The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-02-04
NUMBER 2.
A Fa1GHTFUL NARRATIVE

The Lond.n Telegraph says: "Fic.ion
and fact are equally outdone by the g..
most incredible narrative related in ina
log of the Dutch vessel Finuechina, which
has just arrived in Cork harbor from
South America. Ii seems that a I.cniau
sailor, Rogers by Eame, shipped on board
the Einnechna al Buenos Ayres as q
foremast hand, upon her voyage to Cor.
Captain HO,za, the lIollander in con-
mand, had in his cabin a large sum Uf
money; the fact was well known and
Rogers determined TO obtain the coin az
the price, if necessary, of wholesale rn.s->
der. The ships company was shc-,,
consisting onIy-besldes the solitary pirate
of captain, first and second mate, cox
and three seamen On the fourth day
out tsam Buenes Ayres, when FIVE of thess
seven men were upon deck, Rogers put
his astonishing yillainy into execution
The first male was standing in the opca
gangway when Rogers, with suddco
thrust, pushed the poor fellow into the
sea. The'cook hearing the cries, of the
drowning man, and most likely thinkinE
that be had got into the water by accident.
ran to the tatfrail 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.
"Ihe second mate, who came running
aft in order TO help, was encountered By
the miscresnt, who had meantime Cos
hold of an ak, and brandsbed it furiouslv.
The unarmed Dutchman retreated before
the murderous wretch, and jumped down
the companion way just as the command
er, alarmed by the Outcry, was hurryirc
upon deck. The two men came into col
lision and fell and while Captain Hoizs
and his second mate were rolling upon the
cabin floor together, Rogers ciapped down
the hatch over tie ladder aud put the pin
into the staple. Thus there were three Of
the ships company imprisoned below, and
two men only remained on deck, an Amer
lean and an Irishmau The assassin stood
amidships between the two, and swors
that he would kill .he,n with his ak il
either disobeyed him in the least particu-
lar. He ordered the one to keep forward,
and the other aft and made them stecr
the vessel by turns; directing her course,
as he supposed, back to a desert part Of
the brazilian coast.
Ills idea seems to have been to run the
ship ashore and find some way of killing
the survivors Bot the compasses were
wrong and thus, instead of making the
land, the captured ship, in the possession
of the homicidal maniac, was all the Wills
steering parallel to the coast line. Twi ice
during this time, the captain got shot at
Rogers through the graIings, but without
wounding him seriously Four days and
nights the desperate creature stood, AK in
hand, overawing the two sailors on deck,
himself master of the vessel and he is
said never to have closed his eyes, keeping
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 10 sleep? Had
they any food and wafer, or was the lonely
pirate thus provided? Perhaps It was his
plan TO staTye them to death at the helm,
or to weaken them till they could be easi-
ly killed. kor him, AZ any rate, there
was no relief-no respite from his desper-
ate sentinelship; and at the end of tho
fourth day nature gave him over into he
hands of his intended victims The vi
lain fell suddenly asleep as he crouched,
watching the Yankee and the Irishman,
beyond the range Of the captains pistols.
The long-awaited opportunity was eagerly
embraced ;. the lrisGman sprang silently
forward, and. seizing the AK, with one
blow all but severed the head of Rogers
from his body. The hatches were opened
and the three prisoners were set free. the
head of the vessel was then turned to-
wards Rio Janeiro, where a full statement
was made of the deplorabIe adventure
and after due investigation, the Finne-
china shipped a fresh crew and came
quietly across to Cork Harbor, where the
survivors of the tragedy have told their
extraordinary narrative