him saw by
blue eye that watched their every movement that they _must_ obey. The
mate was quickly unbound, and the men shrunk cowering away from the
spot, gathering in a knot forward, and the most disaffected grumbling
aloud. Suddenly one of this latter number, as if determined to do some
mischief, sprang off to the tiller rope, and taking a knife from his
pocket was about to sever it, when Channing whose quick eye had followed
him said: ‘Hold there, what would you do?’
‘You ain’t old enough, sir, according to my reckoning,’ said the man
insolently, ‘to command two vessels at the same time.’
‘Hold there, I say,’ continued Channing ‘cut that rope and you sever
your own existence. Now cut if you will,’ said he levelling a pistol at
the man.
This man was one of the crew taken in the prize, and who had falsely
represented himself to be an American. He now paused for a single moment
as if undecided and then cut the rope, which caused the ship to broach
to at once: but it was the death signal of the mutineer. Channing,
taking a step or two towards him, sent a ball direct to his heart, the
man gave a terrific scream of agony and pain, and leaped into the sea a
corpse.
‘Who is there here that wishes to share that man’s fate? Who will make
himself an example for the rest?’ said Channing, still in the same low
musical tone of voice, while his eyes shone like living fire, and his
finger rested on the trigger of another pistol. Two or three of the men
now fell upon their knees and implored forgiveness.
‘You richly deserve the yard arm,’ he said.
‘Spare us,’ they cried; one or two having got a glimpse of their late
companion who still floated along side, were trembling with fear.
‘That will depend upon your future conduct,’ was the answer.
Channing soon learned that the Englishman whom he had just shot was the
cause of all the trouble and that he had by his oily tongue seduced
the rest from their duty. They falling upon Herbert when he was off his
guard had bound him. At the moment of Channing’s arrival on board they
were discussing the propriety of taking the mate’s life, and were about
to release the prisoners who were below. The two who stood over the mate
were not in the plot and were determined to protect him as far as was
in their power. The mutineers were carried on board the Constance
and exchanged for an equal number of her crew, whereupon Channing
immediately liberated them, telling them as he did so, that if they
wished to try any such game under his eye, they were at liberty to
commence as soon as they had made up their minds, to a like fate with
their late companion. But they understood with whom they had to deal,
and strove by their ready compliance with every order, and their zeal
to perform their duty, to show that they really regretted their late
conduct.
There was no fear of another out-break; the mutineers were subdued both
in deed and spirit. No one could blame the cap-taip for his conduct,
nor did any one of his crew do so at heart. It was a critical moment, a
single mis-step would have lost all and perhaps have been the signal for
his own death. It was no time for blustering, but for cool and decided
action, which reestablished his authority and showed the men that he was
one not to be trifled with. There was no passion displayed. Channing did
not loose his temper even for a moment. No, he spoke perhaps a key lower
than was his wont, yet there was a fearful distinctness in his words to
those men, that was not to be mistaken.
Captain Channing did not purpose to enter the harbor of Havana with his
vessels, but proposed to seek a quiet anchorage outside, then enter the
harbor at night with a chosen boat’s crew and attempt the release of
Lovell and his companion in misery. The vessels were therefore brought
to anchorage without the harbor and hidden from observation by the rise
of a friendly hill. Channing then sent for his first mate Jack Herbert,
and it was agreed to make the attempt to release the prisoner that
night.
‘You are sure you remember the ground?’ asked Channing of Herbert.
‘Every inch of it,’ said Herbert.
‘And the jailor’s ward?’
‘That’s at the entrance on the port side.’
‘You think you can pilot safely?’
‘Ay, sir, as to knowing the way.’
‘That’s all. I know your courage, Herbert.’
‘Thank ye, sir,’ said Jack.
‘Well then, I’ll take a boat this night at ten o’clock and pull round
into the harbor with your six men well armed. First, we will divide
ourselves _here_, after landing--’ said Channing taking a little chart
from his pocket which represented the prison and the contiguous grounds,
drawn from memory by Herbert, and pointing to the back part of the
prison. ‘We must divide our number here, and passing round each party
by different sides, manage to silence the sentinels that guard the
different angles. This must be done as silently as possible, no noise
you understand, that would destroy all.’
‘Yes sir, and bring down the whole barracks upon us.’
The sentinels once silenced and entrance gained to the jailor’s ward, I
think there will be no further trouble. Do you consider my plan a good
and practical one, Mr. Herbert?’
‘Just the thing, sir.’
‘Much will depend upon our discretion.’
‘Everything, sir.’
‘This must be impressed upon the men.’
‘I will drill them to a nicety, sir, before we start,’ said Herbert.
‘One great advantage we shall have, these cursed Spanish sentinels,
sleep half the time upon their posts, and if we arrive in lucky time, we
may catch them napping, and that would be half of the battle gained at
the outset, sir.’
‘Do you remember at what hour the guard is changed? asked Channing.
‘Let me think; at eight, twelve and four, I believe.’
‘We must manage to arrive at about one o’clock, A. M. The midnight guard
will be comfortably settled for the watch by that time,’ said Channing.
‘Just so, sir, the fellow will be snoring by that time I’ll be bound.’
‘I will select the men from the brig, Mr. Herbert, and you may come on
board, sir, at about half past nine well armed.’
‘Will one boat be enough, sir?’
‘Better for all purposes than two, and we must leave a respectable force
in charge of the prisoners, who need looking to.’
‘Very true, sir,’ replied Herbert.
‘I had rather have six chosen men, and they good ones, than three times
the number to attempt such an enterprise with,’ said Channing.
Thus the captain and his second separated to meet again at the appointed
hour for the hazardous undertaking.
The mild and beautiful climate of Cuba seems more like the Elysian
fields of poetic birth, than the air that forms the islands of the
ocean. Beautiful indeed is the genial influence of the mild zephyrs that
breathe over these pacific seas. As evening knelt and cast her broad
mantle over land and sea, the two vessels lay side by side, close under
the lee of the island, while the young commander awaited with apparent
impatience the arrival of the hour for the commencement of the proposed
enterprise. At length with the appointed hour came Herbert from on board
the barque, and the men having been directed to their duty, were each
one supplied with arms, and the boat with Herbert at the helm, now lay
at the side of the brig awaiting the presence of Channing.
He soon made his appearance from the cabin, dressed in white pants and
a becoming frock coat. About his waist was tied a heavy silk sash, into
which was thrust a pair of boarding pistols, and at his side hung a
light but servicable cutlass. He wore a graceful velvet cap upon
his head and looked the honest manly sailor that he was. He quickly
descended to the boat and assuming his seat in the stem, asked of Mr.
Herbert:
‘Are the oars muffled, sir?’
‘Ay, aye, sir!’
‘And everything in order?’
‘Everything, sir, according to order.’
‘Stay,’ said Channing, ‘Steward, hand me the brace of pistols and
cutlasses on the cabin table; these prisoners may require arms should we
release them.’
‘All ready, sir?’ asked Herbert, of the captain.
‘Yes sir.’
‘Cast off!’ said Herbert.
‘All clear, sir.’
‘Give way, men, steady, all together.’
These orders were given in quick succession, and promptly obeyed; and
the boat glanced on its errand with the speed of an arrow.
It was a long pull from the anchorage of the two vessels to the entrance
of the harbor of Havana, but the time had been well calculated upon, and
its mouth was reached at the desirable moment. The boat glided at
once from the open sea into the quiet land-locked harbor, without
molestation. They kept well in for the shore, and soon reached the spot
selected for them to disembark at.
Here we cannot but pause to say a word of the broad and ever beautiful
bay where a fleet of vessels may lay quietly at anchor, and whose
entrance will admit but a single ship at a time. Who has not heard of
the celebrated Moro castle that to this day guards the mouth of the
harbor of Havana? Who can ever forget the rough hoarse hail from ‘Moro’
who has passed into the fairy-like basin beyond? The shores though not
remarkably bold are yet very beautiful. The tall majestic palm and
other tropical trees, the genial softness and beauty of the foliage and
verdure, the rich glowing sky and fervid sun, all serve to remind you
that you are in a land of perpetual summer. You are carried back in your
imagination to the time in which the weary watching barque of Columbus
was first cheered by the soul thrilling cry of, ‘Land ho!’
And when the gallant adventurer and discoverer rested in peace before
the sunny isle of Cuba!
Leaving only one of the crew in charge of the boat, Channing and his
second officer crept quietly and unobserved to the prison, in which
Lovell and his companion were confined; but as they neared its frowning
walls, the low call of the sleepy sentinel on the eastern angle was
heard, ‘Who goes there?’
No answer was given to this summons while Herbert bade the men in a
whisper to keep close.
‘I will silence this fellow,’ said he to Channing.
Herbert was soon close upon him creeping upon his hands and feet, and
scarcely had the second challenge been uttered when he sprang upon the
soldier from behind, and placing his knee in the middle of his back,
bent him instantly to the ground. In the next moment the sentinel’s
neckcloth was pressed down his throat to prevent his giving the alarm,
and at a preconcerted signal made by Herbert, the crew came to the spot
and bound him. The other three soldiers were caught sleeping as had
been predicted, and each was secured and gagged without noise. They were
taken thus bound hand and foot, and placed in the little guard room in
front of the prison under the care of one of the crew. The rest of the
party led by Herbert as guide and Channing their commander, sought the
apartment of the old jailor, who was soon made to give up the keys,
and directly the cell supposed to contain the two young Americans was
unlocked, when two men with their fa: ces covered with hair made their
appearance. Both immediately recognized Herbert, but he could hardly
believe that the two miserable beings before him were his late
companions, but he soon found that there could be no mistake on that,
head at least, and he was soon clasped in their warm embrace.
‘So you have come at last,’ said Lovell after recovering from his excess
of feeling.
‘I feared that once at home with the joys and comforts about you that
are found there, you would hardly remember us.’
‘You ought to have known better, Bill,’ said Herbert wiping his eyes.
‘True, I did you injustice; forgive me.’
And the two shook hands again, heartily, drying their eyes the while.
‘Come, we waste time,’ said Channing endeavoring to suppress his
emotions at the evident suffering manifest before him.
‘Whom have we here?’ asked Lovell pointing to Channing.
‘Oh! that’s the captain whom you owe everything, for I couldn’t have
done anything alone. Damme if I hadn’t forgot manners,’ said honest Jack
Herbert, ‘let me introduce you--Captain Channing, this is Mr. Lovell,
sir, and this his companion whom you have come so far to liberate.’
‘Your servant, gentlemen,’ said Channing.
‘What could have induced such generosity,’ asked Lovell.
‘Nay, gentlemen,’ said Channing, ‘you must save your thanks for the
person who sent me, and remember that I am but an agent.’
‘Then you are a most faithful one,’ said Lovell as he warmly pressed the
captain’s hand, which trembled in his grasp. ‘Does the dampness of the
prison chill you, sir?’ asked Lovell, ‘we have got quite used to it.’
‘Come, come,’ said Channing, ‘we waste time, and in this place from
whence escape is so desirable.’
The party hastened from the prison, the boat was quickly gained without
molestation and all being safely embarked they pulled quickly out of the
harbor, for the place where the vessels lay. But the boat had hardly got
without the quiet harbor before they knew by the roll of the drum and
the sound of bustle and confusion that the alarm had been given. But
they were safe now, and laughed at the sound of confusion that came to
their cars over the still bosom of the sea.
Having reached the brig in safety, they were soon embarked, and the
anchors being weighed they stood out to sea at once. The first act of
Captain Channing’s after arriving on board the Constance, and subsequent
to a few necessary explanations relative to certain matters concerning
the brig, was to appoint William Lovell as his first mate and to
proclaim him as such to his crew.