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Historical Records of New Zealand South

Romantic Capture By Convicts

page 69

Romantic Capture By Convicts.

The Wellington sailed from Sydney, December 12, 1826, having on board Lieutenant Buchanan as engineer of Norfolk Island, Mr Glass, superintendent of convicts, Sergeant Brown and a detachment of the 57th regiment, 83 prisoners, provisions, etc., for the island. Nothing extraordinary occurred during the early part of the passage. The prisoners were orderly and subordinate, all indulgence, such as plenty of water, liberty of cooking, etc., being allowed them. The weather continued fine, and everything seemed to promise a speedy and pleasant passage. On the 23rd inst., however, at about 12 o'clock, as the morning division was about to be released by the afternoon division, the preconcerted signal of "Land-ho!" was given by Douglas, one of the principals, and an instantaneous attack on the military commenced with handspikes, and such other weapons as could be procured. The soldiers obstinately resisted, fighting (to use the expression of the prisoners) like devils, but they were eventually overpowered, and forced below. A few shots were fired by the military, but to great disadvantage. One prisoner was wounded, and several of the military and prisoners received heavy blows. It had been so contrived that the soldiers could not get access to their arms, for some minutes after the attack commenced. The hatches were then closed. Captain Hancock and the chief mate were confined in their cabins, their pistols, etc., and the arms of the soldiers taken away. On gaining possession of the vessel, the conspirators immediately held a council on the quarter-deck, in which the following persons were conspicuous. John Walton, appointed as captain, and William Douglas as first mate, Charles Clay as steward, and Richard Hicks as boatswain; the others who joined in the attack were to be employed as occasion required. All prisoners on board did not assist. They were confined below with the soldiers as doubtful characters, and not to be trusted. It was concluded that they should make all possible despatch, and shape their course for South America, landing the soldiers and others not wanted at the first most convenient land they should meet with. The next day, however, the wind shifted right ahead. A long voyage being now calculated upon, a close examination of provisions was then thought necessary, when it turned out the water would not supply the number of hands on board more than a week longer, and other things, such as biscuit, rice, etc., were equally short. New Zealand was therefore fixed upon as the most convenient part to make, they shaped their course thither, for the purpose of obtaining fresh supplies, and on reaching that land, they steered for some hours along the coast to discover the most likely place to obtain water, and disembark the soldiers, etc. Being close to the Bay of Islands, they cast anchor inside some whalers, which were lying in this bay. It is customary on whaling stations (the Bay of Islands being one) for captains of vessels to board all they meet with for news. Therefore, as the Wellington was brought up, the captains of two of the whalers— the Harriett and Sisters, which were lying nearest the Wemngton—came on board, and were received on deck by "Captain" Walton, and his "first mate" Douglas, who stated, in answer to "What news?" that their vessel was bound for South America, and, being short of water they judged the bay to be the most convenient place to obtain it. Meanwhile a note was conveyed to Captain Duke, of the Sisters, informing him of the real start of the Wellington, who took no notice of the circumstance to those on deck, but immediately invited Walton to dine on board the vessel with himself and the captain of the Harriett. After some persuasion, Walton, not suspecting any information had been given, assented, and accompanied Captain Duke to the vessel, when he was in a few minutes informed that the real situation of the Wellington was no secret. He was, however, treated with civility, but given to understand that he was their prisoner. Night coming on, and about ten o'clock, Douglas, thinking Walton too long absent (the time being past at which he promised to return), manned two boats and rowed alongside the Sisters, inquiring for Captain Walton. Captain Duke, in answer, ordered Douglas away, informing him page 70that Walton was a prisoner, and the whole of their proceedings known. A second demand for Walton was made by Douglas and refused, he then pulled off, informing Captain Duke he had not come exactly prepared for what had happened, but, before morning, he would pay him a visit of another kind. Douglas, having reached the Wellington, selected thirty of the most daring and resolute of his men, armed them with pistols and boarding pikes, determined to take possession of the Sisters, and liberate Walton. Captain Duke, however, after the departure of Douglas, consulted the captain of the Harriett, and, after a little consideration, they deemed it most prudent to liberate Walton from their custody, which they did, and sent him on board the Wellington in one of their own boats, where he arrived just as Douglas was preparing to leave her, with his party, to attack the Sisters. The conspirators now thought it high time to weigh anchor, and waited only for daylight to steer out of the bay, but during the night the wind shifted right in, and to beat out was impossible; the tide being against them. Betrayed and exposed, they could not surmise what was best to be done; there were too many vessels in the harbour to attempt capturing them all, and the New Zealanders too numerous and powerful to trust themselves on shore. They therefore resolved waiting a change of wind, which they hoped would be in the course of the day. They were disappointed in this hope, and in the evening a message from the whaler was sent, demanding the surrender of the Wellington, or she would be fired into and sunk with all on board. Captain Duke and the captain of the Harriett had each on board their vessels twelve 9-pounders. They were stowed away in the holds of the respective vessels on the arrival of the Wellington, but had been, during the day, got on deck and mounted. Captain Duke also promised some muskets to two powerful New Zealand chiefs, if they would endeavour to board the Wellington in their war canoes, which they agreed to do. In answer to the message, Walton declared he would never surrender, and, expecting to be attacked, made all necessary preparations for defence. Among other means, he kept the coppers full of boiling water, should any attempt be made to board them. They had four 9-pounders, plenty of firearms, ammunition, and boarding pikes, and were sixty strong. They even contemplated destroying the two whalers in the night. On daylight in the morning of January 3, the conspirators found themselves surrounded by eighty war canoes of the New Zealanders, having on board upwards of 800 men, armed with spears, and evidently determined to board the Wellington if an opportunity offered. Walton had also observed the whalers getting springs on their cables, which meant something unusual; this was explained in a very short time by a sharp fire being opened by the Sisters and Harriett on the Wellington. Douglas, who superintended the guns, immediately gave them a discharge of grape, and forty men, well posted, followed with a volley of muskets. Two or three rounds of this kind satisfied the New Zealanders. About thirty were killed alongside, a great number dreadfully scalded, and, it is supposed, as many shot; several canoes, sinking with all hands on board, being too far from shore to reach it. Not one reached the deck of the Wellington, although several canoes fully manned got alongside, where they found a plentiful supply of boiling water. Having got rid of the New Zealanders, they found the rigging of the vessel had been cut to pieces, and the masts disabled, as the fire of the whalers had been so far directed aloft only; this the conspirators observed from the first, and it enabled them to be fearlessly on deck, and better able to defeat the New Zealanders. They now found the balls began to pass close to the vessel's hull, when Walton commanded his men to lay flat on the deck, as it was not possible to return the fire from the manner in which the Wellington lay. It was now evident that destruction was meant, the vessel making a great deal of water from the shots that had penetrated her sides; the soldiers and others below called aloud for mercy, "The vessel is sinking," etc., creating confusion and dismay. The fire now ceased, and a flag of truce was sent to the Wellington, again demanding surrender. It being evident to all on board the Wellington that a few more shots would sink her and seeing page 71urther resistance useless, they consented to give up the vessel conditionally that they should be allowed to go unmolested on shore, on such part of the bay as they thought proper. To save an effusion of blood, Captain Duke consented. At night, as many of the conspirators as chose went on shore. No person on board the Wellington had been killed or even wounded during the whole conflict, owing, it is said, to the humanity of Captain Duke, who directed his fire chiefly aloft. Having obtained possession of the Wellington and released the soldiers from their uncomfortable situation, they commenced the repairs necessary from the damage she had sustained during the fight. Captain Duke soon discovered a method of capturing the conspirators on shore, who, he had ascertained, were scattered about in small parties on land. Calling forth a few of the New Zealand chiefs, he promised the most intelligent of them an old musket each for every man they caught of the strangers. This had the desired effect, for in a few days the whole of the conspirators with the exception of six were brought on board the Sisters in small parties of two, three, four, and six; Walton, Douglas, Clay, and Hicks being among them. Three out of the six not taken were captured in New Zealand two years afterwards, and sent to Norfolk Island; the other three escaped in an American whaler. Captain Duke gave up his whaling voyage, and accompanied the Wellington to Sydney, where he witnessed the trial of the conspirators, nine of whom were executed, and twenty-four sent for life to Norfolk Island to work in chains; among the latter being Walton, Douglas, Clay, and Hicks, whose lives were spared through Captain Duke's intercession.—From MS. "History of Norfolk Island," in Hobart Museum.