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after collected from different parts of the island, handcuffs were made and fitted to the wrists of the whole party; and a sort of prison, appropriately styled Pandora's Box, being only eleven feet in length, was built upon the after-quarter of the deck, in order that they might be kept separate from the crew, and the more effectually prevented from having any communication with the natives. Such of those friendly creatures as ventured to look pitifully towards them, were instantly turned out of the ship, and never again allowed to come on board. Two sentinels were kept constantly upon the roof of the prison, with orders to shoot the first of its inmates who should attempt to address another in the Otaheitian dialect. A midshipman was stationed in front of the bulk-head, through which the only air admitted found its way by two iron gratings, each about nine inches square. The master-at-arms received directions not to converse with the prisoners on any other subject than that of their provisions. Spare hammocks supplied the place of beds until they became crowded with vermin, after which the sufferers were obliged to sleep on the bare deck. The heat of the prison, during calm weather, was so intense that the perspiration ran in streams from their bodies; and to add to their misery, they were incessantly assailed by the effluvia proceeding from two tubs placed near them. In short, nothing was wanting to render their situation truly deplorable.

From Otaheite the Pandora proceeded to the westward, cruising among the different islands in her route, but without gaining any intelligence of the Bounty. During this search she lost a midshipman, and several men who were blown out to sea, when returning from Palmerston's Isles in the jolly boat, and thereby exposed to a lingering death, through hunger. The schooner which had been built by the Bounty's people, and commissioned as a tender by Captain Edwards, also parted company in a gale of wind; but after encountering many dangers, succeeded in reaching the island of Java.

• The Pandora arrived on the 29th of August on the coast of New Holland, and close to that extraordinary reef of coral rocks, called the Barrier Reef,' which runs along the greater part of the eastern coast, but at a considerable distance from it. Her second lieutenant was immediately sent to ascertain if any opening existed through which she could pass. At 5 P. M. he made a signal in the affirmative, but Captain Edwards wishing to be well informed on the subject, continued lying too until 7 o'clock, by which time the current had set the ship so near to the reef, that soundings were obtained with fifty fathoms of line, although no bottom could previously be found with more than double that quantity. The main-yard was then braced up, in order to stand off; but before the courses could be set, she struck with great violence upon a patch of coral, and almost instantly bilged.

The sails were scarcely furled, and boats hoisted out, when the carpenter reported that she had nine feet water in the hold.

'Three of the Bounty's people, Coleman, Norman, and M'Intosh, were now let out of irons, and sent to work at the pumps. The others offered their assistance, and begged to be allowed a chance of saving their lives; instead of which, two additional sentinels were placed over them, with orders to shoot any who should attempt to get rid of their fetters. Seeing no prospect of escape, they betook themselves to prayer, and prepared to meet their fate, every one expecting that the ship would soon go to pieces, her rudder and part of the stern-post being already beat away.

'About ten o'clock, however, she beat over the reef, and was brought to an anchor in fifteen fathoms water. At this dreadful crisis, the wind blowing very strong, and the ship surrounded by rocks and shoals, all the people who could be spared from the pumps were employed thrumbing a sail to fodder her bottom; but this scheme was soon abandoned in consequence of one of the chain pumps giving way, and the water gaining rapidly upon the other, which rendered it necessary for every person to bale at the hatchways in order that she might be kept afloat till day-light. Whilst thus engaged, one man was crushed to death by a gun breaking loose, and another killed by a spar falling from the skids into the waist. All the boats excepting one, were in

the mean time kept at a distance from the ship on account of the broken water, and the high surf running near her.

About half an hour before day-break, a consultation was held among the officers, who were unanimously of opinion that nothing more could be done to save the ship, and that every effort should be directed towards the preservation of the crew. Spars, hen-coops, and every thing buoyant, were accordingly thrown overboard to afford them support till the boats could come to their aid; but no notice was taken of the prisoners, although Captain Edwards was entreated by Mr. Heywood to have mercy upon them, when he passed over their prison to make his own escape, the ship then lying on her broadside, with the larboard bow completely under water. Fortunately, the master-at-arms, either by accident or design, when slipping from the roof of "Pandora's Box" into the sea, let the keys of the irons fall through the scuttle or entrance, which he had just before opened, and thus enabled them to commence their own liberation, in which they were generously assisted, at the imminent risk of his own life, by William Moulter, a boatswain's mate, who clung to the coamings, and pulled the long bars through the shackles, saying he would set them free, or go to the bottom with them.

'Scarcely was this effected when the ship went down, leaving nothing visible but the top-mast cross-trees. The master-at-arms and all the sen

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tinels sunk to rise no more.

The cries of them and

the other drowning men were awful in the extreme ; and more than half an hour had elapsed before the survivors could be taken up by the boats. Among the former were Mr. Stewart, John Sumner, Richard Skinner, and Henry Hillbrant, the whole of whom perished with their hands still in manacles.

'On this melancholy occasion, Mr. Heywood was the last person but three who escaped from the prison, into which the water had already found its way through the bulk-head scuttles. Jumping overboard, he seized a plank, and was swimming towards a small sandy quay (key) about three miles distant, when a boat picked him up, and conveyed him thither in a state of nudity. It is worthy of remark, that James Morrison endeavoured to follow his young companion's example, and, although handcuffed, managed to keep afloat until a boat came to his assistance.

This account would appear almost incredible. It is true, men are sometimes found to act the part of inhuman monsters, but then they are generally actuated by some motive or extraordinary excitement; here, however, there was neither; but on the contrary, the condition of the poor prisoners appealed most forcibly to the mercy and humanity of their jailor. The surgeon of the ship states, in his account of her loss, that as soon as the spars, booms, hen-coops, and other buoyant articles, were cut loose," the prisoners were ordered to be let out of

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