The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-04-07 00:00:00

LYNCH LAW AT SEA:

•
the brig Madrigal, Captaitt Vosg-111., was lying-in he
harbour of St. tbes; taking in a cargo dt salt. The
last lisglifei *a's alongside, and all was bustle pit tWardy
it being the liff6tl6ii of Captain Fosgill to sail on the
following day,'when a feut tithe off from the shore and
asked to see the captain on bfisW, He was of.
medium size, with coal black hair, and !i very dark
sallow complexion. He was dressed in the garb of a
sailor, and although evidently a foreigner, spoke the
English language with fluency and correctness. He
was =fleas to get to America, he said, having a wife
and family in New York, from Whom' lie had been .
absent several months on a visit to his relatives in the
neighbourhood of St. Übes.
There was a full crew on board the Madrigal ; never-
theless, Captain Fosgill being a kind-hearted mar, and
the stranger urgent in his entreaties to be allowed to
work his passage to Boston, the captain granted his
request, although not without reluctance, for, as he said,
he did not like his looks." The anxious applicant for
a postage, whose name was given as Francisco SaaveL
Iran wo told to bring his baggage on board the next
morning, an 'oe; nn board himself, as the brig would

sail at an early hour.
had picked up in
Francisco Saavedra, the fellow they .
-"h It
St. ljbes, was stationed on the Second mate's Iva,—
was soon ascertained that the story he told Captain
Fasgill about his wife and family in New York, had no
feadation whatever.

One rnoining as the brig was drawing up with the
Grand Bank, the werither being cold, drizzly and uncom-
fortable, Mr. Arkright callcd to Francisco and told him
to go aloft, and put some parcelling are Mid the
tov-mast back-stay, which was getting chafed against this
main-yard. The fellow grumbled on receiving the order,
and seemed in no hurry to obey it.
"Away with yet, aloft, and do what I told you," said
Mr. Arkright, in his mos( peremptory manner.

Francisco gave the officer a savage glance, and muttered
something in an insolent tone, but Made titi movement
towards obeying the order. • •

The patience of the mate was exhausted, and he
seized Francisco by the collar, gave him a shake, and
feiterated his commands. But no sooner did he loose
his hold, than tlie bloody-minded knave thrust his hand
into his bosom, and pulled a long Spanish knife.
Before he could use it, however, a blow under the ear
from the strong arm of the second mate itretched him
stiff along the deck ! In a very bvief period the ruffian
was hand-cuffed, and lashed to a ringbolt in the half-
deck, the booby-hatch was firmly secured, and a good
opportunity was given him to ruminate in the lone
darkness on his condition.
He wsts confined below for two or three days, with a
short allovninice of bread and water, when he became
exceedingly penitent, aekticr<viedged the baseness of his
conduct, asked the forgiveness of Mr. Arkright in the
most abject terms.

Captain Fosgill was apt to look on the most fool/Ta-
ble side of human nature ; and Mr. Arkright cherished
no vindictive feelings.

"I think we had better to take the rascal out of
item, sir," said he to the captain. "'Tis some trouble
to take Cate df him where he is, and if we can get work
out of him, so melt the better. I'll be bound he'll
mind his weather helm in fif(dre."
He was freed from his irons add rehlaileci from con-
finement.

k gleans of savage exultation passed over the ethisitler.
nance the ottitiff, as with limbs free from bonds he
passed up on deck. He went forward and entered the
forecastle. He was heard to =lock his chest ; and
immediately returned on deck, walked aftf passing several
of the crew without saying a word. Careditt Fosgill
had gone down into the cabin ; Mr. Harlin, the chief
mate, was looking over the quarter-rail, and Mr. Ark-
right was standing alongside- the booby hatch, with his
face towurds the etern of the vessel. As Francisco, with
hasty strides and mischief in his eye, was approaching,
the second mate; lack Gradshaw, who was at the helm,
saw the glean of a knife as the villain drew it from his
sleeve, arid cried otit, "Look mit, Mr. Arkright, that
devil's after you again !" •
Arkright turned round, and. at the moment, the knife
was sheathed in his body to the hilt, and he fell heavily to
the deck !

A rush was made towards the vindictive fiend by
some of the men who witnessed the deed, but he
brandished aloft the bloody weapon, menacing any one
Who approached, with instantdeath. Further mischief,
hoWeveri vrtts prevented by the promptness and presence
of mind of Jack d'rgdebEtw, who, seizing a junk bottle,
partly filled with oil, Idhish Was near him in the
binnacle, he threw it at Francisco's held with so jest
an 'aim, that it struck him 'on the left temple, and
deprived him for a time of all strength or consciousness.
The seamen, seeing the second officer lying 'on die
deck, bathed in his blood, could with difficulty be re-
etrained by Captain Fosgill from wreaking summary
vengeance on the rtionster. He was finally again .put
in irons, and restored to the conftnement from which he
had been only a few minutes before released, bat not
until he had received sundry severe tokens of the
indignation of the men.

This awful event produced a thrilling sensation
throughout the ship's company. Mr. Arkright, who
was still living, was with great care removed to the•
caliirl. but it was evident that the best surgical assist-.
ance could be of no avail.. The murderer knew too well
how to make sure of his blow. The unfortunate man
suffered intolerable agony for two dayil,'lvben he expired.
"—His body was committed to the deep with such solemn
ceremonies as befitted the occasion. The glistening
eyes of the weather-beaten seamen furnished undoubted
evidence of the estimation in which their late officer was
held; and while some heaped loud execrations on his
murderer,. ethers muttered heavy denunciations of
vengeance.
On the evening of the day on which the remains of
Mr. Arkright were consigned to the deep, the crew
held a consultation, during the dog watch, about the
course Which it would be expedient for them to adopt
in relation to tite assassin.
"It is our bounden duty," said Jack Gradshaw, "as
men—as Christian
.men—to string him up to the yard-
arm like a dog."

"Ay f." remarked Allen Thompson. "If banging is
dot to goad for him. To put him to death by inches,
wodd Only be giving him his desarts !"
"gal; said Owen Doswell, " if we take him to the
States, to Edsfcid, sartainly be tried and hanged
according to Gunter. We shall be in port in a few days,
when he will be pnt snug encnigh in a murderer's dun-
geon, and carried from there to the gallows, as an
example to other bloody-minded villains; who, are so.
handy with their knives."
alt -*ill be precious little Satisfaction to Ng," ex-
claimed nob' Filgrove, " to land the rascal safe and
sound on the what?, even if he should be carved to a
dungeoi;and afterwards tiatged. And, mayhap, if he
isn't hanged now, he won't be iten'ated at all!"

"That's as true as anything-Bowdttch ever wrote,
Jacob," said Jack Gradshaw, " and besidesihre deliver
him up to the law, we shall all of us be sent to jail, imd
kept Se witnesses until the trial comes off, which may
not be for six mouths to come ; and then after all, as
Jacob has intinutterf, there are so many trap-doors in
the law for the escape of' rogues, that it is two chances
to one he'll slip through one of them, and be off to
CntEt, to join his old shipmates on board some pirate or
slaver. 1•'O., iso, we have him in our power now and if'
we let him go alit of our hands while there is a:breath
left in his body, we deserve to be kicked to death by
donkeys, and keel-hauled afterwards."
This eliquent speech on the part of Jack Gradshaw,
produced the desired effect. It silenced any scruples,
which the most considerate among the inmates.of the
foreedgfienlght entertain, about the propriety of intro-
ducing "lynch lust" on board the good brig Madrigal
on the high seas.
The men, during the rem:limier of the day, moved
noiselessly about the decks, and performed in silence
their various duties. The merry joke, theloycms laugh,
the sunny countenance, and the elastic step, no longer
bore *knees to the exemption of that, ship's company
from anxiety and care. :

The weather was pleasant, with the wind from the
iitstward, and' the sea was remarkably smooth. During
the first watch of the night, from eight o'clock until
twelve, the larboard Or chief mate's watch was on deck.
The waning moon had already risen in the east, and
was shining brightly in the heavens. The ship was
moving along gently through the water, close hauled,
at the rate of only three or four knots, when eight bells
e-te struck. Captain Fosgill, having been called by
the mate, came on deck, and after having exchanged a
few sentences with that officer about the weather, and
the probability of a change of wind, Mr. Harlin went
below, and soon buried all his cares and perplexities in
sleep.
Captain Fosgill, occupying the situation of officer of
the deck in the place of Mr. Arkright, looked aloft to
see if the sails were properly trimmed, went forward to
ascertain if all the watch were on the alert, then walked
the quarter deck fore and aft, with slow and measured
steps. He looked into the binnacle ; seated himself on
the weather hen-coop ; gaped as if he would swallow a
grampus, then called Jacob Filgrove aft, a steady-going
old sailor, in whose fidelity he could trust, told him to
keep a good lookout, and if any change took place in the
wind or weather, give him a call. Captain Fosgill then
passed down the companion-way, and was soon under the
benumbing influence of "nature's sweet restorer."

The men who had been impatiently awaiting the
absence of the captain, now swiftly assembled on deck,
and went silently but resolutely to work. They rigged
out, some five or six feet only, the weather fore top gal-
lant studding-sail boom, and rove the tack, bringing
both parts down on deck, and in order that every man
might have a chance to participate in the work, they
laid the fore-top sail to the mast, by squaring the head
yards—handling the ropes with the utmost care; lest
any disturbance on deck should he heard by the captain
or mate. They unfastened the booby-hatch ; two of the
men went down into the half deck, and having roused
Francisco from his sleep, cut the lashings which con-

fined him to the ringbolt, and told him to go on deck ,
uthere he was tomited
The prisoner obeyed these orders, not having th
slightest suspicion of the horrible fate that awaited him •
The men now led him to the forward part of the mai:
deck on the weather side, and told him to say hi
prayers, if he thought he stood any chance of makin
his peace with God, for his time in this world was shore
And while one of the sailors was passing the hasp:lnn $
noose round his neck, another was fastening to his fe4
a bag containing several iron shot
" What does this mean ?" almost shrieked the miser
able-man, when he saw the ominous preparations for hi
execution. "Do you intend to murder me ?"
whispei
"No !" said Jack Gradshaw, in a hoarse
"we are only going gently and quietly to put you ou
of a world in which you are unfit to live !"
"Oh !" sighed the wretched Francisco. "This
dreadful ; Why do yo-t wish to kill me ? I never di
either of you harm."
"You are a blood-thirsty murderer!" added Jae°
Filgrove, " and according to all the rules and regala'
tions of the law and gospel, you must die ."
order
"But not in this way ! You surely won't ra—
t 133
me in cold blood. If I must die for my crimes, leo
he taken to the Stites, and executed according to law,,,
"With all the chafi:,
ces in favour of yo.ir gra
gallows at last!" exclafaLed Jacob Gradshaw.
long
old fellow, it shall not be ii, the power of any r°.l9
wimil-soft-hearted •-sor to
4 lawyer or o,akeep t
u reel°
the
from your n We will make sure o
your just dues." •eisc°'
" But not now !" entreated flit!. bewildered PO"
"you will give me time to pray—to think--0 tE4l4'

the captain :" ;god
" A short prayer is soon said," replied Jack ; in
the less von think about the business, the better. "c
for Captain Fosgill, 'tis but little comfort you can elPe
from biro: Rut come, be lively, man, and we'll grabi
you a favour.'
"What is it " eagerly asked Francisco.
"We don't want' to her hard with you. althoug •
are a. bloody remorseless wretch, and therefore we
give you your choice-"

"Of what "
"Your choice whether to be bawd or dolled
But you must decide quickly;for we have no 60 t'
lose."
" You mean this as a joke ! You can't be
There is no priest here to receive my eonfessiell
absolve me of my sins. I'm not ready to die." ittel
" Few find themselves ready when suddenly 09' tf
,g
upot," said Jacob Filgrove. "But there is oci
of your getng. to Heaven, any way. All the priest'n
the universe cone rot save such a red-handed raglo,
as you, from a bath of burning brimstone, other `:1,
what could he the use of one at all So donto
nonsense, what Aver you do. Say at once witetiai r

he Ignrnied or drowned ?"
" You have no right to hang me ! won't al`
cried the terrified and struggling prisoner. "
want to frighten me. He, ha, ha ! But 'tis c'
joke. Jacob ! Andrew ! Jack ! shipmates! air
! help ! Mr. Harlin, inur-" 1
A hand was placed over his mouth, and the 1;1%,e''40
being, already half dead with fear, was prevented
r
making further appeals for mercy, or calls for aseistl'tl
The noose had already been carefully placed abollt I
neck ; his arms, the handcuffs not having been rete°le;
were lashed to his body. Six stroag men grasPel
rope, and Jack Gradshw, in a low, hoarse, but ail'
tone, gave the word, "Raul away, my tads !"
A stifled shriek was heard, and the next 03'0
Francis?* Saavedra was dangling at the end oft e
top-gallant studding-sail boom, fifty feet ate°
water. lon

The body did not long remain at the yardarm, ot,
rim minutes the rope to which it was attached 1154
rItY4 tf plunged heavily into the waves, borne dowll7oo
by the weights attached to the feet. The water, of
dull heavy scomd. parted to receive it, then closed pi
it for ever. Stteb was the end of the red-I0

murderer!
The men 'stood a few moments in the waist, rcb)
thoughtfully and silently at each other. TheVklie,lo-0'
by taking the law into their own hands, they I:!°,j-
-mitted an act, which by all civilised nations is reVe.
gs a crime, and for which a heavy penalty might be 0?
acted. rfut they Ht no compunction for what they h2ci'fol
Indeed they rather exulted at having' succe6
performed an unpleasant, but in their eati'llf`tio
imperative duty. The head-yards were now ,g'
the men belonging to the larboard watch rettpTid
their berths in the forecastle, and the goo
Madrigal went quietly on her way.—Boston lortrtw

PRESERVATION OF LIFE FRO
SHIPWRECK.

to
A meeting of the Royal National Life-boar
tion was held on Thursday, at its house, ,Tobe's,4`to
Adelphi, Mr. Thomas Baring, M.P., in thie fiesi
There were also present, among others, Leru-otei
Cholmondeley, Sir E;ward Perrott, Mr. W. 11.
Admiral Sir Thomas Herbert, R.C.8., and other ge",ty
men. Mr. Lewis, the secretary, read the minutes (/'
previous meeting. A reward of £l3 was voted to
crew of the institution's life-boat stationed at Pullin_t4
the Norfolk coast, for putting off in the night and 701.1
jug the crew' of seven men from the brig Eliya, of11",d
Shields, which during a heavy sea had missed stsr:i.
was totally wrecked off Palling on the 16th ult.
teed
ward of £lO was also gran-tied to the crew of the Rory,
life-boat, on the same coast, belonging to the socie`)frigi
going off in her and saving the crew of eight ineu.ve
the brig George and James, of Loudon, which do 0,
fearful gale of wind had stranded off Wintertee•
Cullercoats life-boat, belonging to the institutielsb'of
also recently been instrumental in assisting t°
tbra
safely to shore a fishing coble and her craw _,
men. The life-boat's crew had declined toll:19'004
claim for helping their eomrades in distress, lijeboit'
of £l7 was voted to the crew of the Portmadeog'l6:ili:t'
belonging to the National Life-boat iastitutionfits,- :11
had been instrumental, on Sunday morning it,'
saving 15 persons in a most exhausted state fr°lee'
bark Oberon, of Liverpool, which during a heasi y` f'
wind went down on the Sarn Radrig, in Cardigan,
reward of £lB was voted to the crew of the ditiO
life-boat which belongs to this institution for P the
off and rescuing, in conjunction with a stearti-le
crew of six men from the brig Zephyr, of gi„
rough, which was totally wrecked a few wee ",,,1
during a fearful gale of wind, on the Scrohy San tae
will thus be seen that some of the lifeboats ,"
National Life-boat Institution have even within the
,bi 4
few weeks been the means, under God, of 511(1.4i `l'
thirty-nine of our fellow-creatures from a watelVeetl
How many households are thus made again to rej°lool
these valuable services of life-boats! The Wreck-eh ~
the British Isles tells ue, however, that 1,416 vireTii,
piece last year in the seas and on the shores of the ie
kingdom, and that 1,646 persons unhappily Pe; d
from them. It is therefore evident that 011 0.1
remains to be done in maintaining and es
to
the life-boat system of the society. The silvert,g,
of the institution having been presented to ,vott,
Ridge, R.N., for his gallant services in wading 11,
surf of Dundrum Bay, at the peril of his life to
tocee
a man from a capsized boat, various othet
rewards were afterwards given for saying life itleo rte
boats from different wrecks on the coast, and
40' ot
crews of life-boats of the society at Ayr,
Padatow, and Barmoutb, for putting off with
of saving life. Some additional liberal contriu. I'l
were said to have been given to the instittgeee/
Lloyd's, the Junior United Service Club, and the i.J.,,k0;
Yacht Club. Communications were read from tP*iee
hassador at. this Court and the Minister of Dit'fillo
Denmark and Sweden, expressing the appreciation
gibe
Governments of the philanthropic objects of the ofet'i
National Life-boat Institution, and stating that its# toiti
and practical pamphlet on the management 0' toff'
ins heavy surf had beett, by order of the glrigi; I
lated into Swedish. - An excellent photogrart".4
life-boat of.the society,. supposed to be proceeuleee'
to a wreck near Scarborough, was exhibited At tbeerf
ing. Both the original picture and photograph iferpoull
works of Mr. Se Walters, of Bootle, near
and reflected.much credit on his artistic skill.
~coot
lamentable fact that in our Royal navy and pe,4e.t'`ls,
marine inch a thing as a really useful ehipse 11'"
(excepting White's) is hardly ever •to be seers' Ohl
natural consequence is that in both service
lives, like those of Captain Foote, R.N., and #'7,,--14. ";
Harrison, of the Great Eastern, are too freeneli;e
when communication is needed with the °P;ifttiti°'
stormy weather. The National Life-boat 101'aiett''
has long since called attention to this desitceln'
Captain N. De St. Croixira;s,elected
ber of the committee of management. ,At in7tOlt"'
report was read, by Captain Ward, R.Ne ilieseet
life-boats to the institution, of his recent tot° he Iti7#
tion of the nineteen life-boats which it hits 011 •g to
coast. The institution decided on taking ea At3o-1113 .
connection with it the Margate lifeboat, 01"-,,,e's Pre:,
the station thoroughly Pificiept. The bo3t ford"-
sented some time ago to the town by Idle eocieti
Coutts. A small legacy was announced to
from the late Miss Anna Braithwaite,'of Benda Y4ric4~
ments amounting to £236 having been rnau°
life-boat establishments °ed.
proceedings the cl
PRLPARATIONS FOR QUEEN VICTOR I" her jem,,,ft
It is now considered to be certain tlist,..7of a to
Queen Victoria will visit Berlin in the ouh—,;,,ent °free
time, about the -period at which the actoieTho ur.
Princess Frederic William is expected.° arren,;:if
National Zeitueq states that Recording to Vivito
ments the Prince and, Prince* Frederic ? tfosast`i
take up their residence -the ..sew e 3135 ;he *jib tc;
about the middle of May ;at flint .41 It "diste
the Queen of England to'be in'the ands`' e,
of the princess during' her residence at Bereuruogs suit ber
Majesty will be accompanied by a nume
nred forherf;
large number of apartments will be Pt Pat Bebels
Majesty's reception, as the accommodation
Palace, at, Potsdam, is too limited at present. 49;estie
and Princess Frederic William visited their, r„ ,r
Potsdam this morning, and afterwardire!l:eLa; foe tetttle,
palace to inspect the preparations in Ptll6ats dePtirl bed
own accommodation, and also the a ni
PRrthe
be occupied by Queen Victoria and,
be
scompaili
personages by whom Or Majesty 7411