Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-18
Terrible Scenes on Board a Ship.


The London Telegraph says: Fiction
and fact are equally outdone by the
almost incredible narrative related in the
log of the Dutch vessel Finnechina,
which has just arrived in Cork harbor
from South America. 1t seems that
London sailor, Rogers by name, shipped
on board the Finnechina at Buenos
Ayres, as foremast hand, upon her voy-
age to Cork. Captain Hoize, the Hol-
lander in command, had in his cabin q
large sum of money. The fact was well
known, and Rogers determined to obtain
the coin at the price, if necessary, OF
wholesale murder. The ships company
was rather short, consisting only -.besides
the solitary pirate-of Captain, first and
second mate, cook and three sesmen.
On the fourth day out from Buenos Ayres,
when FIVE of these seven men were on
deck, Rogers put his astonishing villainy
into execution. The first mate was
standing in the open gangway, when
Rogers, with a sudden thrust, pushed
the poor fellow into the sea. The cook,
hearing the cries of the drowning man,
and most likely thinking that he had got
into the water by accident, ran to the
taffrail with rope to throw to the mate,
and, while he was leaning over, Rogers
took him by the legs and pitched him also
into the water.
The seco1d mate, who came running
aft in order to help, was encountered by
the miscreant, who had, meanwhile, got
hold of an ak and brandished it furiou sly.
The unarmed Dutchman retreated before
the murderous wretch, and jumped dc wn
the companion just as the command er,
alarmed by the outcry, was hurrylng
upon deck. The two men came into ol-
lision and fell, Land while Capt. Hotzs nd
his second mate were rolling upon the
cabin floor together, Rogers clapped
down the hatch over the ladder and put
the pin into the staple. Thus there were
three of the ships company imprisoned
below, and two men only remained on
deck, an American and an Irishman.
The assassin stood amidships bstw cen
the two, and swore that he would kill
them with his ak if either disobeyed him
in the least particular. He ordered i'he
one to keep forward and the other aft
and made them steer the vessel by turns,
directing her course, as he supposed,
back to desert part of the Brazilian
coast.
His idea seems to have keen to run the
ship ashore and find some way of killing
the survivors. Bat the compasses were
wrong; and thus, instead of making the
land, the captured ship, in possession OF
| the homicidal maniac, was all the while
steering parallel to the coast line. Twice
during this time the captain got shot at
Rogers through the gratings, but without
wounding him seriously. Four days and
nights the desperate creature stood, ak 10
hand, overawing the two sailors on deck
himself master of the vessel; and he IL
said never to have closed his eyes, keep
ing a wild beasts watch of fear, rage and
avarice. 1t appears rather strange that
nothing could be done by the two men
together. Did they dare to sleep? Had
they any food or water, or was the lonely
pirate thus provided Perhaps it was
his plan to starve them to death, at the
helm, or to weaken them till they could
be easily killed.
For him, at any rate, there was no re-
, , i.::cs-:o respite freq: he desperate sent,'
nelship; and at the end of the fourth day
nature gave him over into the hands o.
his intended victims. The villain fel
suddenly asleep as he crouched, watch
ing the Yankee and the lrishman, be-
yond the range of the Captains pistol
The long-awaited opportunity was ca
gerly embraced; the Irishman sprane
silently forward, and seizing the ak, with
one blow all but severed the head o.
Rogers from his body. The matches
were opened, and the three prisoner
we're let free. The head of the vesse
was then turned toward Rio Janeiro
where full statement was made OF the
deplorsble adventure; and after due in
vestigation, the Finnechina shipped
fresh crew, and came quietly across tC
Cork harbor, where the survivors OF th'
tragedy have told their extraordinary
narrative.