Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-01-16
James Morshead had 81 votes
Abom,n.b,. ou,r,p. a, Sen.

Abou,inabie Outrage at Sen.
The Boston Transcrip translates tho fnl'ow.
ing from the Courier des Etsts Unis, Wednss.
day last:
Some day since we spoke Of the ship Pontiac
arrived at New York from Liverpool. after
passage OF 65 days We announced that her
provisions had failed, iha, sickness had prevail.
ed on board, ahc that twenty persons had died
at sea New details have come 10 us respecting
this funerea voyage, and they weigh hard upon
the conduct Of the captain and his second mate
After the frat days Of the voyage, the captain
was found TO be in a surlous temper. and tho
emisran,s, the Germans. above all, were the ob.
jec,s of his brutality. The weather was fright
fu--the sea swep, the decks at every instant,
and they attributed the anger Of the captain 10
the bad time he was experiencing. But how
excuse a rage without motives. and the excess
ses which we are about to relate. The follow.
ing details were told us by ar eye witness NJ.
D-rvllle, the only cabin passenger on board the
ship nnd 10 whose valuable intervention great
number OF the passengers indebted for their
lives.
The voyage continued the seq, far from
ca lining was more aud more disturbed the Cap
tain was always the sane in!lcting blows with
a rope cndgel and fs,. NJ. Derville mad. msny
rr,non.,rances against such conduc, but in vain.
lie only drew the Captains ire upon himself,
unt was obliged to be upon his guard and above
all TO let him see that he carried arms about
with him The Captain would no, permit The
men to draw water from the sea to wash the
movenbles, the cooking utensils of the dirty
mess tnb Of the steerage. a pail Of water IA.
ken from the sea paid f,r with five or six
blows with rope. In short, the terror was so
great in the teersge. that the unfortunate indi-
viduals who belonged there, numbering 234,
dared no, appear upon deck. The forced filth
OF these men who each day received blows FOR
any a,iemr, at clcan ness together with the
infections odos, engendered msadies. The
scurvy prevailed! Frrty were attacked. and
many persons died with u. The Captain hav.
ing no command OF himself. inflicted blows
without distinction upon esety one whom he
encountered Among the atrocities for which
he is reproa chej. We recte the following -
An unk,rtnnate nnn was playing upon the
flute on deck; the Captain wrrs'ed il from him
and broke it to pieces against his body; another,
alone on board, without relation or friends, is
struck bv him in the most brutal manner. and
saves kirnselfin the s,eerage. In the evening
sufferer half dead. and parched with burning
,hiryt drags himself toward the tank which
contains ihc wnter, 10 drnk-hut unfortunately
for him, the Captain passing at this moment,
upbraiGs him with kicks, and the poor fellow
gains his miserable bed, uprn which he dies
two hours after.
The Captain immediately gives orders to a
ssilor 10 envelope the dead body in bag. and
the next morning they threw il into the sea,
without allowing an opportunity to verify the
causes ofthe death, The steward IL struck by
the second male in the most crne' mahner. NJ.
D.rplle ped here for the in,erposition Of the
Captain and called him Ia behold the scene.
The Captain approaches the mate--4to stop hin,
beyond doubt !--no--hu, strike vita him. That
the steward did no; die npon the spo, is aurlou.
ted to the intervention o: NJ. Derville and his
pistols Of which he threatened to make use
This poor man is now in the hospital in despe-
rate coalition. He has received from the Cap.
tain $50 to say nothing abou, it. A young wo-
man asked for a little niolasses in reply, he
overwhelmed her with blows by a rope-she
also is very sick a, the hospital
Since these unfortunate umigfants arrived at
New York, hheen have died. The captain
now wishes 10 settle the affair smicably; he
has lavished dollars 10 make his victims keep
silence, but Justice herself is indignant, and
will take cognrance OF III an inrues, has been
ordered. witnesses have been heard, and per.
sons hsve been sent TO the hospital on Staten
Ielnnd TO in,erfogs,s the sick M. Derville
ives presents these unfortunate sufferers have
declsrod that they consider him % their savi.
our. Every day fresh depositions came to hand
agsins, the captain. Let US hope. in spite Of
bis efforts TO bribe his victims, that jns,ice will
take i,s course. and establish either the jus,i6.
cation or the gull, Of this man. The honor Of
the merchsn, nsrins os the United Btsiss 10 in
volved therein.