MANGA REVA

MUTINY ABOARD THE MANGA REVA

AT DELAWARE BREAKWATER. 1913

Off the Lewes waterfront lay the three masted bark, Manga Reva, where she

would need to remain at anchor over night due to a storm brewing . The vessels master,

Captain H. C. Townsend, had received the pilot and the orders.

As the pilot was leaving the Manga Reva, Captain Townsend slipped a note to

him asking for assistance as the crew was in hands of mutineers. Once ashore the pilot

notified authorities.

Next morning, the revenue cutter Onondaga with U.S. Marshall’s and a 'boarding

party' arrived prepared to retake Manga Reva and a crowd of Lewes residents had gathered on the shoreline to watch the action.

The Manga Reva was originally the “Pyrenees”, built in 1891. On a voyage across

the Pacific she caught fire and was beached o a low lying atoll, by name of Manga Reva.

After a violent confrontation with the atoll natives the crew was rescued by a passing vessel.

Later the Pyrenees was taken to San Francisco, repaired, and renamed Manga Reva in

honor of the island where she had foundered. The refurbished sailing ship returned to

long distance voyages and on October 9, 1913, the Manga Reva, commanded by Capt.

Townsend, sailed from Philadelphia to San Francisco with a cargo of coal. A month after

clearing Cape Henlopen the crew mutinied, broke into the ships liquor supply and within a

short time most of of the sailors were drunk and unable to navigate the ship found themselves

helpless. The mutiny leaders realized they could go to the bottom in a big blow, went to

Captain Townsend begging him to navigate the ship for them. The mutineers agreed to let

Townsend take the sailing ship back to Philadelphia. Townsend believed that when near shore

the mutineers would take to small boats and escape

Now the ship was anchored in Delaware Breakwater, a gale was raging and it was not

possible for the small boats to leave the Manga Reva and the crew was trapped aboard

as the Onondaga approached. The boarding party, with fixed bayonets, boarded the bark

and within a short skirmish the Manga Reva mutineers surrendered.

The three masted bark was returned to owners and the Lewes crowd on the beach

watching the dramatic action returned home .

Abstract : 08/29/18 by Harrison H from Delaware Coast Press, Michael Morgan's

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