The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-27
ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR

.
rived at New York Saturday reports that on the
list inst, four miles north of Barnegat, he picked
up boat containing Chinaman, who stated that he
had escaped from the soop Spray, of Guilford,
Conn, which had that day been in collision with
the sloop Lucinda, of Rockaway-that the Spray
sunk In fifteen minutes after colliding, carving
down with her the captain, named Leete, and his
Drother, who We're the only persons on board be-
sides mmself The Chinaman supplied with a
hatehet, compass, and some provisions and so far
as regards the collision his statement was correct
as was subsequently ascertained that the Lucinda
put into Little Egg Harbor in a damaged con-
dlton 1t is suspected, however, that the China
man murdered the captain and his brother and
then deserted the vessel, and his sudden disappear
ance on arriving at New York, tends to confirm the
suspicion. The Spray was bound to Virginia for
a cargo of oysters, and Captain Leete had in his
possession funds for the purchase of his cargo
The police have the affair in hand and day
or two may clear up the mystery that now sur
rounds it.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS
The captain of the Lucinda further states that
the deck of the Spray strewn with bedding
flags and furniture, indicating that the cabin had
been thoroughly ransacked, and the contents scat
tered over the deck. The Chinaman, who goes by
the name .of John Low, or Jackalow. as he is more
frequently called, is well known in New York, and
has sailed with Captain Leete for the past four
years Something over year ago he stole consd-
erable money from Captain Leete, and ran away to
New Haven, where he was captured by the police
and brought back to New York. Such was Cap
lain Leete's attachment to JackalOw, that he re-
FUSED to press the prosecution, and, on his dis
charge, Immediately restored him to his position
as COOK on board the SPRAY. He is repOrted to be
very revengefu fellow, and, when excited stops
at nothing, however Desperate in order to CRAFTY
bis revenge.
When picked up by the French, and during his
continuance board, he persistently refused to
converse with any one pretending that he did not
understand the English language. although when
the questions were not too direct, he evidently un-
derstood well enough. He says that he came 10
this country seven years ago, in the United States
steamer Mississippi, and is now 26 years of age
When asked why he did not take the captains
money with him, he said that it was locked up in
box, and that he could not get it, His stories
concerning the manner of the captains death are
very conflicting. He first said that the captain
was thrown overheard By being struck by the main
Sheet then he said that at the time OF the collision
the captain was standing the bowsprit, and was
Knocked off by the conclusion, and finally that he
was sick in the cabin and unable to get on deck.
The latter story is highly improbable, for the
Spray left New York the same day the accident
happened, and when she sailed both the captain
and his brother were known to be in excellent
health. In regard to the story about the captain
OF the spray being on the bowsprt, the captain of
the LUCINDA declares that there was no person visi
Die I,, about the Spray excepting the Chinaman.
When picked up, he had on a coat belonging to
Captain Lee!e in the pockets of which was found
memorandum upon the fy-leaf of which was
written in pencil 81. F. Leete, GuiIford, Ct" The
book contained various memoranda concerning
the sale or purchase of hay, onions and potatoes.
In one of the pockets of the coat was found letter
written to Captain Leete, by Calvin NJ. Leete,
dated Guilford, December u, 1852 and relating to
the disposition of cargo of onions.
Jackaow manifested considerable uneasiness
while on board the French when CAPTAIN Webb
lett his vessel in the harbor to go on shore he
jumped into the boat and insisted upon accompany
ing him, which he did AS soon as a landing had
been effected he sprang ashore and disappeared in
crowd, m he has baap
lie had little or no money with him, and beyond
the articles already mentioned, it is not known that
he took anything from the vessel
The sloop now lies about four miles on this side
OF Barnegat, with her mast and broadside ex-
posed, and when last seen was being stripped by
the wreckers. She was bound to Virginia for Oys-
ters, and the suppositon is that there was money
on board, although it does not appear that Jacka-
low succeeded in getting any of it.
The case has very much the appearance of that
OF the oyster sloop E. A. johnson, and it is quite
probable that another horrid murder has been com
mitted-not, perhaps, for the purpose of plunder,
but possibly for revenge The police have the
matter in hand, and the Investigations of another
day will throw flood of light upon this dark and
mysterious affair.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS BY THE PILOT BOAT GEORGE
.a. -i-a STEERS.
At p. M. on Wednesday last, when off Barne-
gat saw two small slOops come in collision, one of
which sank soon after. The smaller of the two
vessels which was bound to the northward had
her bowsprit carried away, while the other ran in
near the beach and anchored. Saw but one man
on board the one that anchored, and he in the act
of lowering away the yawl, and the vessel appa-
rently sinking.
Several vessels were quite near her at that time,
some standing south and some to the north. Should
have gone to her but supposed that she would re-
ceive assistance from those nearer by. We then
proceeded to the city; went to again the fol-
lowing day, and on the oath inst, at noon, four
miles off Barnegat, came upon a sOOp anchored
and sunk, lying upon her beam-ends, and complete
ly stripped of her rigging.
immediately resolved to make an effort TO get
her into port, and made fast to the mast, which
came out, and the vessel righted. Set the mast
adrift; took the vessel in tow and brought her to
the city. Could not ascertain her name as her
stern was under water; but upon examining the
wreck saw something floating in the cabin which
proved to be portion of table, under which
was large burgee with the Spray upon it,
leaving no doubt as to the identity of the wreck
The Spray is soop of about thirty tons