The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-19 00:00:00

HORRIBLE MASSACRE AND BURNING

OF 4 BRITISH SHIP.

Information has been received of a tragical occurrence
on board the British ship Berenice, the master of which
(Capt. Cundy), with his wife, chief mate, and others have
been massacred by the crew, who afterwards set fire to
the ship and destroyed her, to prevent detection. The
Berenice tailed from Shanghai on the 15th of July,
1852, with a cargo of tea for Sydney. Her crew,
shipped at Singapore, consisted almost entirely of men
from different parts of Netherland India. During the
voyage two of the sailors, believing there was gold to
a large amount on board, spoke of it to their com-
rades, and a plan was forthwith concocted for taking
possession of the vessel (then near Anger) and as-
sassinating the Europeans who were on board. The
ringleaders, as far as could be proved, were the Serang,
or boatsman's mate, known as " Alie," and seven
of his tribe. Mr. Robarts, the mate, was enticed to the
fore part of the ship by Alie, where he was instantly
murdered. Capt. Cundy, the commander, who ran to
his assistance, met with a similar fate, as also did three
seamen, who interfered to save the captain's life. Mrs.
Cundy was taken from between decks, whither she had
flown for refuge, and thrown overboard. A French pas-
senger, name unknown, who had joined at Shanghai,
was not found on board, neither were three Bengatoes
and Amboyna men who were among the crew. They
must either have thrown themselves into the sea, or have
been thrown overboard by others. This tragical scene
completed, the murderers threw the bodies overboard,
washed away all traces of blood, and then commenced
searching for the gold supposed to be on board. All the
money on board, however, consisted of about 100 florins
and 40 Spanish dollars. The plunder was equally divided
by Alie, and it was agreed among them to set sail for
Tauban, there to abandon the vessel, after having set fire
to it. The ship gaining Tagal, which wag takenfor Tau-
ban by Alie and his party, she was set on fire, and they
took to the boats. Several were left behind, and were
burned in the vessel. Finding their mistake on gaining
the heights they were compelled to get rid of
most
t of
ftho
e plunderf Tagal,
by
y
throwing it overboard. They, how-
ever, iby their plausible story deceived the authorities of
the place, who showed them every feeling of compassion,
and provided them with means. Afterwards the disco-
very of the wreck of the burnt ship, and the bodies of
some of the crew, excited suspicion ; and after a search-
ing investigation before the magisterial officers of the
place, the whole of the diabolical affair was elicited
by some of the suspected confessing to the charges
brought against them. The ringleaders, nine in number,
were brought to trial in September last, when the entire
of them were found guilty. Five of the prisoners were
sentenced to 20 years' banishment, and the others were
executed on the 13th of last October, in the public
square in the principal part of Tagal. The things which
during the trial helped to convict the prisoners, were
a gold watch and chain, and some ornaments and
clothing belonging to the late captain and his wife.

REFUSAL OF BANK OF ENGLAND NOTES.—When the
crew of the Nile, 01, was paid off on Monday, it was
with great difficulty that some of them could be per-
suaded that Bank of England paper was a legal tender,
and there was a decided objection to accept a 51. note
as the value of five sovereigns. Many of them first took
the bank note to be a ticket of leave, of which they are
granted 14 days. b'tranger still, these men, were from
the " tar aQrth."