Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-05-23

The 10th January, 1897 the merchant Ship
Alexandra, Capt. Bouct (called Dnbois,) sail
ed from Bordeaux with crew Of IL men for
Batavia. During the voyage no misunder
standing was manifested by the officers. The
Captain was very good to the crew; only he
sometimes found fault with Marsaud, second
Captain for his Incidence. There was no o.
pen quarrel except between the boatswain, Her
W and the English sailor Richard Gordon
She arrived at Batavia the 18th October and
took a cargo of about COO, 900 francs, and sailed
for Samarang the 18th November The eth
the land disappeared from view, she having
remained several days in the Sound. The cap
tain took the watch o'clock in the morn
ing. Towards 5 o'clock great noise was
heard on deck, pistol was discharged, and the
captain was thrown overheard. Hcrvy the
boatswan went hastily below and found the
room Of the Lieut.. Morpain barricaded; he set
the latter at liberty, told him they had killed
the Captain, seized carving knife and went up
on deck again, followed by the Lieutenant who
had armed himself with stick. Morpain de-
mandcd where the Captain was. Marsaud
siezcd him aud threw him overheard. The
Lieutenant clung by his feet aud hands as well
as he could to every thing in his way, as he was
falling, but Marsaud compelled him to loose
his hold and pushed him into the sea. IIery
had then contest to sustain with Marsaud and
the sailors Audrezet, Bellegou and Gordon, all
four of whom threw themselves upon him
lie was beaten down and crippled upon the
poop deck. I'm his struggle he had given A
wound with knife to the sailor Sdndrey who
had Joined the assassins. Exhausted with IA.
tieue he cried out 4" You may throw me into
the sea now' and they drowned him iinme-
diatey. The sailor Audoui who would also
defend himself. was dragged aft by Gordon, An
dreZet and Sandrey, and thrown over the lar
board quarter A few minutes after, Gordon
went TO find the sailor Dossc. who was sick and
whose indiscrcions he feared. lie compelled
him to 90 on deck and then threw him over
board. This young man demanded mercy Of
Narsaud, supplicating permission to write to
his family before he died. III, offered even Ia
sign an obligation of 80, 900 francs if they would
spare his life. Marsaud was implacable, aud
the assassination was Immediately periormed.-
Gordon and Audrezot then went towards the
sailor iemoine who threw himself upon his
knees declaring he had done nothing. Mar
saud said something in English to Gordon, and
Lcmoine was spared for that time.
These five assassinations were consumn,ated
in the space of less than an hour. Marsand
and his accompliccs went into the cabin and
drank the tea which tho Captain had ordered,
boasting of what they had done.
From this time Marsaud acted the part Of
Captain, and Raymond performed the duties Of
officer, and ate at Marsauds table.
So ne days after, the Alexandra experienced
a gale of wind, which compelled them TO throw
certain merchandise overheard. Marsaud and
Gordon, suspicious of the young Lcmoine re-
solved to make way with him. O.' or two
days after the gale. Marsaud who was on the
poop deck. ordered Lcmoine to take up hand
spike, and as he was STOPPING down to do it
Il n,
overheard.
Gordon became in his turn the object of the
jealousy of Marsaud aud others, for he drank
to excess and had been heard to say, that there
should not remain more than three men on
board, that il was necessary to make way with
all the rest. They caused him to drink freely
of wine mixed with brandy afterwards called
him to take in the topmost studdiug sail
While occupied in this manuuvrc, the sailor,
Lagardcrc, thrust him over, but he clung TO
the taifereI by his hands. Marsaud forced him
to loose his held and pushed him into the sea
Gordon swan for some time but was not able to
reach the ship.
After the death Of Lcmoine, Marsaul caus-
ed the crew to sign proceS rerbm to prove that
the death of the captain, and of the other per-
sons killed, took place in consequence Of the
tempest they had experienced.
lie made them sign another to prove tha, the
death of Gordon was due to an accidental cause.
Ii was Indispensable to put into Mauritius
for recruits: but to make the damages appear
the greater Marsaud threw the binacle into the
sea and put IN its place box of merchandise.
They broke the ships wheel and opened the
larboard seams To make leak.
After the first assassinations the trunks of the
Captain and Lieutenant were broken open, and
the bags also of the other deceased. Marsaud
made Il division of all the effects contained in
them; bat he thought better before arriving az
Maurtius 10 return certain articles in order to
justify the inventory of the deceased.
The Ship was repaired at Mauritius, where
she arrived The 18th December. 1881. Mar.
ssud caused the cargo Ia he discharged. Jolly
and Bccgou, sailors, deserted. An officer
made the customary examinations with regard
To the ncn lost, aud furnished Marsaud with
six men rs complement to his crew; after
wards he cleared for lI0r1caux. Three English
sailors, dcscrtcrs, one American, aud two col
ourcd girls one Of Whum was the mistress Oi
Mafsand sud iEc other Of Raymond. were Ia
k"n on board, anl the A1cxaudrc lett Mdur-
tids.
some days aicr the departure, Marsaud, who