Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-03-30
A Horrible Tragedy.


citing description of the appearance OF
matters on board the sloop E. A. john
son, whose crew are supposed TO have
been robbed and murdered by river pr |
rates, as stated in one Of our former dis
patches. We trust that an investigation
of the matter will show that no such ira
gedy as now seems evident, has been
perpetrated. The Express says:
THE deck of the vessel presented the
appearance Of a slaughter-house. Every
thing was covered with blood, from stem
to stern; matted hair was found upon
the deck, and full and complete evidence
Of terrible massacre was plain. An
examination was next made OF the cabin,
and the sight here, if possible, was
worse than upon the deck. Floor, tables,
chairs and wash-stand were besmeared
with gore, and everything was disarrang-
ed, giving evidence of furious strug-
gle. A hammer weighing about three
pounds. was found upon the floor, cover
ed, like all else, with blood. Consider
able hair was also found upon it, and it
is propable that the assassin or assassins
used it for the purpose of concentrating
their villainous deeds. DIR. BountOn,
after making a further examination of
the cabin, discovered coffee-pot, and
this, like the hammer. was besmeared
with blood, and covered with hair. 1t
looks as though the crew, being attacked
in the cabin, made a desperate resist
ance, and that, during the struggle, all
available means of attack and defense
were used.
| After the examination Of the cabin
had been concluded, the deck was again
visited, and close inspection of it still
more satisfied everybody that barba-
rous murder had been committed. From
the cabin door there was an unbroken
line of blood to the guards there was
the appearance of a struggle, as the
pool was very large; then, again, marks
of bloody hands were seen upon the
guard, and Ratchet mark. Blood ran
down the outside, also.
Forward, at the mast, there was more
evidence of a terrible struggle. A large
pool of blood, yet fresh, lay around, ex-
tending to the bow; and here, again, hu,
man hair was found. The mast ans
sails were slightly besmeared, and OF
the guards near by were more imprintl
of bloody hands. Taken altogether, tn,
scene was a siekening one"
, THE OYSTER sLooP TRAGEDY.
A The author of the tragedy on hoard tn
; sloop E. A. johnson, in New York har
5 Dor, is fully believed, by the police 0
4 that city, to be William johnson Q
0 Rhode Island, and they are on his track
b with almost a certainty Of arresting hin
: 1t appears that after the collision of til
0 sloop with the schooner John B. MatheI
= he took boat and landed on the beac
r at Staten Island, and walked thence I
II the ferry boat landing, where he cor
r versed freely with several persons
/ His course and conduct after embarkin
in the ferry boat, are thus stated by tt
N New York Commercial:
n After showing a bag full of none
d (about the size of a shot bag,) he wei
le on to say that he was the captain ar
ii owner of sloop named William Tel
re that a schooner had run into them tlr
" morning, and by the collision one ma
lr had been killed by the bowsprit, whic
re forced inward, punched him in the stou
o. ach against the mast, distributing his e
trails all over the deck; and whether t
in other man got on board the schooner
az not, he could not tell; he did not s
q, where be went or what became OF biz
N. he had not seen him since. At the lii
on of the collision he was below in I
IT. cabin asleep: when he awoke he ran
ng deck, went forward, and found the slo
n sinking. He Immediately returned
nd the cabin, secured his clothes and |
bag of money.
tn Upon his arrival in the city be w
oy to cetain place, from whence the Q
ne GERS have traced him on board the St
n.y. ington boat, which left New York
NE Wednesday evening. This morn
se' Capt. Weed of .he Second precir
ma learned from the Captain of the ST
all ington boat, that the fugitive johnson
yer left the boat at Stonington and procee'
ma to Providence. The officers who vs.
oil dispatched after him, had obtained ini
was nation which placed them on the ri
- track.
The fugitive left such unmistaka
~ traces Of his course, that he was reas