The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-24
vhe Homicide ON Board the United States
6.eamer Brooklyn-Anosher Version OF
the Affair.

0c0amcr HrOOklyn-A"os"0A 'eAsAVA -
10 THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
yyrnxp STATES STEAMER RROoKIw,l
KEY WET, Fla, Nov. 10, 1852
,,s. N inform You OF our safe arrival at this port
~ massage here was attended with considerable blusery
vesner but the good ship Brooklyn rode out in safety
Az the sad affair which happened on board our ship
shorsy after coming to anchor at Quarantine may have
caused some excitement after DEPARTURE and being an
eye witness Of the principal part Of the tragedy VIII
narrate the facts as they occurred.
young by the Of Geo. Ritter ORDINARY sea-
an), through asrreputous means obtained LIQUOR
BY which he became intoxicated and remained 50 all day.
Towards evening he got somewhat sober, ana suoi'Si
along the Gangway, where he met companion saAu.),
who had also been drinking, named john b'o~n' pua-
mer's mate; some words passed between tnem, snen
Hs,er struck Brown The corporal O. sns as
Shat Ritter was brought TO the mss ana the hsstr az
Arms called on y .ne cs1, hsnr smUara
mn she First Lieutenant In adjusting he watch
Sf and the First Lieutenant being anxiecs that the
r be- before to sea did not go deck
~ some time after am informed that when Ritter
hsn 10 the his conduct was 80 outrageous that the
ssnc IRONS and put them On him there; he resisted With
Az his might being powerful man but, other aid being
asd be was soon overpewered; not however, until he
d dealt several blows upon those who were ordered 70
Got rons at the time using obscene language
he might, perhaps, have been SO bad had it
him on his resistance the authorities Of the ship This
likewise put in double iroRs, and is waiting
TRIAL by Court Marhal-he charge against him being mu
Wny. After Ritter placed In irons and overpowered
he sergeant Of the guard and ships corporal Cooper
eeeded bring him to the brighe place of confinement
Or all refractory Characteristic ships corporal going
down the ladder FIRST the corporal OF the guard having
hold Of Ntters undershrt and the sergeant having hold
Il his arm when they got him the combng
sf The hatch appears that the ladder too
admit the corporal and the sergeant OF the guard ana M
in such close proximity and the sergeant had to relax
hc1A Uhanth a nricnn m AZ
giants grasp he attempted TO strike him with the irons
at hat his hands; and the position of the corporal
AIs hold he would have been struck by
ne IRONS The consequence can be easily foreseen
having relaxed the bold he slid immediately the bot
OF the ladder, Is he ircned in such way
D. unable TO save himself from the fall ! don't think
however that Cooper was instrumental in his DEATH he
could have stopped his Impetus had be tried 10 the
position in which he was placed. When Ritter reached
she bottom Of the ladder, Cooper had TO get him TO the
brig the best way he could and with the of
e corporal Of the guard succeeded in doing sothe dis
nnce being only about three yards Once in the brig,
1nant ordered Cooper TO gag hm-an operation which Is
rot unusual on board man-os war short time only
elapsed until report WAS flying about decks that there
was dead in the brig, and upon inquiry found it
10 be Ritter; and cry was Immediately raised by por
hon OF the crew, "Lets lynch Cooperate gaggedfhe man
deah." Cooper had by this time placed himself in the
custody Of the Master at arms who for fear Of serious
consequences locked him up in the Masters storer
me being foed in getting hold Of Cooper mustered
- the mast with the exception Of the orderly por
ton, who could be induced participate in such
tnous proceedings The First Lieutenant and Captain
held consultation, and deemed advisable to put Coo per
On shore, the ship had every appearance Of mutny
The refractory party were headed by English
man, who, reported since this occurrence,
had headed mutny on one Of men Of
war a former occasion. The Captain, in a very
scntemanly manner accosted the party at the mast ask
ing what they wanted Some among the crowd said they
wanted Cooper Others satisfaction The Captain ordered
Ralence when all calm he addressed Clarke, the
Enghshman, asking him what he was doing there; he
Clarke, said" am hordered by hall ands To demand
justice or ave justice done to Cooper The Captain in
reply stated that he would have investigation into the
sase and he was guilty, would pass Cooper into the
hands OF the civil authorities at the time stating
Mat it all originated from the drunken habits which
eOoper was addicted and that he sorry that the
J0ry OF them too much addicted 10 the habit
and advised them 10 future TO refrain from such habits
after which he dismissed them; when all of sudden
hendRh yell burst forth, and the Captain seeing that
serious consequences about to result ordered the
guard OF marines ont, and h quicker time than can
write IL they jumped to their and stationed them
svee the quarter deck when the fiery passion OF the
crew cooled down. The officers were also under arms
NE body the next day was put in coffin unwashed, and
sent ON shore, where verdict rendered.
The only thing Cooper be blamed for is 10
5g the proper kind Of gag, the he used being
paint swab handle marked B D. p meaning berth decl
port But he cannot be blamed much for IN the excite
ment he took the first thing at hand.
We finished coalng this evening and will be Off the frs
hhg TO morning for Vera Cruz from which por
i WIN drop you the current news.