The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-10
The Massacre on BOard the American Ship
Robert Bovine.

The following, from the Hong Kong Register
gives the particulars of the butchery Of the cap
tain and Others of the ship Robert Bovine, by
Coolies, on the passage from Annoy to San Francis
co, brief account Of which has already appeared in
the HERALD
est was mentioned that two of the seamen Of the
Robert Bovine had gone off in one Of the boats pre-
vious to the vessel being recaptured by tie crew II
appears that these men, named Valentine and
Smith, were picked up by Captain Wilson, OF the
Nymph, and taken to Shanghae, where they made
deposition before the American Consul We pub
lish the deposition Of Valentine-Smith' is merely
a repetition it. We regret to learn from this de-
position that all that said Of the bad usage of
the Coolies by the captain is more than confirmed.
That usage, though no excuse, is an extenuaton of
their crime. We hope that the many severe lessons
lately given to masters Of ships will either put
stop to the Coole carrying trade 30 South America,
the Sandwich Islands and Australia, or make il be
carried on with more attention to the comforts and
feelings of the emgrants OF the Coolies per Gene
raj Palmer which loaded from Amoyfcr Sydney, no
less than seventy died on the passage. Nothing
short Of the greatest nattenton and cereesncss to
the wants and comforts Of these unfortunate meu
could have brought about this mortality.
DEPOSITION OF JOSEPH VALENTINE, STEWARD OF
THE AMERICAN SHIP ROBERT BOVINE.
Joseph Valentine, being Gsly smorn, deposed as
follows
That he was steward in the American ship Robert
Bovine. Captain Bryson, and that said ship sailed
from Annoy about March Goth, with crew Of AZ
men, including all hands, and about 4l0 Chinese
passengers bound for San Francisco.
That the captain, in order to maintain cleanliness
cut off the tails OF great many Of the Coolies, aud
obliged them TO come on deck and be washed al
over in cold water, the men scrubbng them with
cane brooms. Tho Coolies eyinced much concern
at losing their tails, many of them crying.
They were well furnished with food and water
On the 10th day out, while cutting up chicken At
the galley door, about half past nine in the morrng
the deponent heard shout from the Cinnamon, aad
looking round, saw body Of them rushing aft,
III, he nd fta
time one from behind seized him round the waist
With small knife he held he cut his wrist, and the
Coolie Let 70 his hold and followed his companions
aft. The doponent then went into tho galley with
the Chinese cook, and both held the doors to pre-
vent the iDgross Of tho Coolies From small win
dow in the front Of the galley, he saw the murder
of the second mate, who was knocked down by
blows on the head from ten twelve men; and some
Of the Coolies having by that time obained boarding
pixies, stabbed him. He was thrown overheard not
quite dead, and clinging to rope stabbed again
with pixies till he rcnquishcd his hold.
The Coolies then forced the doors Of the galley,
and stabbed ut doponent with the pixies, notwth-
standing the intercession of the cook. He succeed
cd in Wrestling pike from them, and drove them
aft, two of the Coolies falling by his thrusts.
He then jumped down the forecastle hatch, where
they barricaded him in. In about an hour they
called to him, through one Of the Chinese, who
spoke English, and told him to come up, promising
not to hurt him. He did So and was led aft to the
wheel, where Smith was also brought.
After steering Tor an hour, dep0nent was tssch
into the cabin, ard ordered under pain OF dotth 70
show whore the captains valuables were. He did
SO, but they got but little. The mon were alctt
when deponent came on deck, VIII eher they had rc-
treated, after making unavailing resistance
The Coolies told the men IL they would come down
and take them to land they would not hurt them
The men did so, and they all well treated whlC
they were returning Deponont was informed "
the Chinese that the captain, two officers, and thre'
men, bad been killed. The Coolies obliged deponen
TO attend the wounded among Themselves at wb0t
there were several. and thoy said eight of tha
number werO killed IL tho fight, aud throwo over
! losrd
They qre-r,icd much au2ng thsmsslyes sbou