Page:History of Australia, Rusden 1897.djvu/380

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fact that live other convict ahips had recently arrived with all theii* people in excellent state of health and strength iof bodyj" while thoRe in the ILrrfdi'R and Athts were ** in a state shocking to hnmanity. To the master of the Cttromftndd King conveyed his pleasure " at the general thankfulness and gratitude every prisoner expressed for your care and attention during the voyage/' On arrival of the Athfs and Ilt'rruU's "some of the convicts were lying dead with heavy irons on, and many died as they were coming from the ship to the hospital."^ King's commissioners, Lieut. Fowler, of H*M-S. Inri^sti- fftifoy, Dr. Harris, the naval officer, and Mi'. Law, master of a South Sea whaler, condemned the gross misconduct on board of the Ileirnlai mul AH<is, Proceedings were taken against the master of the Athta by 1 Jamison, the surgeon, ^vlio had sailed as a passenger, l)ut was compelled to leave the ship at Eio, The abductor. H, E. Hayes, associated intimately with the master, and Jamison brought actions against l>oth, in Sydney, Hayes Avas sentenced to six months' imprisonment; Brooks, the master, was ordered to pay £100 damages. The commander of the Jlcmtlea (Betts) reported a mutiny. Two sentinels w^ere on the quarter-deck. The other soldiers were between decks and unarmed. The master, chief officeL', surgeon, and purser, with Captain Wilson, a passenger, were at dinner. Screams of convict women were heard* A rush had been made, and the sentinel was overpowered. " I came forvar<l with loy officers and Ciiptain Wilson, txwJ imiiiediately shot one nmii, mIio had a Idundeibuss presentetl at iiie, but the piece did not go ort'; aouie more of the iimurgents were kiUed by the rest of the party ; and the convicts^ seeing their intentionsj frustrated, ran forward an ?+peedily as they came aft, ana the sliip'a conu>i*>uy and troops now being 1 collected together, l>egan to vent their rage nptjn aueh of the insurgents as were to be found on deck, in beating them with cutlasseH and the butt-ends fif their muskets, until at lengtii they forced them down into the priaon. When the tumult bad entirely subsided we found twelve of the convicta i killed, and ten wounded, two of wlioni died soon after, . , . It may be ' necessary to remark that Jeremiah Prendergasa, who towards the latter end of the affray I had been obligeil to shoot, was a desperate ringleader, "King t» Transport Commiasionera, 9th Aug, 1802. Subsequent im- provement in the condition of shipn and treatment of convicts waa greatly due to the benevolent exertions of ilris. Fry.