The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-07-16
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Tragic Affair. Murder of (aptain.

The revenue cutter Jno. Appleton. arrived
at Key West, Fla. a few days since with four
of the crew OF the schooner Enterprise who
were arrested at Cape Florida, for the murder
of Capt. Morantes, the commander of the YES
sci. At the examination before the u S. Mar
shall, it appeared that the schooner Enterprise
Capt Morantes left Havana bound for New
Grenada, and during the passage, a difficulty
occurred wit the crew about provisions. and
about O'Clock, on the morning Of the sth uIt.
she was run ashore by the fnan ut the wheel.
The Key of the Gulf, adds:
About O'Clock two OF the men-the cook
and Spaniard named Jose Maria-asked per-
mission of Captain Morantes to go along the
beach to see if a settlement could be found to
which he assented, and they left. Soon after.
three others Of the creW-called Charlie.
Frank and Joe-went to the Captain and ask
ed permission to take the foresaiI ont of the
schooner and go on shore and put up q tent,
TO which he also assented, After the tent had
been erected. the same three men returned to
the schooner and asked permission to carry
the provisions ashore. Captain Morantes OBJ
jected, saying that n vessel might come along
at any moment, and they could all 80 on
board. This they seemed not to like. and after
going forward and cursing among themselves,
again returned to the Captain, when Charlie
struck him with his fist The captain clench-
ed him, and while in that position, Frank
stepped up behind the Captain and stabbed
threw him overheard.
The Captain being only wounded. endeav-
ed, by keeping close under the vessel, to get
ont of the sight of his pursuers; but wheney-
er his head would appear, they would throw
iron pots or anything they could find Mt him
He then went ont into deep water, but did not
remain there long, before he approached the
beach, with his hands crossed on his breast
begging them to spare him. Frank went out
in the water to meet him, giving him to un-
dPrs tand Mt the same time that he would not
further molcst him, but as soon rs he got TO
him he again stabbed him i'll the head; the Can
tain again went back into deep water. ChHr-
lie, Frank, and Joe then went on board the ves-
sci and lowered the stern boat, and proceeded
for the Captain, but the sea being rough they
carsized. Charlie and Frank jumped out, but
Joe was caught under the boat and drowned.
Captain Morantes, with his hands crossed as
before, came towards Charlie and Frank, beg
Sing them to spare him. but as soon rs he got
up TO them. Frank stabbed him with a knife,
and Charlie beat him over the head with an
iron pump break, until he was dead They
eled the sand over the grave, and covered it
with grass. They then got Joes body, which
was still under the boat, and buried it also.
After this they broke open the Captain 8
trunk and took out his money. in all about
8 500 and divided it among the crew Charlie
and Frank retaining the largest portion for
themselves. After this, they all took TO the
boat, ond proct eded up the coast until they fell
in with the United States light house schoon-
er Delaware They went on board, and after
being there n few days Captain Owen had good
reason 10 believe that all was not right, and he
arrested and sent them to Key West by the
United States revenue cutter John Appleton.
Previous TO their arrest, Charlie and the cook
made their escape in the boat.