The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-24
me OYSTER SLOOP TRAGEDY.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS OF THE TRAGEDY,
-, 10, 10
The interest manifested by the public in the fate of the
captain and Of the Ill ated oyster sloop E. A. John
son increases daily and the Of the arrest of the
pcator OF the murders Is looked forward TO with eager
intense almost that which attended the Eud0ra
tragedy . few years ago. Since the discovery Of the
soop in the lower bay Wednesday morning, to last
night, the excitement among the fishermen and market
men has continued to grow apace, and strong the
feeling exhibited now, that the authorities taken pre-
cautionary measures to prevent the ynching of the
offender when he arrives here in charge Of the police
THE CREW or THE sLooP.
When the A. Johnson left tho foot of Spring street.
on tho 18th instant, she had ON board the following
named persons:-George Burr, captain; William johnson,
mate Smith Watts and Oliver Watts, hands The Watts
boys old acquainanoes Of tho captain and lived in
Isiip, L. L, in Mr.. Burr's Immediate neighborhood.
johnson, the suspected party married man, and
lived ct 100 Cedar street. He had been board
tho vessel before, and was employed by the captain
few hours previous to sailing The object Of the voyage
was well known to all on board and all that
the captain had quite . snug sum Of money on board.
From an oyster dealer 1t Fulton Market Captain
Burr had received $780, when he arrived Keypor
Messrs. Barnes Simmons placed in his hands abou,
$500 more The voyage to Kcypo-t passed oil without
any incident worth noticing On Sunday, the 18th
instant the sloop set sail from Report on her
ri Up to Deep Creek, Virginia, where she was 70
take in cargo Of oysters for planting and return
70 Keyport with all possible despatch What terrible and
bloody work ranspired board from that time up 10
Wednesday morning 10 best known, perhaps to William
for he In ho In nIv
who Is now alive 10 tell the tale of
"Murder most foul and unnatural"
The next thing that positively known concerning the
soop after her departure from Keyport her collision
with the schooner John B. Mather, Captain Nckerson
about half past three four o'clock wedn sday morn
ing The soop was then sailing in the direction Of New
York, while the schooner was going in opposite drec
ton, bound for the Delaware Brcakwater.
THE COLLISION
Occurred of the tail Of the West Bank, and was no doubt
the result Of ignorance fright the part Of the steers
Of the sloop When within three hundred yards Of
each other course Of the soop suddenly changed
and her head was directed full against the schooners
quarter Every effort was made by Captain Nckerson
avoid the collision but in van unexpected was the
movement on board the soop. The schooner was cut
down to within eight inches OF the waters edge but for
tunacly her commander able keep her eoa. until
steamboat and conveyed TO this city. In conversation
with reporter Wednesday afternoon Capt Nicker-
stated that the soop had only man on deck at
the time Of the collision that he never uttered word
during the time the vessels together. The soop
drifted 10 eeward and her stern swung around yaw
boat could be detected hanging from the davits his
arrival in the East river hours after the collision
Capt Nickerson cav the A. Johnson lying Fulton Mar
ket Slip and Immediately identified her q the soop
that had caused such damage board his vessel be.
SIDES quantity OF rigging e board Of his vessel in
the collision, corresponding with that missing from the
soop, reduced the identity almost 70 certainty. He I'm.
mediatey gave Information Of the matter to Capt. Weed
and important link IN the chain OF circumstanA ev
dence sgainrt the accused wasthug secured
THE DISCOVERY OF THE sLooP
in her dsmanted condition, after the collision was first
made by Capt sare Of the fishing schooner Telegraph
The E. A. johnson was then drifting in the lower bay,
about midway between Coney Island and Sandy Hook
Her sails all down and hanging in the water, her
bowsp and cutwater carried away, and her general ap
pearance denotipg abandoned wreck The Telegraph
Immediately bore down for the wreck, and just as she
was coming alongside the steamboat Ceres Capt Downs
came up, and the crews Of both vessels boarded the
sloop together The sight that presented itself board
the e. A. johnson was truly sickening The entire deck
on the aaxboard side covered with blood while here
and there the presence Of several locks Of matted bar
showed too plainly that they gazing upon the theatre
OF some mysterious and dreadful tragedy. Tho condition
OF things around the companion way and down in the
cabin confirmed their worst fears 1t evident that
the crew had been murdered their bodies dragged TO the
rail and thrown overheard. The marks of blood upon
almost every article Of furniture, together with the tossed
condition Of the clothing and bed Clothes led tho i'm
precision the work Of murder had Immediately been
Inv at Of robh Eyar clooa
and place of deposit seemed to have been ransscked
Judging from marks Of blood ana tossed condition OF
the contents Fully satisfied in their own minds that
come horrible tragedy had taken place board they
promptly started for New York, bearing with them the
dhmanued soop. 1881
ARRIVAL AT FULTON MARKET PIER.
The E A. johnson arrived here In tow Of the Ceres
about half past eight O'Clock, and was moored in Fulton
market slip. Upon the arrival Of the socp Capt Weed,
Of the Second district police, Immediately proceeded
board and took possesson Of the vessel until the Coroner
made hh appearance Coroner schrmer Doctors Bouton
and Beach and reporter proceeded board the oop
for the purpose of investigating the matter u which time
the pier wss crowded with fishermen, oyster dealers and
others oil auxousy awaiting tho result Of the inquest
Tho soop certainly had the appearance Of having recent
~ been in collision with some vessel, Judging from the
damaged oondfton Of her bowsprt and cutwaser. Her
SAILS too, lying loose Dock and everything do.
noted signs u eeafusion and violence
APPYARANCE OF TIE CABIN.
The CoronerS deputies first proceeded TO examine the
cabin which had evidently been the scene or
struggle. me- floor, ceiling, benches and furniture
all ssainsa with blood wAs aurher examination showed
that lhs cabin had been raasaoed by persons evi
IDENTIFY In ssaach Of plundse, for upon the floor were
srewed arc,es Of clothing. papers, bedding, &c. Note
made of every thing found IN Ne cabin among which
were the following arsssss:-A slAte on which were
written the rasss-'1 now akeny pen in hand 70 let |
you know that am well, and hope you are the |
same eft Kgs Hasboe-." A codee pot, covered |
with blood and human hair, found IN corner near
The n1oxA broom which had annsrentlx han mad In