HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN WHALE FISHERY. 135 



direction in which he judged the officers were, shooting Fisher in the 

 mouth. "They now," coutinues the account, "opened the door, and 

 Comstock making a pass at Mr. Lumbert (the second mate), missed biin, 

 and fell into the state-room. Mr. Lumbert collared him, but he escaped 

 from his hands. Mr. Fisher had got the gun, and actually presented 

 the bayonet to the monster's heart, but Comstock assuring him that his 

 life should be spared if he gave it up, he did so ; when Comstock imme- 

 diately ran Mr. Lumbert through the body several times. He then 

 turned to Mr. Fisher and told him there was no hope for Mm! 'You 

 have got to die,' said he, and he alluded to the wrestling affair between 

 them, and the full force of the threats made at the time became appar- 

 ent to the mind of the unfortunate second mate. Finding his cruel 

 enemy deaf to his remonstrances and entreaties, he said, 'If there is no 

 hope, I will at least die like a man !' and having, by order of Comstock, 

 turned back to, said in a linn voice, ' I am ready? Comstock then put 

 the muzzle of the gun to his head and fired, which instantly put an end 

 to his existence." The body of the captain was brutally mutilated, and 

 with those of the mates was thrown overboard, the first and second 

 officers being, in spite of their terrible wounds, still alive. 



Similar in diabolical atrocity, both in the lack of provocation and in 

 the carrying out of the plot, was the outbreak on the ship Junior, of 

 New Bedford, in 1857. The ship sailed in July of that year on a voyage 

 to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Christmas came, the day of hallowed 

 associations to the natives of civilized countries, whether their place of 

 sojourning be on the land or on the sea. The day passed tranquilly on 

 board the ship, Captain Melleu serving to each of the crew in the evening 

 a small glass of spirits to commemorate the return of the Christian 

 holiday. To all outward appearance, this kindly act on the part of the 

 captain, an act which has a specially friendly significance to the mariner, 

 was appreciated and reciprocated in sentiment by the crew. This being 

 accomplished, Captain Mellen retired to his cabin, and soon he and his 

 officers were calmly slumbering in their berths, little dreaming that 

 hands that had but just received the token of hospitality and good- 

 leeling from them would, ere another sun had dawned, be reeking with 

 their blood. The major portion of the crew, who also had no suspicion 

 of the cold-blooded schemes of their comrades, also " turned iu" to their 

 berths and slept. 



At about 1 o'clock in the morning of the 26th of December, the ring- 

 leader iu the mutiny, Cyrus Plummer, with four of his associates, all 

 armed with guns cocked and extra loaded, entered the cabin, having 

 first stationed live others outside to prevent aid reaching the officers in 

 case they gave the alarm. With the muzzles of their guns almost touch- 

 ing the bodies of their victims, the conspirators, at the word from Plum- 

 mer, fired. Three bullets pierced the body of the captain, who was 

 almost instantly killed. The first mate, shot by six balls, survived, 

 The third mate was killed with a whaling-spade or lance as he rose. 



