OTAGO WITNESS
2 Mar 1861

The ship "John Bunyan", Captain John Allan, from London
arrived in this port this morning, after a favourable 
passage of 94 days. The sailed from Gravesend on the 12th
November, and experienced light and variable winds until 
reaching the line, which she crossed on the 9th December, 
the 27th days from the Downs. From the line she 
experienced fine weather, the exception of one gale of 
wind which lasted 48 hours, until reaching this harbour. 
The Bunyan is one of Shaw, Savill and Co.'s line of New 
Zealand packets, has brought 13 passengers and a full 
cargo for this place and is consigned to Messrs Bowler, 
Son, and Co. On the 1st February, in lat 48 deg, 32 min 
8' long, 134 deg. E., a serious mutiny occurred on board. 
The crew broached the cargo and got drunk, and coming aft 
threatened to take the ship. Captain Allan remonstrated 
with the crew, and requested them to go forward, which 
they refused to do, and still pressing on, the captain 
presented a revolver, upon which a seaman named Daniel 
McDonald alias Flinder Scott, struck him, when the pistol
accidentially went off, and the man stooping at the time 
the ball entered his forehead, and he died in about a 
quarter of hour after. At the time McDonald fall some of 
the crew were rushing up the poop ladder when the captain
again presented his revolver and threatened to fire at the
first man that came on the poop. This daunted the 
mutineers after which some of them allowed themselves to 
be put in irons, and the others were put in irons by force.
The officers of the ship then shortened sail, and with the 
assistance of the passengers have brought her into port. 
She came south about. On arrival the police flag was 
hoisted at the main, when the sergeant-major and a body of
police went off and brought the mutineers on shore. 
- Wellington Independent, Feb 15.


Converted to electronic form by Corey Woodw@rd