Washington telegraph., 1849-03-07
FRIGarFUL TRAGEDY ON BOARD THE ENG
LIsH SCHOONER AMELIA, IN THE PACIFIC
OCEAN.

OCEAN.
The Polynesian, a Sandwich Island
paper, printed at Honolulu contains the
details of one of the most bloody massa'
cres on board ship which has occurred
in civilized life. We copy the account in
fall:
On Tuesday morning the 18th October,
the English schooner Amelia, Of Glasgow,
arrived at Honolulu, in distress, part OF
her crew having mutinied and murdered
the captain, supercargo, first and second
officers The particulars of this tragic
occurrence, as near as we have been able
Amelia left Mazatlan on the 9th Septem-
Der, and the coast on the 18th, with a
cargo of 100000 in specie bound for
China, Mr.. Cook and lady, and Mary
Hudson, serving maid passengers. On
the night Of the Sd October, in the middle
watch, three of the crew attacked the
second mate and killed him. The cap
tain and MIR. Cook hearing the noise
came on deck. One of the ruffians sta
toned at the forecastle hatch to prevent
the watch below from coming up, and the
other two attacked the captain and Mr..
Cook, killing the latter and badly wound.
ing the former.
The captain succeede din getting down
to the cabin, and having procured a cut
lass, was again going on deck, when he
was stabbed in the neck and fell back a
lifeless corpse. The ladies affrighted at
the noise and groans Of the murdered,
were ordered to their state-rooms, the
mate was secured to his, and the MUIR
derers took possession Of the cabin, and
shaped their course for the coast of Peru.
On the following morning the mate was
told that he could have the boat, and pro-
visions, if he chose to leave the vessel
and take the ladies with him. Under
pretence of lowering the boat they in
dueed him to 90 on deck, when they fell
upon him and having wounded him badly,
threw him overheard.
Then they threw all the letters and
papers overheard, and getting out large
quantity of gold, divided it among the
crew. compelling all of them at the peril
of their lives, TO take a share of the mon
ey; and then calling for wine, commenc-
ed gambling. For two days they held
undisputed possession, compelling the la
dies to sit at the table with them, and
threatening them with death if they did
not comply. 1t is more easy to imagine
than to describe their feelings. No ray
of hope teamed on the future but thanks
to kind Providence, deliverance was at
hand.
We give the remainder of the nara
tive from statement drawn up by an
apprentice boy on board the Amelia, nam
ed Thomas Grandson:
Wednesday. 4th, John Smith, born in
Rotterdam, Holland VIM. Peter, Chris
tiansand, Norway Frank Feering, St.
Michaels, Western Islands; John Ber-
ringer, Bordeaux, France: Jose, Bilboa,
Spain; proposed plan to take the lives
of the murderers that night, and which
was communicated to the rest of the
crew, -four excepted.) The carpenters 5
axe, maui, pump-breaks, boarding-p pixies,
&c, were to be ready for the purpose
At O. oclock, p. NJ, the three murderers
brought up a quantity of wine, which was
OlclC " ChC illCll III OluCl ~ ulethS tilChA
drunk. That being done they commenc-
ed playing together for gold. Afterwards
they got a muster of fire arms together,
trying which was the best, and loaded
them with heavy charges. One of them
from the foot of the companion way dis
charged loaded pistol at the man at the
wheel Cohn Smith without effect.
They then put the arms away for the
time, but told the females they should
have occasion for them i'll the morning.
They then came on deck, 9 l2 p. M. Jose
Calero having the first watch, and who
was to call the other two at 12 O'clock
At 10 o'clock John Smith was relieved
from the wheel and went to the lee side
of the long boat and asked the carpenter if
the implements were ready. The car
penter replied yes, all ready, but the axe
was below. John Smith then went be-
low in the steerage and brought it up and
told the boys, Charles and Thomas, to
have the boarding-pikes ready, and should
he want the cutlasses to run down in the
cabin and hand them up. Jose Calero,
who had the watch then, being drunk,
struck eight bells at Ii o'clock. He then
called out to heave the log Smith im-
mediately seized the axe and running aft
despatched at once the sleeping men {Jose
Lorres and Andrew Baldlbezo) where
they lay on the deck, whilst William Pc
ter, who went to hold the reel, dropped
and fell upon Jose Calero, trying to get
him overheard, but being unable to man.
age him, John Smirh. jumped to the lee
side and struck off his right arm with the
axe John then called out for the boys
to get the cntlasses in the event of meet
ing with any opposition in the four men
whom he could not confide in; but they
received no opposition. The bodies of