New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-30
LATE FROM RIO.
SHOCKING MURDER OF A SEA CAPTAIN.
colOnists.

SHOCKING MURDER OF A SEA CAPTAIN.
From The Boiiinore american, July n.
Tie bark Lapving arrived here yesterday, bring
ing Rio de Ja1eiro dates to 2lst June The question
between Paraguay and Brazil is temporarily terlni
nsted the President OF het Republic having given the
satisfaction which was required from hin by the lm-
peria Goven ment The Commauder-iD-Chief Of
the Brazinan squadron dismissed for not hsv-
Jog compiled in part with the orders given by the
Government. The Brazilian steamer Tocautious,
which left Rio on the 18th utimo, at ,he distance OF
a. few miles struck against the Danish bark Indiana
on her voyage from Hamburg. The and commercial
marine advices received by this arrival will be found
elsewhere.
We have received by Captain Kelly, of the Lap
wing tie following particulars of most brutal muir
der committed on board The ship Sea Witch, Captain
Frazier, b. ind 10 China from New-York;
The clirper ship Sea Witch Capt. Frazier. ownel
by Howl and & Aspnwall of NewNOrs, gTrived IN the
port of Rio JGDeIro the 10th OF Juue ana on being
boarded hy the officer Of the Customs, Il was dseoY-
cred that t. Q cap ain bad been murdered. The Gus.
ton House Officer Immediately sent for quart aud
took charge OF the ship. The American Cousuli Mr..
Scott was then notified OF the affair." and he, sccom-
paui,d by Capf. Rowan Of the Cnitei States oris
Balbroge, promptly repaired on board. he men
all put il irons, and Mr.. srot entered into an
From the evidence TAKEN it appears that on he
mgr Of the 5fL of june between The hours OF II and
4, lie FIRST mate who then bad charge OF the deck,
went 10 the room occupied by the ships surgeon, Dr.
Brobsky ana huIriedly requested him 10 get up,
stating hat he believed the Captain was murdered.
Tn, Doctor Immediately arose, AMI on eaterny the
Captain 5 apartment bcheld him btthrd IN blood ana
he INN, diatey gave the alarm. The watch on deck
cane own and assisted the Doctor to raise the Cap
tam an0 Oh carefully examining the wounds y was
dis Ovtrd that the skull had been fractured by three
distinct blows each blow being sufficient TO have
c8ustd bis dea h, the skull absolutely driven IN
Oh the brain. The Captain died the next day 1nd the
BODY wos placed in a no, shead of spirits The sh
was H. In y latitude Of 2lo s. ami in The longitude
Of 20 w about 900 les fiom Rio. The Do tor IN
ssicO upon gong into Rio az the nearest port but the
nate wished TO Keep off. However, the Doctor told
him be suspected him the murderer, and he mani.
tested The sl htest symptoms OF ireachery he would
shoot him. THIS seems TO have overawed the mate az
he Iut into Rio.
On The 10Th of JuIe, DR.. Rudenstein Of the United
States big BAN bridge, accompanied by Dr. Pencil,
IhNsician TeeiGeut IL Rio, made an examination OF
Tie body. They discovered three fractures Ia the skull,
snd that tbesc t. cause Of his death. Ga exam
ning Tie az armeDt of the mate marine syike was
found Hhih, being applied TO the fractures, ftted tnen
exactly, aid further there deep indentation IN
the wood Of the cabin just above the captains head,
10 Itch Tie be of The marine-spke also correspond
ed And on examining the marllne-spike more close
w. n small portion of paint was discovered which was
idennfed by chemical tests as OF The same quality as
tlat OF The cabin Tie 81 cOnf mate on being eXim-
iHoG stat tat tina the mgrne spike had never been
painted; lie fiIst thought II had.
The examination having proceeded thus far the Con-
sui derod the fist mate, Sylvanus VI. Spencer to be
arrested end placed in irons He requ' stcd leave to
dress imsef p'ev ious TO being taken ashore aud as
Murine knocking of the irons Spencer drew a
knife and stabbed hm.elt in the left breast. The
wound is slight the knife glanced over the ribs, AID
the wIeicled man failed in bis wicked at,emp'. lie
was carefully attended and conveyed to prison 10 re-
81 fNn l"ffg
Stats All the men except three have been liberated,
ano they also will be set free soon as examined.
Thus far circumstance point very strongly TO the mate
as the porpotrator Of the crime
Messrs. Maxwell, Wright X Co., the agents of As
piLwal Co., have charge of the ship, and will expe-
dite her upon Der journey as room as possible. The
Consul appointed Capt. Lang to the command OF the
ship, ana lie has remained board during the wh Die
of he examination, diligently performing the trying
duties Of this melancholy OCCASION The body OF Capt.
Frazier. we are informed, will be sent to New Yorx in
the shp Union, which about to sail when the
Lupwins lett