Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-04-09

fore engaged upon task so ghastly' But sup
pose that, instead Of November April had been
written as the date of this inundaton when the
waters from the lake above had met those from
the Gulf below; St. Petersburg would have been
numbered among the things that were.-lt1ua"
fuH.
MASSACRE OF THE Crews OF TWO ENGLISH
SH1ps-Advices were received at Lloyd's March
II, communicating the details Of two most fright
ful events at Sea,-the massacre Of the command
ers and portions of the crews Of the British ships
Victory, of London, and Herald, Of Leith.
The Victory was the property of Messrs Cook
and Wilson, shipowners, of Dockhead Ber-
mondsev. She was bark, of SO tons burden,
commanded by MIR. William Lenox Mullens !;
and having sailed to some Chinese port, was
chartered to convey Coolies to Calloa. 1t ap-
pears, that on the 5th of December, she sailed
from Cumsingmoon, with upwards Of 300 Coolies
on board and general cargo. On the afternoon
of the 10th, between three and four o'clock, the
Coolies made rush into the cabin, and with
little difficulty, possessed themselves OF the ships
arms. The slaughter then commenced. They
murdered the master, the I'd mate, the cook and
several seamen. They then endeavorcd to beat
up the coast to Cochin China, but that being
difficult, they bore away for Puo Ubi, where the
ship was ultimately brought to anchor. During
this cruising they took every prccaution OF avoid
ING detection. Obtaining the ships papers and
lor-book, they tore them up, and finding con-
velient place Oh the coast where they had brought
up, they went ashore, carrying with them con-
siderable amount Of the cargo They then de-
serted the ship, and, Mr.. Fagg, the mate, sub
sequcntly obtaining some i 1, she was got to
Singapore in the latter part of january.
The Herald, under the command OF MIR. Law
son, left Shanghai for Lcith in the course of last
October. and in addition to the master and his
wife, Mrs Law renee, theLe We're on board two
European mates, a steward, carpenter, cook,
a Portuguese seaman. y Manila men, and
Manila boy. Some four or five days after the
uclald had lett Shanghai, the crew were put
upon the customary allowance. This seemed
to annoy the ManilIamen. They began to be
dissatisfied, and before the vessel had made An
geer, they had gone TO the captain some four or
five times and demanded more, which was re-
fused.
About the 25th day of the voyage, during the
whole Of which time the European portion OF
the crew were kept i'll a state OF painful suspense
as to the movements of the Manilamen. An
gerr WAS sighted, but there being sufficient wa
ter and provisions Oh b5ard to last them, as 1t
was thought, until they reached the Cape or ST.
Helena, the Herald was not brought to anchor,
but continued the voyage. This more ex;spcrl-
ted the men, and early the morning OF the
2Gth the Portuguese sailor was alarmed by Ills
hearing his name called in loud voice. lie ran
on deck, and, meeting some Of the Mal'lliamen,
they told him that they had plenty OF water and
provisions ut their own pleasure, ;ts they had
Sent the captain and his officers to the other
world The Portuguese was sent to assist III
clearing the cabin, when he discovered the bod
les of Mr. Lawson, the carpenter and officers,
who, with the exception of the cliict mate, were
quite dead Mrs. Lawson, the wife of the cap
tain, was seen near the corpse OF her husband
crying bitterly The villains attached heavy
wcirhts to the legs Of the bodies, and, taking
them on deck, threw them overheard.
The poor mate had not brclthcd hIs last when
brought on deck, and he w;.s heard to say, Good
God" One Of the Manillumcn, gunner, then
took the command, and appointed two OF his
companions as first and second officers. In the
course Of five or six days the wrctclcS recon-
menccd the slaughter. The steward, the cook,
and the Portuguese were tied up anl told that
their last hour had arrived The steward, 1t
would seem, made an appeal to them for mercy,
when the fellow who acted is chief mate spllt
open his head with halchet, and to render his
death more certain, ran long knife through his
body. The Portuguese and the cook who was
a native Of the co,s., contrivcd to move the
wrctchcs to spare them, and they were eventual
" released, but cnjoined to keep the greatest Sc
crcey. On that day it was determined to leave
and seuttlc the shin. The boats were got ready
and Mrs. Lawson, hearing Of their contemplated
abandonment, appealed 10 the Manlllamen who
had the command to take her ashore, and not
leave hey behind. The villain unhccdcd all her
entreatics, however, and stated that his compan-
ions would not permit him to do 50. She then
impored them to allow her spar to cling on to,
but this was denied. Iudccd SO determined
were the villains that she should have no chance
of saving herself that before they deserted the
ship they secured the unfortunate lady i'll one of
the cabins, where she should have 19 chance Of
escaping