The Bounty Mutiny by William Bligh

Author:William Bligh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.

Mr. HALLET’s Evidence.

On the 28th day of April 1789, at day-break, I had the watch upon deck; I saw Christian, the officer of the watch, come up the fore hatchway armed, and several armed men following him, Burkitt, Churchill, Sumner, and Martin, no more; at first, I attempted to go down the fore hatchway, but was prevented by two fixed bayonets thrust up, and I was ordered to stay where I was; who they were I cannot say, I was then going aft, but before I got on the quarter deck, I heard Captain Bligh sing out “murder”; he was soon after brought on deck in his shirt, with his hands tied behind him, and Christian holding the cord that tied him, and a bayonet in the other hand, and kept in that situation with the guard round him.

COURT. Name the guard.

A. I do not know any more than I before mentioned.—The cutter was ordered by Christian to be hoisted out, and Mr. Samuel and myself ordered into it; but upon the Boatswain’s and Carpenter’s coming aft, and telling Christian they would prefer going in the boat with the Captain, than staying in the ship, desired to have the launch instead of the cutter; he granted it, and said, he did not wish them or any other to stay against their inclinations, or to go; they then asked for various articles that would be of use; and Mr. Heywood, Mr. Samuel, and myself, then went into the boat and were veered astern, Christian saying, he would hove us in near the land—We then got a few more things from the ship, and were cast loose.

Q. Did you hear any conversation between Christian and the Officers of the Bounty, about the launch or cutter?

A. The boatswain and carpenter came aft, as I said before, and spoke to Christian about them.

Q. What number of men were in the boat when you went into it?

A. By Christian’s order, I was the first in the boat.

Q. How long did the boat remain along side after you was in it?

A. Ten minutes, or a quarter of an hour.

Q. Were all the people ordered in, or did they go voluntarily?

A. I believe the most part went voluntarily.

Q. What number of men assisted in hoisting out the launch?

A. About twenty.

Q. Were all unarmed?

A. One or two gave their arms to others, and assisted, and as soon as done resumed their arms.

Q. What number of men did you see under arms that morning?

A. Ellison, Morrison, Millward, Burkitt, Hillbrant, Sumner, Skinner, Christian, Young, Churchill, Thompson, Alexander Smith, Mills, McKoy, Williams, Brown, Martin, and Quintal.

Q. What time did you make that memorandum?

A. Lately.

Q. Had you any conversation with the officers or men that morning, respecting re-taking the ship?

A. Seeing so many armed men, and no possibility of our procuring any arms ourselves, I believe it was deemed impracticable.

Q. When the mutineers gave their arms to others, whilst they hoisted out the boats, did they give them to their own party?

A. Intirely so.

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