The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-21 00:00:00

A SHIP'S CBE IV POISONED.

About a fortnight ago the Prussian brig Henrich
Gustav, of Wolgest, C. H. Behrndt, master, arrived
at Ramsey, Isle of Man, from Buenos Ayres, with
a cargo of bones and animal charcoal. The voyage
had been protracted by a continuance of exceedingly
bad weather. Ramsey harbour has been for some
time past utterly neglected, if not totally aban-
doned, by the commissioners. The Henrich Gustav,
in hauling up to Mr. Gibson's wharf, got across one
of the banks, and as she had no support in her cen-
tre, sand banks being fore and aft, with the river
running under her centre, she strained, fell off, and
became a total wreck. During the high spring tides
the water flowed over her deck, and it became neces-
sary to remove all her stores on shore, where the
captain and crew, consisting of eight individuals,
were also berthed. On Friday night it became
known that the captain's son, a fine promising
young man, had just died of lockjaw, attended by
cramp and violent pain in the stomach, and that
the other portion of the crew were in a very dan-
gerous state, notNN;thstanding the utmost exertions
of the medical men in attendance; and before morn-
ing three of them had died.

On Saturday morning a coroner's inquest was
held on the bodies of Carl Grahl, aged 24 ; Carl
Kennies, sped 28; and Carl Behrndt (the captain's
son), aged 17. The jury was summoned by Mr. T.
Looney, coroner of Garff, and sworn and presided
over by W. W. Christian, Esq., coroner-general of
the Isle of Man. F. Tellett, Esq., high bailiff of
Ramsey, Win. Callister, Esq., cairman of the
justices, and a number of medical gentlemen, at-
tended.

The Captain deposed that about two years ago he
purchased the brig, in connection with the other
owners at Hamburg, and that the can of poison
now produced was then on board as part of the
stores. He arrived at Ramsey about twelve or four-
teen days ago, sold his cargo, and had afterwards
got his vessel wrecked. The can produced was
taken ashore along with an earthenware jar which
contained arrowroot and other articles. The arrow-
root in the jar had got exhausted, and the cook and
men, believing that the article in the can was ar-
rowroot, supplied out of it what they were short
for cooking supper. It was mixed with molasses
and spiced with a little cinnamon. After the men
were taken ill he tasted a little off the point of his
finger, and he yet felt the effects of it in his breast.
He was engaged elsewhere at the time, and thus he
did not eat any of it. He believed all hip= men ate
more or less of it, but his son took more than the
others.

Augustus Bulow, mate of the brig, said that on
going to get his supper he was told by one of ale
men to taste it first, as he had felt a burning sensa-
tion in his throat after taking a few spoonfuls. He
only took about one spoonful. The captain's son
took half a soup-plateful. He assisted the men up-
stairs after they were taken ill. Medical men were
soon in attendance. He was himself very ill
with pain in the stomach, &e. He was mate
from February last, when the former mate was
put ashore at Ramsgate. That mate had told
the captain's son that there was some arrow-
root in a tin on board. The tin was not
kept with the provisions ; it was in the port-
hole, but after the vessel was wrecked it was put
with the provisions, as they believed it to be arrow-
root. It had been lying on board for the last two
years, with the lid loose on it, and without any
label.
W. Steikmann—Had been, cook only when ashore
after the wreck of the vessel. He had prepared the
supper on the previous evening, and bad also par-
taken of it himself. (This witness was too weak
to stand, and was handed a chair. He appeared to
be suffering severely, and the medical gentleman
stated that he was yet in danger.) He was the first
who was taken ill, but had not taken so much as the
others. The captain's son had brought the tin con-
taining the ingredient to him, as he had not enough
to make the supper ; he added four tablespoonfuls
of the stuff in the tin box or can to what arrowroot
he bad in the jar; when boiled he mixed it up with
molasses, and added a little cinnamon. The tin box
or can was here examined, and contained about 14
lbs. of arsenic, having evidently at first contained
about 28 lbs. The deponent had only tasted as it
was cooking to ascertain if it was properly done.
Mr. R. E. Craine, surgeon, had seen the men
when ill and the remedies applied, which were for
arsenical poisoning. He believed that the deaths
arose from taking arsenic into their stomachs.
The death of the captain's son was the most rapid
he had heard of, as only 20 minutes transpired be-
tween sitting down to his supper and his death.
The jury at once gave in their verdict in accord-
ance with the evidence, that Carl Grahl, Carl
Kennies, and Carl 13chrndt died from taking poison
into their stomachs, which had been used in mistake
for arrowroot, and no person had wilfully been
accessory to their death.

OLIVE OIL FROM NAPLES.--A despatch has
been received from her Majesty's Minister at Naples,
stating that the differential duties upon olive oil exported
from the Neapolitan dominions, a notice respecting which
was inserted in the " London Gazette" of the 16th inst.,
would be levied upon that article only when exported in
vessels belonging to countries whose shipping is not placed
by treaty stipulations upon an equality with the shipping of
the Two Sicilies.
THE VICARAGE OF ST. PANCEAS.—The Rev. W.
W. Champneys will retire from the rectory of Whitechapel
in a few days; for the purpose of taking possession of the
vicarage of St. Pancras, to which he has been nominated
by the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's. Mr. Champneys
has held the rectory of Whitechapel 23 years. It is in the
gift of the Principal and Fellows of BraBen.oee College, Ox-
ford, and is Worth about £5OO a-year.