o_199m9vaui14ib1cnu10di10pocoj4h.pdf

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THE MUTINEERS ON SHORE
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appointed on each ship, and one of the twelve was chosen
to act as captain. When the seamen of the Channel fleet
went ashore, they were content to sit quietly on the beach,
or wander about in small groups, or enjoy unwonted rest
and refreshment in the public houses. But with the
Nore seamen it was far different. They landed at
Sheerness every day in large numbers, and marched
through the streets in a procession, accompanied by a
brass band, and led by their standard-bearer, MacCann. 1
When the leaders of the mutiny were rowed through the
fleet every ship's company cheered them as they passed.
And on water as on land the brass band was ubiquitous,
giving heart to the mutineers with its limited and patriotic
programme— " God save the King," " Rule Britannia "
and " Britons Strike Home." The delegates, in fact,
tried to perform every function with pomp and ceremony
in order to magnify the importance of their office and to
popularize the mutiny among the seamen by giving it
the appearance of a gala.
They held committee meetings in
the public houses at
Sheerness. 2 After the meetings they used the taverns for
more festive purposes ; and when they were with the fleet
they sometimes held carousals on the Sandwich which
lasted till the early morning. 3 In the course of their
processions they marched without opposition through the
1. Evidence against Thomas MacCann, A.S.I. 4172. MacCann was in
bad health at this time, and was twice examined by the Surgeon of the
Sandwich. Both the Surgeon and the committee of delegates wanted him
to go to the Hospital, but he refused to leave the mutiny, and " swore
he was determined to stay and see it out." He< opened a letter from
Admiral Buckner, which the delegates claimed as their perquisite,
and as a punishment for his presumption (according to his own account)
he was sent from the Sandwich, where the most important business was
done, to the Director. But he seems to have have had great influence
with the crew of the Director, and it was probably, in a large measure,
because of his presence that the ship did not leave the mutiny near
the end of May, when the Clyde and the San Fiorenzo escaped. See
evidence of Snipe, Surgeon of the Sandwich, at MacCann's courtmartial,
A.S.I. 5486.
2. Cunningham, p. 10. The "Chequers" Inn was their head-quarters
on shore.
3. Evidence of Lieut. Paul, of the Sandwich, at the trial of Gregory
and others. A.S.I. 5486.