True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-10-21
TRAGEDY On THE SPANISH MAIN

By the royal mail steamer Conaway, p.
several seamen, lately belonging to the
schooner Endeavor, IF this port. srrived
here from Carthagena, via. st. Thomas.
They report &righaul s,trocity, commit
ted by the Indians of the South AmeFi-
can coast upon the master sad crew Of
that vessel. The EndeavOr left King
ston on Tuesday, June l6, having clear
ed out for Maracaibo. Having sustained
some damage, the schooner put into Cape
La Vela on the Main. where her injuries
were repaired. l s,q .,os ~
Capt. Anthony Durant had three Indi-
ans on board, whom he had brought to
Jamaica with him on bis last return from
the Main, and every as,ention was shown
them by the captain, who, in fact, was
always kind towards them, even while in
Kingston. The vessel arrived off the
Indian coast on the evening Of the 9th
July, and came to anchor at Bay Honua,
10 which place the Indians on board be-
longed. The Jadians were Immediately
landed, aud about o'clock the next
morning boat loaded with Indians, to
the number of fifteen, boarded the schoon'
er, and lined the gangway. The captain,
not imagining any danger from their pres.
enee, was wholly uuprepared for an at {
tack, and was speaking to one Of the
seamen near by, when suddenlo some
seven Of the Indians simultaneously drew
their knives, which were hid in their cir
dies, and commenced to assassinase thsi
raptain. They inflicted numerous stabs
ali over his body, which soon brought
him TO the deck in senseless state, the
blood coursing along his body in pro-
fuse manner. He rade several ineffec-
tual attempts at resistance. The cook,
who was in the galley preparing break
fast, was also attacked by them and kill.i
ed, with scarcely any chance Of resistance
Meanwhile, the mate. Mr.. Madare, was
personally engaged with two Of the In
dams, who dealt him severe blow over
the head, but with almost an unexampled
degree of strength he held each by the
throat with his hands, and bringing him
self on his knees, he throttled them in
such manner as when he let 60 his hold,
they sIaggard. The panic on board
among the seamen was intense, and no
one being prepared for such an encoun-
ter, the confusion and horror which pre-.
vailed at the time may be better imagined
than described. ..s, a
A white sailor. seeing the helpless
state of the crew, Immediately jumped
overheard, and they took to the boat
which was alongside; another young
man, named Lewis Lacoste, Of this city,
who had been taking sea voyage for the
benefit Of his health, was the third per-
son who left the vessel. He jumped
overheard, and not being able TO swim.
sank and rose no more. Another seaman
from the vessel succeeded in getting into
the boat. The mate, after the wrestling
with the two Indians, and seeing no 9TH
er chance for his life, made one desperate
leap from the ship, and was soon in the
boat. He cut the painter which held the
Indians boat alongside the vessel, and
the four parties took to work with the
paddles. The Endeavor's boat was a.
shore with three Of the hands in her, and
these, perceiving what was going on.
showed of, and met the Indian boat IA
whaling boat belonging to the brig Radi-
ant, stranded some time ago off the same
coast, which contained the four who had
# the ship and joined her--sending
the Endeavor's boat adriff. Meanwhile
the steward, who was in the hold Of the
vessel when this ssnguinary proceeding
commenced, was set upon by these blood
thirsty assassins and soon killed, The
Indians sacked the vessel and plundered
all the stores and provisions, and, as was
subsequently, ascer.ained, run her ashore.
Aboat with the seven souls which sur
vived this sad tragedy, after pulling a.
gainst the wind some sixty miles, fell in
with some vessels and got refreshed, and,
some canvass having been provided them
they set sail the next morning, and reach
ed Rio de la Hascha in safety.
i Capt. Durant was trader to the Span.
ish Main for upward Of thirty years, and
had endeared himselfto many Of the ma
lives. He failed on this melancholy oe-
casion to observe the necessary Precauiion
of not allowing more than certain NUM-
Der to come on board at one time, and
this fatal error on his part has led 10 the
sacrifice both Of valuable lives and Of
property to some amount. The captain,
however, was too confident Of the good
feeling Of the natives toward him, so
much so that he forgot to arm himself to
repel their attack. k.-Jam0ica Dispatch.