New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-26
ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.
The Oyster SlOOp Spray Sunk near Barnegat


Capt. Weed of the Second Precinct to inform him OF
mysterious circumstance which had transpred during
bis voyage hither Capt Webb also narrated the facts
TO our reporter, and they substantially as follows;
On the 2lst inst, when about four miles north oil
Barneeat be fell in with a sioop lying on her BEAM
ends with apparently no one on board A short as
lance TO the windwaId lay yawl.boas anchored,
containing a CbnamaD. Though the sea was quite
rough he took things very easily, making no signs for
assistance to any of the vessels in the neigh
borhood Capt. Webb moioned to him to cut his
painter, which he did, and was taken aboard. He
pretended not to understand Enghsh, and when asked
what had become of his captain made signs that he
was drowned. After a while, however, when the
men ioked him, he became more communicative, and
told confused and suspicious story.
Although much Of it is undoubtedly untrue, yet
enough has been confirmed to present striking conc
oence with the facts connected with the horrible e. A.
johnson case and to render more than probable that
similar murder may have been committed in the pres
ent instance The Chinaman first statement was that
he was a seaman on board the Spray, Of Guiford,
Conn, Capt Leete which was the sloop seen on her
beam ends when he was picked up that she had that
DAY been in collision with the Lucinda Of Rockaway,
and had sunk in few minutes after the collision car
rying with her the Captain and his brother who were
the only persons ON board beside himself Aferward
be said the main sheet had struck the captain and
knocked him oyerboard at another time that the cap
tain was standing the bowsprt at the moment Of the
collision and was thrown by its force lastly, that
the captain was sick in the cabin, and went down
with the sloop.
But Capt. Webb had occasion to into Little Egg
Harbor and there found the sloop Lucinda in dis
abed condition Her master stated distinctly that, at
the time of the collision, he no one aboard the
Spray but the Chinaman, and that the deck of the
soop was strewn with bedding furniture, &C., as If
the cabin had been p!undered and the contents scat
tered on deck. Capt. Webb found however, in the
yawboat with the Chinaman, nothing but a compass,
Ratchet and few provisions so that if any murder
has been committed ii would seem to have been ins
gated by revenge rather than by desire for plumber
In confederation of this it ia said that the Cninaman
who is well known among our boatmen by the name
of John Lori, or Jackalord," has sailed with the
missing captain Leete, for several years; that over
wear AGO he stole considerable of money from
his superior and ran off to New-Haven where he
captured and brought back to NewYork. Capt. Leete
however, refused TO appear against him, and again
took him into service BE is ssid TO possess the dog
ged revengefu Chinese disposition and ii is not I'M
likely that he never forgave the man whom he had
injured.
Under the circumstances known 10 Captain Webb
it seems very singular that he did not closely condne
the Chinaman, and bring him at once to the United
States authorities in this city. On the contrary, he al
lowed him to come on shore with him in a small boat
unguarded and, as coon as the land was reached
Jackaord made spring and disappeared through the
crowd since which time he has not been seen. The
sloop Spray now lies where Capt. Webb found her,
exposed TO the full force of the waves and il now
being stripped by the wreckers. The matter should
receive an immediate and thorough investigation al
the hands of the proper authorities.
LATEST PARTICULARS.
From our Marine Reporter.
In our edition of Friday we published paragr aPh
stating that the potboat George Steers No. g. came
up the day previous, and reported that, when oil Bar
negat. at D. m she saw two soops come in collision
one Of which sank soon afterwards. The George
Steers left again, the following day. for sea- and ar
rived at the city yesterday at 10 m, with sloop in
tow. Upon boarding the pilot boat, we gathered the
following information: On Wednesday, the Dist inst
at D. M, when about four FIVE miles TO the north
ward of Barnepst, the pilot on the Steers saw two
soops sailing in opposite directions lone Of which was
quite smalthe other was about 80 tons, come in col
lision. The small sloop, which was bound to the
other ran near the beach and anchored.
They cav but one man board the one thai an
cbored and he was in the act of lowering away the
yaw while the vessel was apparently sinking. Sew
era vessels were the time quite near 10 her; some
standing south, and others north. The people
OIL the Steers would have gone to her, but supposed she
would receive assistance from OF the Others The
Steers then proceeded to the city, and went to sea
again the following day. On the 2ith inst, at noon
they came upon sloop anchored, sunk and lying
upon her beam ends this about four miles north OF
Barnegat She had been completely stripped Of sails
and rigging The pilots Immediately resolved to make
an effort to get her into port they made fast to the
mast, which came ont, aud the vessel righted.
They set the mast sdrf and took the vessel in
tow, and brought her to this city. They could no!
ascertain Der name as her stern under water but
our shipnews reporter, upon examining the wreck,
Jaw something floating in the cabin which he fshed
out 1t proved to be portion OF a table; under 1t was
large burgee with the name "Spray' upon it, leav-
ing no doubt as to the identity of the vessel. The
Spray is sloop Of about 30 tuns painted flesh color
outside, with yellow and red streaks, buwarks inside
green, deck light lead color she has flush deck, with
center board; has had her port quarter stove and
patched. There was about the half of mans shirt
clippine TO the side. stained with something having
the appearance Of blood or iron rust
VEETLArIsG ScHooLRooNs.-A large number OF
persons interested in the heating and ventilation Of