ST. HELENA 29 



apple and mulberry ; and vines were planted in Horse 

 pasture under the management of the French refugees. 



When Blackmore died, the succession fell on the Deputy- 

 Governor, Captain Joshua Johnson. The colony was pros- 

 perous, and Johnson was a good man, but disliked by the 

 soldiers whose excesses he endeavoured to check. Crime 

 in those days consisted generally of what we should call 

 trivial things, such as slander, debt, unfairness in dealing, 

 cruelty to animals, and at times the whole of the inhabitants 

 would be called up for inspection. Governor Johnson was 

 warned of an intended attack on him by the soldiers — this 

 we find in the records — but, taking no notice, he retired 

 as usual to rest. Amongst the state guard on that night 

 was a soldier named Jackson, who planned with three of his 

 companions to rob the Treasury and escape. At dead of 

 night they 'let soldiers who were in their scheme enter, and 

 then sent messages to the other guards, getting them there 

 one at a time. All who objected to their plans were at once 

 cast into a dungeon under the fort which had been built 

 for " securing villinous and desperate blacks." Governor 

 Johnson always delivered the keys in person to the Sergeant 

 of the Guard, and came early as usual in his " gowne and 

 slippers." It is thought they only intended to place him 

 in the dungeon ; but he resisted, and three of the party fired 

 at him, mortally wounding him. They, however, hit Jackson 

 as well, wounding him in the arm. Finding themselves in 

 power, these ruffians with great haste threw the wounded 

 Governor into the guard-house; but his wife was by this 

 time aroused, and in order to quiet her they allowed her 

 with her two negro servants to drag the body up to her 

 own room. They then permitted the surgeon (who had been 

 brought up from the dungeon) to dress Jackson's wound ; 

 and afterwards, when they were convinced of the mortal 

 nature of the Governor's hurt, that was also attended to, 

 but death ensued that night. Fearful that the news of 

 their misdeed would get to the ears of those in authority, 

 they secured all the roadways ; and the soldiers, as they came 

 into the fort on duty, were locked up (there were fifty found 

 in the dungeon). After spiking all guns which overlooked 

 the anchorage, they got the Governor's chest, and with 

 whatever treasure they could find they went on board a 



