Living conditions for sailors in these days was generally appalling, and occasionally, there would be a mutiny. One of the more brutal ones occurred on the Globe, a whaler out of Nantucket, in 1824. Seven mutinous crewmen took control of the ship, killing the captain and three other officers. They landed the ship on Mili Atoll, in the Marshall Islands. A few days later, the leader of the mutiny was killed by one of his comrades. The seven remaining mutineers headed east to Chile where they were taken into custody. The ten loyal crewmen were left behind, and by the time of rescue two years later, islanders had killed all but two. Item 94 is the account by the two survivors, William Lay and C.M. Hussey, published in 1828: A Narrative of the Mutiny, on Board the Ship Globe...
It tells of both the mutiny and the inhabitants of the isolated island. $2,000.
Item 132 is a large archive of personal papers of Admiral William Branford Shubrick, dating from 1820-1864. Branford was born in 1790 and served during the War of 1812, but he most made his mark in the Mexican War. Admiral Shubrick headed the Pacific Squadron during the latter stages of that war. He operated blockades off the western coast of Mexico, and captured several towns. Shubrick continued in various naval duties until 1861, a career of 55 years, retiring shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War. Though a South Carolina native, Shubrick remained loyal to the Union, but at age 71 was a bit old for active participation. Much of the material in the archive relates to the Mexican War though it spans a much greater period of time in the Admiral's life. $42,500.
William Reese Company may be reached at 203-789-8081 or amorder@reeseco.com. Their website is www.reeseco.com.
