Auto Light and its 98,000 dealers bring you Mr. Charles Lawton in tonight's presentation
of Suspense.
Tonight Auto Light presents the dramatization of an amazing document in which an unbelievable
voyage is chronicled, beginning with that moment when Fletcher Christian led the men
on HMS Bounty to Mutiny, The Revenge of Captain Bly, our star Mr. Charles Lawton.
Well, Hap, you're doing a little reading.
Looks like a good book.
Well, it's not, Harlow.
Sure can't tell a book by the cover.
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What's the difference, Harlow?
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And now, auto light presents transcribed, Mr. Charles Lawton, in the revenge of Captain
Bligh, hoping once again to keep you in suspense.
This story is true.
It is gathered from the court records and the diary of a naval officer who performed
the incredible feat of sailing an open boat some 3,600 miles from the friendly islands
to Timor, carrying himself and 17 others to safety.
It is the story of a man's tenacious hold to life and a principle which he held even
more dear, a ruthless disciplinarian, a great man of the sea, a man with one goal, to see
justice done.
This then is the chronicle of Captain William Bligh in command of his majesty ship Bounty.
All right now, cheer up, I thought we'd got a giant to you.
You hear me?
You listen!
All right, my lads, now you hear this.
I'll do you all justice before I'm done, for I know who's in the hold.
Mr. Christian, you lily-livered wretch, you and the whole besotted lot of you, you hang!
I'll see you hanged and your names will be cursed for every ship in his majesty's navy.
Remember what I say, Mr. Christian.
I'll come back.
Remember, I'll come back.
We were nineteen in number, the size of the launch was twenty-three feet from stem to
stern and rode six oars.
Four cutlasses were our armament and no other arms of any kind.
We were cast adrift with twenty-eight gallons of water, a hundred and fifty pounds of bread,
thirty pounds of salt pork, six quarts of rum and six bottles of wine.
We were so deep and lumbered that there were seven and a half inches of wood amid ships
between us and the sea.
And that's the way it was when we dropped to stern of his majesty's ship bounty.
A ship in full mutiny, commanded no longer by your obedient servant, Lieutenant William
Blind.
Having little or no wind, we rode pretty fast toward the island of Tofoe, which bore northeast
about ten leagues distance.
The spirits of the men were low and I had to do my best to cheer them.
For myself, I was resolute.
I was going to live to see a trial and vindication of my command.
I'd feel a sight better, Captain, if we had an arm full of muskets.
So would we all, Mr. Hayward, so would we all, but we haven't.
We must make the best out of what those scurvy knaves have given.
Hey, wither well, lads, Captain Bly won't let you down.
You'll all live to swill ale and pinch a bit of strawberry jam again.
Mark my words.
That bounty's almost all down, Captain.
Aye, they're bound for Otohiti.
They flatter themselves with the hope of a happier life on that island than they can
enjoy in England.
I heard some of the men talking about the women there a few days ago, sir, but I never
believed that it would lead to mutiny.
This.
Well, it has, has it not, Mr. Harrods?
And like true British sailors, we must take the good with the bad.
Am I right, lads?
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
Oh, yes, sir.
An easterly breeze sprang up which enabled us to make sail, and we reached Tofawa in the
evening, though not before dark.
There being no anchorage and the shore so steep that we could not land, we were obliged
to keep the boat under the lee of the island with two oars.
Thus we spent our first night adrift.
Captain Blizer, wake up.
Not asleep, Mr. Harrods.
What is it?
Able Seaman Hall, sir.
We've been at the water
So you say?
Able Seaman Hall!
Aye, aye.
You were drinking of the boat's water supply.
I was thirsty.
We got the island line over there.
Come morning, we'll have all the water we want.
You're familiar with the island of Tofawa Hall?
You know we'll find water?
You know the natives are friendly?
They'll allow us to come ashore?
You know nothing!
Now I speak to every last soul in this boat.
Our situation is dangerous but not hopeless.
If we maintain discipline, this we shall do.
Able Seaman Hall, no water for 24 hours.
That ain't fair.
36 hours, Able Seaman Hall.
And you will address me as befits both your station and mine.
Captain, Captain Blizer.
Do you have anything else to speak of, Able Seaman Hall?
No, sir.
Captain.
Very good.
Quartermaster.
Aye, sir.
You will be in charge of the water casks.
We shall determine the rationing after we have explored the island in the morning.
That is all.
As I saw it, it had to be that way.
These few men loyal to me were going to live.
I would see to it.
To live meant measures which in their very harshness could mean the salvation of us all.
Little did we realize then that our lot on that first day was a veritable paradise compared
to the hell that was to follow.
Daybreak a very nasty squall arose and we were in imminent danger between wind and wave of
swamping.
A great surf was running into the island and it was not until later in the morning that
we were able to affect a landing.
This we did in a cove with a stony beach where I dropped the grapnel about 20 yards from
the shore which shelved very gently.
The ground is all gold, aye, sir?
Very good.
Mr. Howard.
Aye, sir.
You will take four men, Lincolter, Norton, Smith and Samuel.
Aye, sir.
There is a possibility of finding breadfruit coconuts but most important, water.
However, I do not wish you to venture into the interior more than a quarter of a mile.
Take two of the cutlasses and if you see any sign of natives you are to return immediately.
Very well, sir.
We have been gone for over an hour, Captain.
I am well aware of the time of the day, Mr. Hayward.
Well, sir, I was wondering, perhaps they have run afoul of the natives.
In which case if we followed we could do no better than run afoul ourselves.
No, Mr. Hayward, without musket and pistol we dare not take the risk.
Aye, sir.
These islanders, all of them, Mr. Hayward, treacherous.
You must remember that.
If anything were to happen to me you would be next in command.
I give you warning now for I have sailed these parts.
You must behave with the utmost circumspection.
Undertake no landing unless you take reasonable precautions such as we do here.
Lying at anchor from the shore.
Better wet feet than cut throat.
Aye, I'll remember, sir.
Captain, Captain, I see them, sir, upon the bluff there.
They are running.
It's natives, natives after us.
Go, look, they're even great bloody stones.
Come on, come on.
That's my retrograph before the master.
There's over 100 of them.
Two.
Our lads will never get down in time, sir.
We'll give them every chance, sir, Mr. Hayward, until it is no longer safe to remain.
Go, one of our lads is down.
Look.
Who is it?
Can't see.
He got bashed by one of them bloody stones.
Get to your oars, lads.
I can see Mr. Harlots, sir.
I can recognize him.
He's got a gun.
He's got a gun.
He's got a gun.
He's got a gun.
He's got a gun.
He's got a gun.
He's got a gun.
He's got a gun.
I can see Mr. Harlots, sir.
I can recognize him.
And Smith, Samuel, and Linklater.
It's not an ape hit up there.
Oh, you look at the do-do.
That's enough, Mr. Hayward.
Leave the graph, old quartermaster.
We'll stand by with oars.
I can't.
It's bowed, Kevin.
I can't hold it.
Get another hand on the line, quartermaster.
Give the lads a hand over the side.
Leave the land.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
I can't.
Keep your hands out.
Keep your hands out.
Keep your hands out.
Keep your hands out!
Keep your hands out!
Keep your hands out!
Keep your hands out!
Keep your hands out!
Keep your hands out!
Keep your hands out!
Keep your hands out!
Keep your hands out!
Heads down.
Hel Junction.
Hel Junction.
The natives were already waiting to the boat and one had his hand on the Grappnall Line.
The Grappnall still fouled wouldn't give and if I had not had a knife in the pocket with
which I cut the rope we'd all have perished on that spot.
As it was, their attack with the heavy stones, which the natives threw with great accuracy and skill,
disabled a number of us, including Mr. Midshipman Hayward.
The unfortunate Jonathan North knew had been felled on the bluff was a last I felt most keenly.
Thus we escaped the onslaught of the Tofuan natives and setting sail steered for the open sea.
It was at this point that I decided to tell the men what was in my mind.
Their provisions are accounted for, sir.
We lost three bottles of wine, one of rum, five pounds of pork in the attack.
The bread is in good condition.
Thank you, Mr. Hallows.
All right, lads.
Here is the plan I have considered.
I put it to you as the most reasonable for our well-being.
Who is your captain?
We set a course for Timor, where there is a Dutch settlement.
Timor? That's a full 1200 leagues, Captain. Not in an open boat.
In an open boat, Abel Seaman Hall.
3600 miles.
The closest point of safety unless you prefer the sanctuary of another Tofua.
Captain, I beg your pardon, sir, but we have no maps.
Priceless few instruments.
I am aware of that fact, Mr. Hallows.
I say no.
Without provisions and overloaded as we are.
I am not asking permission, lads. I am saying thus and thus.
I give you the privilege as sailors of His Majesty's navy of knowing the captain's decision.
A rare privilege indeed.
From this moment, the rations will be as follows.
One ounce of bread and one quarter of a pint of water a day.
The pork will be equally shared in one ounce portions every two days.
I shall now demand your promise that you respect my order.
For in so doing, I promise you, that you shall see England again.
You have mine, sir.
And mine?
I'll give mine gladly, Captain.
So be it.
Break out the rum, Quatermaster, a tot for every man.
We'll drink to Timon.
Timon!
And we bore away across a sea where the navigation is but little known.
In a boat twenty-three feet long from stem to stern, deeply laden with eighteen men.
I was happy to observe that at that moment almost everyone seemed better satisfied with his situation
than myself.
A condition which unfortunately was not long to exist.
Auto Light is bringing you Mr. Charles Lawton in The Revenge of Captain Bligh.
Tonight's presentation in radio's outstanding theater of thrills, Suspense.
Say, Hap, have you had your car checked for spring?
Well, no, I haven't, Harlow.
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either standard or resistor type.
Remember, from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Auto Light.
And now, Auto Light brings back to our Hollywood soundstage Mr. Charles Lawton
in Elliot Lewis's production of The Revenge of Captain Bly, a true report well calculated to keep you in suspense.
The remainder of that day and the following until noon we made with sail 94 miles.
We passed a number of islands but did not venture to land, and so the hours passed into days.
We logged our passage five, six hundred miles, always closer to England.
Justice.
The supply of food, meager as it was, was contentedly received by the crew, but we suffered great thirst.
It was this thirst which nearly brought upon us a second disaster.
The wet weather came upon us.
First it was a miracle from the heavens, a replenishment of our water supply.
As the seas rolled up and began to break over us, it became an agony of torment.
We were never dry, not for an instant.
Then one morning, after a severe blow in which we'd constantly bailed through the night, the rain stopped, the sun appeared, cold and wintery.
Water and bread rations.
It's a misery, sir, all those islands lying so close that we can't put in for provisions.
I know, Mr. Hayward, I may tell you I've thought of it often. The temptation is great, but we must go on.
Ah, yes, and odd things, sir. A few days ago I didn't mind. I don't think the men did either, the scanty bread rations.
But since that rain I feel as though there were hot poker in my stomach, sir.
For long our lives with such as we have, Mr. Hayward, is preferable. This is our duty.
Ah, salt! The water's salt!
Here, here, here, here, what's this?
Water's turned salt in the cask, sir.
That's another drop, lads. Don't swallow the drop, let me see.
Spout, swat overboard.
Must have happened last night, sir, those waves breaking over us.
Try the next cask, they can't all have spoiled.
Salt.
An ocean of salt about us and in the boat, in the precious water casks, not a jill fit to drink.
An ocean of salt.
And now the sky was crowdless.
We endured this state for two days, on the third, Abel Seaman Hall approached me in the stern.
I was readily apprised of what was to come by observing the furtive expressions on the faces of half a dozen or so of the men near him.
Captain.
What is it, Hall? Your station is forward.
Beg permission to speak to the captain, sir.
Permission granted.
Me and some of the men, sir, we've been talking.
Them islands we passed a day ago and more on the lee horizon.
We respectfully request you to put in for water before we all perish from third.
No.
Sir. My answer, Abel Seaman Hall, is no.
All of you.
Do I have to remind you again of Tefoa, of Jonathan Norton?
There are clouds building up to the north, perhaps in a few hours we shall have rain.
And if we don't, captain?
Then we'll wait. The rains will come again. In the meantime, we will wait.
Wine then, captain. We've still got the wine. Give us a supper of that.
Mr. Hallett.
Aye, sir.
Fetch me those wine bottles.
Aye, sir.
The wine will remain by my side. Whosoever desires to partake of it without my express orders will do so at his own peril.
Aye.
Do I make myself clear?
Aye, aye, sir.
Abel Seaman Hall, the interview is over. You may return to your session.
Captain, you...
Aye, aye.
Sir.
I was apprehensive, to say the least. One calamity we had endured aboard the bounty.
And here, I could see dark stirrings again.
It was Hall who was the ringleader. It was he that I should have to watch most closely.
Beside the boat watch I set another in the stern between midshipman's Hallett Hayward, Mr. Samuel the clerk, and myself.
A watch to prevent mutiny.
Providence smiled upon us the next day and the rain fell in torrents.
We replenished our supply but equally were nearly swamped by the deluge.
In the afternoon we saw many birds about us, boobies and noddies, but none alighted to nourish us by their presence.
In that great expanse of sea, distant and far away, we saw a
great expanse of sea. Distance was measured by saneness.
It might have been a thousand miles we had sailed or ten thousand. By my reckoning we were now approaching the coast of New Holland.
Our appearance was shocking and several of my people were half dead.
I resolved therefore to risk all and make a landing on one of the New Holland group, if such it was.
This a day and a half later we did, without incident.
A very small island sir, not much here I'm afraid.
Did you see a sign of natives? No sir. Then we are at least fortunate in that.
The men found some oysters sir, they're bringing them in now. That's about all. A few berries.
Very good Mr. Hayward. Now listen to me, you Mr. Hallett and you Hayward, we can't remain here.
If once the men accustomed themselves to this place we shall have great difficulty in making them return to the boat.
I know sir, but don't you think a few days... I do not.
A few days and we shall have lost the will to continue on. There is a goal to be reached, Timor.
A settlement where the processes of law may be affected. I purposely chose this island in the hope that it was not inhabited.
But over there, from there may come the danger.
It too may be uninhabited. And if it is not, these natives are a sea-faring people. You have not perhaps seen their canoes Mr. Hallett.
Take my word, we are even now more than likely observed.
No, we must get underway before sunset.
Captain Bligh, Captain Bligh.
What is it quartermaster, where are the rest of the men?
They say they aren't coming sir, they'll take their chances here rather than the boat again.
They say that?
Yes sir.
Take me to Mr. Hallett, Mr. Hayward, the cutlasses, the cutlasses of you please, follow me.
I have ordered you into the boat, I repeat that order.
Captain, we can't.
We're off dead sir.
Aval Seaman Hall, step forward.
Forward.
I am determined to preserve my command or die.
Mr. Hallett, give this man a cutlass, neither he nor any other man will cheat me of the justice which I will have.
I have lived this long with that purpose. Hall, one of the others will have his way.
You'll kill me.
That is exactly what I intend to do. I am obliged Mr. Hallett. Now Hall, defend yourself.
It ain't fair, I ask you, is it fair?
No it is not fair.
Pick up your cutlass man.
Have mercy, mercy captain.
You nasty little beast, get into the boat before I cut your ears off.
I had maintained discipline but at what risk I did not know.
The men had laughed at Hall's discomfiture but I knew that unless our lot was soon bettered, their laughter might soon turn to growling.
For the next few days however I must admit that I was pleased with their renewed confidence, all except for Aval Seaman Hall who upon occasion cast glances which were laden with the villain.
His last attempt to defeat my purpose occurred in the early grey morning, thirty-nine days since the mutiny on the bounty.
I awoke from restless sleep to discover Hall who had the watch tearing at a booby bird which he had a moment ago captured.
You! Hall! You foul excuse for humanity!
We are to share out and share out for life!
I will not stand for any more.
You think that I do not suffer as you, all of you?
I thirst and hunger?
I brought you more than three thousand miles in this twig.
We are alive.
In two days maybe we should reach Timor.
I have lived to see justice done. It will be done.
I have lived because it is my duty to bring you men who have been loyal to me, to safety.
This too will be done. Do you hear me?
Mr. Heywood, you will divide the bird amongst the men equal shares. The blood will be given to the weakest, Ledwood, LeBogge and Nelson, and a dollop of rum to the rest.
I remember that last day, the day that we sighted the island of Timor.
Timor! Timor!
I did not know where the Dutch settlement was situated, but had a faint idea that it was the southwest part of the island.
I decided to make for that point.
If it is inland, sir, or even slightly hidden from view, Captain Weave, we may pass the settlement and never know.
Sure. The winds and currents are unfavorable. We may be blown further out to sea.
I beg of you, let us put in now. Requeue no strength before we go on to the settlement.
Break out the oars, we shall keep her on course with the oars.
No, Captain, no.
The oars!
Sir!
Hold your tongue, Mr. Heywood. I've already given the order. We land at the settlement and there's no other place.
It was at daybreak of the next day that we came to a grapnel up a small fort in town which I later learned was Coupang, the Dutch settlement of Timor.
Among the things which the boatsmen had thrown into the boat before leaving the bounty was a bundle of signal flags and the Union Jack.
These I now had hoisted in the main shrouds as a signal of distress, for I did not think it proper to land without leave.
So ended our voyage.
Captain Bly returned to England and saw that his justice was done.
Some few of the bounty mutineers were captured. Four of them were hanged, two convicted, then later pardoned, and four others acquitted of the charges against them.
Concerning the remainder led by Fletcher Christian, they were never apprehended. However, their descendants may be found in person living a now peaceful life on Pitcairn Island, deep in the wide latitudes of the Pacific Ocean.
Suspense. Presented by Auto Light. Tonight's star, Mr. Charles Lotton.
This is Harlow Wilcox for Auto Light, the world's largest independent manufacturer of automotive electrical equipment.
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In service, too, Auto Light facilities are worldwide. Wherever you travel, you'll find trained experts prepared to serve your technical needs.
So for superior products, always look for the name Auto Light because from bumper to tail light, you're always right with Auto Light.
Next week, the terrifying story of a double murder and the woman who became involved in this criminal activity.
It's called Weekend Special Death. Our star, the First Lady of Suspense, Miss Agnes Moorhead. That's next week on Suspense.
The Revenge of Captain Bly was written for suspense by Anthony Ellis. Suspense is transcribed and directed by Elliot Lewis.
The music composed by Lucian Morawick and conducted by Lutte Gluskin.
Featured in tonight's cast were Ben Wright, William Johnstone, Charles Davis, Joseph Kearns, Anthony Ellis, and Larry Thor.
And remember, next week, Miss Agnes Moorhead in Weekend Special Death.
You can buy Auto Light standard or resistor type spark plugs, Auto Light stay full batteries, or Auto Light original service parts at your neighborhood Auto Light dealer.
Switch to Auto Light. Good night.
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