The northern tribune. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1847-1855, 1848-03-08
The Murder of Capt Smith of the SchI'
Atlantic, of Bangor.

| ALlduJlC, "a ochSOi'
We are permitted to publish the following
letter explaining the circumstances connected
with the mutny aboard schooner Atlantic,
and the death of the captain.-PoSt.
Consulate of the U. S. of America,
Ponce, Porto Rico, Jan. 25, lS45. )
Sir-On Saturday the 10Th day of the pre-
sent month of January, the American schooner
Atlantic, of the burden of l2S S696 tons, be-
longing to Bangor Captain Joseph A Smith.
master, was cleared at the Custom House of
this port, in ballast bound for the port of
Wilmington, N. G., and sailed on the next
morning on her voyage. On Tuesday after
noon, the 18th inst, the said schooner re-
turned to this port and anchored in the harbor
about o'clock P M. asking for visit.
The pilot who brought the vessel in having
reported that mutiny had taken place on
board and that the captain was lying danger
ously wounded, the undersigned went off
with the visit boat. On arriving on board,
the mate reported that the two mutineers had
jumped overheard and were drowned. On
proceeding to the cabin l found the captain
lying in his berth, with dangerous wounds in
his head, which was clotted with blood. The
queens doctor finding it inconvenient to dress
the wounds on board l directed the captain to
be carried on shore, which was effected by
dusk, and the wounds were dressed. From
the time first saw him until his wounds
were dressed, Captain Smith remained to APP
pearance Supplied. On the next day he spoke
little but without connection, and conse-
q uenty was not able to add his declaration
to those which precede this statement.
He fingered on, though most of the time
insensible to surrounding objects, although
with every succor which skilful physicians,
and the unceasng attentions of his consignees,
Don Juan Prats & Co., and the assistance of
his friends could provide for him, until last
nj ht, at about 10 o'clock, P. NJ, when he
died, and his body was Theoretically sealed in
zinc coffin, with intention to be shipped on
board the schooner Atlantic, to be carried
home to his family for burial. From all the
examinations which have been able to make
of the particulars of the tragedy on board,
aud from the dispositions attached, it appears
that on the evening of the same day in which
she sailed from this port, namely. on Sunday
the 10th inst, the schr. Atlantic having en-
countered head winds, anchored ebout twelve
miles to the leeward of this port, that the
winds remaining unfavorable, the schooner
was still at anchor on Tuesday, the 18th inst,
tn at about 10 o'clock, A. NJ. of that day, the
captain Joseph A. Smith, seated on block on
the starboard side of the deck near and little
abaft the foremost with his back to the galley,
was splicing the forelitt.
Jefferson Adams Smith, seaman and
brother to the captain, was standing abreast
of the foremost, with his head down, worming
the end of the forelift The mate, ohm Hard
ing Smith, was at work splicing the lift into
the eyebolt of the fore yard, on temporary
stage placed over the spot where the captain
was sitting. Enoch Chase, seaman, was up
in the foretop, tarring down the rigging
William Hall, seaman, was working in the
larboard fore rigging. The position of the
cook, Geo. Webster is not stated in any Of
the declarations. Such being the positions
and occupations of the captain and crew, q
blow and cry out from the captain was
heard, when the cook was seen striking him
with an axe on the head, by which blows the
captain was felled to the deck. Leaving the
captain,the cook attacked his brother, Jefferson
A. Smith, who escaped the blow OF the axe
bp jumping under it and Selling the cook,
who ierked himself loose again.
When the mate heard the cry of the cap
| Tin he started to iump down to assist HIM,