Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1860-03-24
Mysterious and Bloody Tragedy.

On the 10Th the sloop f. A. johnson, Captain
George Burr, Of lslip, Long Island, sailed from
New York, bound for Deep Creek, Va. for a
load of oysters On Wednesday, however, she
was found adrift near the east bank of the
Lower Bay, Long Island, in a crippled condi-
ton, by the schr Telegraph. On boarding her
there was found on every part of her decks, and
in the cabin, the plainest proofs that murder
GUS atfray had taken place on board. The Tri-
bune says:
From the rudder to the how everything was
besmeared with blood, the scene being varied
at intervals by locks of matted hair, tending
only to make the already reused suspicion of
foul play more certain, and confirming the idea
that terrible massacre had occurred previous
to the abandonment of the vessel. The cabin,
which is small, was also entered. There only
the splashed blood and matted hair remained of
what had been human life. The floor, every
piece of furniture, the stove, and articles of
wearing apparel were covered with blood.
Everything was in a disarranged condition,
bearing unmistakable evidence that terrible
struggle for life had taken place. On the floor
lay hammer weighing three pounds, to which,
besides being bloody, was sticking quantity of
human hair. Doubtless this had been used as
weapon in the villainous assassination by the
murderer or murderers. A coffee pot was also
found in the cabin besmeared with blood, and
locks of human hair sticking to it, showing that
this had been used first probably as a weapon
of defence, and afterwards as an implement of
murder. There were four fresh and distinct
marks, as if made with the blade Of knife or
sharp Ratchet, upon the beams and ceiling, and
one of the indentations was stained with blood
At all events, a tremendous contest had taken
place in the cabin after which the rufians ap-
pear to have dragged the body or bodies on
deck, md there, making bloody procession,
leaving its dreadful trail, to have thrown them
overheard, perhaps not quite dead, and yet too
far gone to make any effort TO save themselves,
or even utter a cry alarm.
Capt. Nickcrson, of the schr. j Martha,
states that carly on Wednesday morning, his
vessel came in collision with the sloop, at which
time there was one man On hoard the latter,
and he was at the Wheel no others were seen
on deck, At that time the small boat was hang
ing to the davits. just as the vessels were about
TO strike, the man referred to ran toward tue
bow. The sloop struck the schooner about
midships almost sinking her No words were
exchanged between the vessels, and the sloop
dropped astern, but when found hy the Tele-
graph no ono was on board, and the small boat
had been cut away from the dayits and could
be found The theory, therefore, is that the
man seen by Capt. y. had been left on deck in
charge OF the helm, with one of the boys for
ward on the lookout, while the captain and
other hoy were below in their berths.
The captain doubtless made great struggle
for his life, and in the effort he got worstod,
was then dragged on deck and committed to
the water. He then doubtless escaped in the
small boat. Capt. Burr is supposed to have
had about $1,000 with him. with which to pur-
chase cargo OF oysters, and to obtain inns !
money the bloody decd was perpetratcd The
police of New York are on the alert 10 asccr-
tain further particulars. In addition to Capt.
Burr, there were on board the sloop when she
sailed Nathaniel Clock, mate, and two boys,
named Smith Watts and Oliver Watts. Capt.
B. was 81 years old, and leaves a wife and five
children.
The Courier is of opinion that the deed was
by river pirates, who frightened
I'd from the East and North rivers by the har-
Dor police, have taken refuge on Long and Sta
en Islands These villains have probably
gone on board the sloop ut night, surprised
lie crew in the cabin, and murdered the whole
If them.