Weary
of their long confinement, and bent, as the sailor always seems to be on
first putting into port, on a "good spree," a considerable number of her
men fairly succumbed to the hospitality of the worthy islanders, a
result that was not a little aggravated by the exertions of the
deserter, Forrest. This man appears to have entertained a deliberate
purpose of exciting a mutiny on board of the vessel, and with this
object in view, managed to slip overboard unobserved, swam to a boat,
and returned on board with a quantity of spirits, which he distributed
through the forecastle. The result was a disturbance, which at one time
wore a serious aspect, and which, but for the energy and promptitude of
the means taken to subdue it, might have had very awkward results.
The Captain of the Alabama, however, was not a man to be intimidated or
taken off his guard. No sooner was the disturbance reported than the
drums beat to quarters, and the sober portion of the crew were at once
directed to seize the rioters. Placed in double irons, and effectually
drenched with buckets of cold water by their laughing comrades, the
unlucky mutineers soon came to their senses, and order was restored. The
ringleader, Forrest, was then triced up in the mizen-rigging, "two hours
on and two off," to await the punishment of his crimes.
The next day brought a fresh vision of the Stars and Stripes, but this
time from the mizen-peak of a heavily-armed steamer, which appeared
early in the morning, standing in towards the harbour.
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