New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-15
mnI,rentment of American Sailors In Japan.

By the bark Eureka. arrived from Can
ton Monday morning. we have the following state
ment of cruel treatment by the japanese toward
shipwrecked American seamen, with the killing Of
one of the unfortunate men. This statement was
made at st. Helena some months ago:
Murphy Wells an American citizen, born In the State
of NewYork late carpenter on board the American
whaling-ship Lawrence of Poughkeepse, Capt Baker,
states that the said vessel Lawrence) wrecked
the 2sth of May 1916 by running reef Of rocks in
the dead Of the night about 300 miles off the coast Of
Japan during very thick weather All hands re naned
By the vessel I'LL daylight when three beats were
manned by the whole Of the ships company, who took
with them all Of their clothing, &c, that could possibly
be got at the vessel going TO pieces fast the sea
making breach over her. They then made the best
Of their way for the Island Of Japan During the night
the boats separated, two OF which have never been
seen since. Our boat (Wellss arrived Ia safety after
seven days passage On the moment OF arrival the
natives took possession Of all of boat and Effects
and we were thrust into prison cage made similar 20
those in which wild beasts kept for exhibition
where we were confined and hslfstaryed for eleven
months and half after which transported 70
Dutch settlement down the coast where we were
again put In prison by the japanese for two months
more At the expiration Of this confinement we were
brought before the Chiefs and tried for daring 10 ap
proach their land We told them were shipwrecked,
which they would not listen TO, ana upon no terms
would they grant US liberation They threatened 10
cut OF our heads because they thought we're English
whom they hate but when we told them we were
Americans they said nothing more, except 10 ask Ne OF
what religion we were. Upon our telling them we
worshpped God, and believed In Jesus Christ they
brought cross bearing the image Of our Savior, and
had we not ramped upon Il stheir request they would
have assacred Us on the spot We were then detained
on shore, in prison, for a couple Of days more, when
they sent Us on board Dutch ship, bound 10 Batavia
where we arrived In December, l57 each Of u doing
the best we could for ourselves to get passage home
While we were in Japan, In prison one Of our com
rsdes Thomas Williams endeavored 10 make bis escape,
but was caught and taken back 10 prison in dying
state owing to wounds inflicted with some deadly
weapon as there was cash over his forehead which
bled profusey. The poor fellow lived about six hours
ard when he dead, the natives brought coffin, into
which they compelled Us to place the corpse, when they
took away but what done with il could never
ascertain
The names of those saved from the wreck are ueO's'
How, I'd mate Thos William, seaman since nurue'.-'
Thomas Williams, O seaman Peter "nnAn' u'''
Henry Spencer, DO Murphy Wells eAfpeoe''
We heard Of several English seamen os'ns 'i''' :"
confinement similar to ourselves
We believe that the facts aboEe staten arc h'0
-, h,, s;nply another version OF narrative
,o,,s time since laid before the American public