The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-05-20 00:00:00

THE " CASWELL" MUTINY.
_D
(From LLOYD'S)
QUEENSTOWN, May IS.

The Caswell, bark, arrived here in tow of the Goshawk,
gunboat. •
REPORT OF JAMES CARRICK, ABLE SEAMAN, IN CHARGE
OF "CASWELL," BARK.
"The crew on leaving Antifogasta cons'sted of Captain
Best, mate and second mate, stewasd, three Greek seamen,
two Italian seamen, two English seamen, carpenter, and two
boys.
"On the 4th of January the Greeks and Italians mutinied
and murdered the captain, irate, sc.:ond mate, and steward.
Carrick, who knew something of navigation, took charge, as
I the foreign seamen wanted to take the vessel to Greece.
"About a month afterwards, when off the coast of Brazil,
the boys overlie ird a plot between the Greilts and Raffling
to murder the emaining Englishmen on board. Carrick and
the carpenter succeeded in oven .ming one Greek, whom
they put in irons, but were compelled to kill the otper two
Greeks—one of whom was rin;leader of the mutiny—in self-
defence. . •
"The two Italians then left the vessel in one of the boats,
taking wih them a letter from Carrick to deliver on shore.
The viss.l was brought on to thin port by Carrick. an Enzlish
seaman, carpenter, and two boys, and a little English boy,
who swain from the French barque Legaal when on the
Equator."

The following is from the letter of the Correspondent
of The 2'intes, writing from Cork on May 13 : •
The Ca.swell has arrived at Queenstown, and the circum-
stances connected with the mutiny are now known. The
Caswell is a handsome iron bark of over 400 tons. She
sailed originally from Glasgow in command of Captain
George Eaward Best, an Englishman. The chief officer was
William Wilson, the second mate Maclean, and the steward
E Griffiths. She was bound for Buenos Ayres and had an
English crew on board. At Buenos Ayres the crew were
discharged with the exception of the officers, the carpenter
(Peter Macgregor), and two apprentices, named respectively
Ferguson and MacdonnelL The vessel proceeded for Val-
paraiso in ballast, having prevtously shipped a crew con-
sisting of three Greeks—" Big George," Nicholas, and
Christo Sarnbo ; two Maltese, who were brothers, Guiseppe
end Jasper; one Scutchman, James G‘rrlck ; and one
Englishman, John Danine. On the voyage to Valparaiso
some dispute occurred between the crew and the captain
about the provisions, and one of the Greeks was heard to
say that if the captain lifted a hand to them they would
"see the deck running in blood:" Nothing exceptional
occurred until af :et* the vessel left Antifogasta, with nitre,
lor Queenstown and Falmouth, for orders. She sailed on
New Year's Eve.

John Dunne, of Bristol, able seaman, gives the fol-
owing information :
"I was on the mate watch on New Year's Eve. One of
the Greek sailors, Christo &mho, was lying ill, and the mate
told 'Big George' he would hare to go on Sambo's watch.
He refused, and the captain went into the forecastle, with a
revolver in his pocket. One of the foreigners, who was well
able to speak English, asked what he came into the fere-
castle with a revolver for. The captain said, 'I do not come
forward amour; Greeks witheut being well armed. I have
got a revolver, and I mean to use it if necessary.' Big George
then promised if Christo was not able to go to work at ten
o'clock he would take his place. The captain then went aft.
At ten o'clock Big George was called, but he rerusel to turn
out, ming coarse language. Nothing further occurred until
Tuesday, January 4. It was the captain's watch on deck. I
was on the watch with Guiseppe, Jasper, and Big George,
The last was engaged in the starboard main rigging. I saw
the captain in his shirt sleeves, with A piece of yarn in his
hand. He seemed to be instructing George how to put the
seasons on. George was standing on the rail on the star-
board tide of the mainrigging and the captain right under
him All of a sudden I saw George spring off the rail and
plunge his knife into the captain's stomach, at the same
time cutting him across the abdomen. The mate, who was
forward, ran aft, but as he was passing the galley Christo
Saralee and Nicholas rushed out and seized him, and the
latter plunged the galley knife into hire. He withdrew the
knife and threw it overheard, and unsheathing his own
knife stabbed him in several places. The 3laltese brothers,
Jasper and Guiseppe, then rushed forward with their
revolvers, and passing the captain, who was lying almost
disembowelled on the deck, shot at his head. Toe
mate, seeing them approaching, cried out 'Mercy.' Gui-
seppe replied, 'No; DO mercy, and shot at him. 'Big
George' called up the steward, and when he appeared at the
companion hatch Guiseppe shot him. 'Big George' then
seized him by the heir of the head, stabbed him, and while
he was lying on the deck cut his heart out The second
mate, Maclean, ran on the poop, crying to Ferguson, who
was et the wheel, 'hard down; put the ship back.' He tried
to get down the fore companion hatchway, and Guiseppe
celled out, 'Come out of that, you beggar, or I will pound
you.' Ile then shot him In the arm. As the second mate
was going off the poop be was stabbed in the back. The
second mate ran forward to me crying, 'Oh, my God,
Dunce!' I saw he was bleeding from the arm, and tried to
stanch the wound. 'Big George' and the others punned.
hire round the decks, firing after him. When at last he sank
from exhaustion Guiseppe and Jasper shot him, and
Nicholas, George, and Christo plunged their knives into him.
They next ran to the house where the carpenter had locked
himself up crying 'Carpenter I Carpenter!' Finding the
door Picked, however they did not persevere. I cautioned
Macgregor, and concealed myself behind two barrels, but
they did not interfere with rue. They appeared to hold a
consultation among themselves, and seemeet to come to the
concession they would not kill any more. Giuseppe, who
was well able to speak English, seemed to take command.
He ordered us to get one the kedge anchor, at the same
time telling us they would not kill us if we helped them.
We cot the kedge anchor along, and the carpenter came out
of the house. Guiseepe made rains go down on his knees ,in
the blood that had flowed from the captain and swear to his
God he would help them to the bat of his ability. The
carpenter promised to do so. 'Erg George' cut about
nine fathoms of line and bent it round the legs of the
murdered men, who were lying on the deck amidihips, on
the starboard side. The other end of the rope was fastened
to the kedge and the anchor, and the men were hove over-
board, 'the captain and Maclean were still living, hut the
chief officer and steward seemed to be dead. The blood
was then washed off the decks, and the mutineers went
into the cabin and passed about the provisions (eggs and
ham). After that they rummaged the cabin. ' Big George'
and Chrnito came on deck, and with buckets of paint
blotted out the name on the ship's stern and bow and
on the lifeboats. The inntineers then informed us that
the ship was going to Valparaiso and that they were
goieg ash, re and would leave us. At this time Gui-
seppe had tali en charge of the navigation of the ship,
and Nicholas was in c, inmand of the sailors. Seven days '
afterwards they Informed us that they were going to Buenos
Ayres, MI the wife and fami'y of Jasper were living there
On arriving off Cape Horn Jasper came forward one even-
ing and told us not to go asleep as B g George Intended to
kill us at night and afterwards go ashore at Cape Horn with
his confederates as shipwrecked. He also stated that if
they killed us they would also have to kill him. On getting
off the River Plate the brothers Jasper and Giuseppe
launched the lifeboat, and putting a quantity of provisions
into her, with muake's and other matters, proceeded for
shore. Before they started Jasper said he would like a night
ashore for the men in order to have assistalce sent oft.
James Carrick titan wrote a short note, addre.sed to ' Who-
ever this note may read,' giving an account of the situation,
and askine for assistance. Jasper, when leaving, said, •I
have looked out for you ever since they killed the captain,
you must look out for yourself now.' He also men-
tioned that Big George determined to take the vessel to
Greece. When the two Maltese left us George directed
the main yard to be squared, and we ran off shore. For
some time afterwards the Greeks were busily employed in
making sails for the longboat When they finished the
sails they seemed to do all they could to annoy us, in order
to provoee a quarreL The carpenter had been told off as
Cook, and on one occasion Big George, not pleased with the
cook, threw hot rice into his lace, remarking, 'ibis no
English ship; this Greek ship. We command.' Soon
afterwards he ran to the galley and threatened the car-
penter with a 'mire, telling him to look out for hinsself.
Oa the following Saturday, about the 12th of March, we
had hut peaaoup for dinner, and he threw it Into our faces.
We were then getting our 'grub' on the break of the poop.
Carrick ran forward, leaving his hat behind, I picked up
the hat to take it to Cerrice, when Big George said to me
'Come down below, I want to speak to you.' On goieg
down he thrust a paint brush in my hand and mace me
paint Carrick's hat. Christie mattered at the time, 'if
Jim (that is, Carrick) speak bad, take any knife and oead.'
Ile wanted me to take his knife to kill Carrick, bat I
refused. 'Big George' also tendered me his revolver to
shoot Carrick, saying 'All will be right, and you be same as
me.' I replied that Carrick had done nothing to me, and I
would not take his life. 'Big George' then Wok hold of me
and drew his knife, saying 'if you speak to Carrick, I will
kill you.' Macdonnell. the apprentice, was at the wheel,
and, thinking he had overheird the conversation, they made
him promise he would not disclose it to Carrick. I watched
my opportunity," continued Dunne, "and informed Carrick
of what recurred. That same afternoon 'Jug George'
a murderingrr Carrick was
purpose here o
Cf
sweet en etp.forivabredlietvoe
I? ewafsorfeocrasithlee,
him in his bunk, but finding that Ferguson was in the
forecastle, ho pretended that he was looking for a vinegar
bottle. On the same night Christo came forward to see
if the carpenter was asleep, but as he was not he
went aft again. At two o'clock 'Big George' wasweather sine of the poop on watch. I saw him making
at the
threatening motions at the carpenter, and fully thought he
Was going to Rill him. The carpenter came forward and told
us that we were going to be killed. We urrned ourselves with
hammers. The carpenter took the hatchet, and we rushed nit.
'Mg George 'met us half way. We attacked him, and the car-
penter struck him on the head with a hatchet. We also struck
him with the riveting hammers, and left him for dead on the
\deck. We next proceeded into the cabin, whose Nicholas
arid Christ° were in bed. They had heard the noise of the
struggle on deice and were getting up. We made an onslaught
on them in the cabin state-room, and after a fearfal struggle,
during which Nicholas fired three times, overpowered them.
We then enuea.voured to treat their wounds but 'Big George '
, and Nicholas died. Christo recovered, and we plazed irons
1 on his leg and arms. Carrick then took command, and,
knowing navigation, worked the ship for Queenstown. We
i were taken in tow last evening by the gunboat Goshawk.
Previous to killing the mutineers, Nicholas, who knew some-
ios rnomirndreorr mt
heed
Eunsg loi nh
mt he
ne
avuody
take
tthhaetv
et
shsee 1 i nt
0-
thing of navigation, was taking the ship towards the Mediter-
rteannteiaol. was Ch rt
Same, in Greece, when, Lavine disposed ot some of the •
pio-
perty they would scuttle her."
The Correepondent of The Ti,
mes also arldei :
The cabin of the voted. bore traces of a severe
were stirstrugg le
There were three bullet hetes iii the state room where
Nicholas fired from the bunk when he and ember '
-
1 ' prised by the English. The glass is also broken, and there is
a deep indentation on the partition frame of the berth, caused
by a blow of the hatchet. Carsick Macgregor (the carpen-
ter) and Dunne are quite young men, of 24 to 30 years of
age. • Carsick is tall and lithe, but he has a slight stoop, and
bears the impress of care and anxiety on his hoe. He 4
' . ,