Introduction
“The Mutiny of the Hellroarer” is a parody of Jack London’s novel, “The Mutiny of the Elsinor”. Filled with exaggerated, almost nonsensical events, and an odd assortment of characters. Here is a summary of the plot and the list of characters:
Plot Summary
The narrator, an unnamed crew member, tricks the ship’s second-in-command, Mr. Strike, by wearing a black wig over his yellow hair. Mr. Strike is depicted as an old but still strong man who eventually becomes a close friend to the narrator. Their ship, the Hellroarer, is populated by a diverse, motley crew described as the “scum of the high seas”. Over time, they weed out the unfit, leaving only “dominant blonds” and a host of various servitors, including Chinese, Malay, Japanese, Burmese, Hottentots, Eskimos, and Laplanders.
These remaining crew members resist a mutiny led by ten unnamed mutineers, using strange and humorous tactics such as creating stink pots out of limburger cheese and using Japanese crew members to spit tobacco juice in the eyes of the mutineers. The narrator maintains control over the crew, even beating up the Malay servitor to assert dominance, as he could find no other role for him.
Mr. Smellbare, the only blond among the mutineers, becomes the narrator’s arch-enemy after a hostile exchange involving a non-existent scar on Smellbare’s neck. During the mutiny, Mr. Strike kills Mr. Smellbare by tricking him into jumping overboard, and the Hellroarer blows up, killing everyone aboard.
Characters
Unnamed Narrator: The protagonist who plays tricks on his superior and later leads the dominant blonds in fending off a mutiny.
Mr. Strike: A 95-year-old officer who is initially tricked by the narrator but eventually becomes his close friend. He eventually kills Mr. Smellbare during the mutiny.
Eurasian Cabin-boy: Another member of the crew, mentioned in passing, and then given to the cook to prepare for dinner.
Cook: This character is tasked with preparing meals, including the cabin boy.
Various unnamed servitors: A motley group of servants from various ethnicities, including Chinese, Malay, Japanese, Burmese, Hottentots, Eskimos, and Laplanders. They support the dominant blonds in resisting the mutiny.
Ten unnamed mutineers: They attempt to take control of the ship but are repelled by the narrator and his group.
Mr. Smellbare: The only blond among the mutineers. He has a hostile exchange with the narrator and is killed by Mr. Strike during the mutiny.
Additional information:
We find this story in a letter (#128) to Tevis Clyde Smith, circa April 1930. The letter starts off like this:
Salaam:
Well, Fear Finn, I believe in days gone yore you parodied “The Mutiny of the Elsinore,” but I think I’ll try my handel at it. If it isn’t all it should be, consider that after all, I am not a blond.
Published in:
- THE LAST OF THE TRUNK OCH BREV I URVAL, Paradox Entertainment, March 2007
- THE COLLECTED LETTERS OF REH VOL. 2: 1930-1932, Robert E. Howard Foundation Press, October 2007
- SENTIMENT: AN OLIO OF RARER WORKS, REH Foundation Press, December 2009
- THE COLLECTED LETTERS OF REH VOL. 2: 1930-1932 ultimate edition, Robert E. Howard Foundation Press, June 2022