The Illinois free trader and LaSalle County commercial advertiser. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1841-1843, 1842-06-03
From the New York American.
Trinl of Ifolrses,
ONE OF THE CREW OF The WIN. BROWN.

The trial Of "A. ~. Holmes oil fhiia-
delphia for manslanghler, for throwing
overheard, from Tie long boat OF the snip
William Brown. Francis Asklns' was con-
cluded on Saturday, after occupying SIX
DAYS. The testimony was that OF passen-
gers on boa,a, and who were afterwards,
in The ,o,sboat. 1t presents heart-ren-
dino narrative in which, although the main
;nc;1eas of the catastrophe are known,
The ,e,ails are new and touching. The
decisive consideration against Holmes and
oner of the sailors, is that LOTS were not
kawns but that, acting together, the mate
nd crew saved their own lives at the sac
..uce OF these whom they were bound to
protect and save--or at least share their
inevitable perils. Not one of the crew
persisted, whereas thirty-one passengers
sunk with the ship, and sixteen were
thrown over from the long boat. Thus
torty-seven out Of siXty-iour passengers
persisted, while all the crew seventeen in
number, escaped. The testimony estab-
lishod that the ship struck ga iceberg ON
the night of April 18th; thiriy-three Of
those on board got into the long boat
Holmes, the prisoner, made considerable
effort to get sick girl into the boat, and
gave her his cravat and trousers to wrap
about her feet.
The Captain who went into the jolly
boat kept along side the long boat until
morning, took all the names of those on
board and gave them compass and chart
On his leaving, the mate said to him,
Captain, we'll have to draw lots =" the
Captain replied, 81 know what you mean;
l don't want to hear more about it, 1t
rained good deal, and the boat had to be
continually bailed. When the next night
came, the sea became calm; there was
plenty of room in the boat, and none Of
those on board were frozen. Some once
cried out that the boat was sinkiug--the
mate said, tive must go TO work--lhis
work won't do''-and then commenced
the terrible tragedy Of throwing the pas
sengers into the deep. OfIhis, one of the
survivors, Mary Carr, gives the following
account:
Cant recollect who was thrown over
until they came to Frank Askins; the sail
Ors came to him, lie said to them, "l'll
not 90 out you know | work well all the
time III work like man till morning,
and do what can 10 keep the boat clear
of water; | have five sovereigns and | will
give it for my life till morning comes, if
God does not help US we will cast lots,
and will 60 like man if it is my turn;
don't put me out until | get a speaking a
few words to Mrs. Edgar; Mrs. Edgar,
Mrs. Edgar, can't you do something for
me; she made no reply that could hear;
then they put him out.
Mary, his youngest sister, was crying
about him; "Oh!" says she, "don't put
OH. my brother-f you put him out, put
me out too; I'm willing TO die the death
of my brother; but don't part me and my
brothcr;" Immediately they laid hold Of
her and threw her out after him.
There was Isaac Sletson, Murray,
Holmes and Charley Smith, but which Of
the four it was that threw Asklns over
board cannot say they all catched him
and dragged him; when they put over
May, Ellen, the other sister, was cry
ing; they catched hold of Ellen, and
when they had taken her up, "Oh " says
she, "don't put me over naked, all re-
quest is to give me my manlle;" some of
the sailors lifted up something and threw
it after her, but it was not her mantle. !
heard Charles Conklin say, "Holmes,
dear, you wont put me over"-"Chares'
says he, "you mus. CO." and immediate
ly took hold of him !; said to Holmes,
''Holmes spare his life, he is all that re-
mains out of ID of Vim. Liddon's family"
He lifted him up and put him over, and
as he went down heard the plunge; !
heard him crying and praying, "the Lord
have mercy on me-" saw no one assis-
ting Holmes; there were l6 thrown over.
board; short time after daylight on
Wednesday, | heard man crying ou
that they saw the mast of vessel; they
took an oar and shawl that belonged to
me for flag; ] do not know how long
il was, but ds soon as the vessel came up
to us, the Captain put the ladder down
the side Of the vessel and took us up on
the deck.
The testimony for the defence related
merely to the manner in which the throw.
ing overheard was accomplished; there
were no variations of any importance
George NJ. Dallas, Esq, and VIM. Mere
ditl, the District Attorney, conducted the
cause for the prosecution, and Messrs