The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-05-02
MURDER In THE FORE TOP.
A SAILORS QUARREL ALOFT DECID-
ED by THE KNIFE.

riblc Fall-A sad Story Of sudden Passion
and Quick Repentapcc-The Murderer In
Custody.
Yesterday q British bark, the Morning Light,
swept up tho bay in full sail her colors at half mast,
her Union Jsck down. Every seaman's eye caught
the -ixnal Of distress ship IN trim order and
With flowing sheets. SO unusual a spectacle sent
crowds in boats toward the vessel. Sic moved up
to point opposite Harbock's warehouses, the
scene OF the Perry.IIaJes murder. Just above the
South Ferry, Brooklyn. Here the bark dropped an-
chor In the stream, some distance from the shore.
All access TO the vessel was depfd. AT once boat
out OF for the shore. II contained the custom OIL.
Ger In charge and tho PILOT. Rapidly the boat made
the New York shore, and tho onhcer and pilot pro-
eeeded to the First Precinct Station. In New street,
where they announced tho TACT OF the commis.
sion Of
AMURDER AT SEA
the Morning Light. Officers Silick, Doyle, Do
hefty and Powers were despatched to the vessel,
and there Mt the request OF the Captain Joseph A.
Lavender, took In charge Thomas Ii. johnson on a
charge OF murder. and conveyed him to the station
In New street
This was the prelude to the romantic tale OF =
crime as wonderful as IL Ia terrible.
On the 9th OF March the bark Morning Light lay
in the port OF Buenos Ayres, South America. loaded
With hides and ready TO sail for New York. Her
Captain found her short OF hands, and through the
usual agency OF sailor shipping houses, took on
board three men In addition to his crew. or these
two were Thomas II. Johnson aud T. Bayius.
THE Actors IN THE TRAGEDY
that sent Bavlus 10 death and wa,ery grave On
the day OF their ship ing tho bark sailed from
port, and under 4 prosperous voyage reached, Oh
the
22D or APRIL,
a In ocoan ctl.. r,o,, land .nd tn
90 deg. min. north, and longitude 81 deg 81 min
west. In the watch OF the afternoon OF that day
with the first mate. Mr.. Merchant In command,
Johnston and Bayius, wit Swan Nod, wero
SENT ALoFr
on The foremast to seraoe anl oil the mast. They
had been ut work Tor a couple OF hours, IND were
still atthe foot OF the topma-t. At Z =. N. Eord
was at th5 part Of tie topmast the third
tree, while Bavus was in the ratings the star
board side OF the mast. Johnston stood the
mastcap, at the top OF the mast, aud at the foot Of
the topnast Both were finishing their work. Ia
vius was barefootcd; Johnston had on his shoes
Joonstou had reached tie cap OF the mast first, aud
stcppol od It. When he did so, Bayius requested
Johnston to clange places with him, as the ropes
hurt his naked leet. THIS Johnston refused 10 do,
add Bayius rcproachcd him for the unkindness.
Words ensued; @. ithets OF harshness were used,
and anger excited Bavius said to Johnston:
VOC ARE NO SAILOR,
only farmer" This seemed the one word neces-
sary to excite Johnston to murdorous rago. He
cried to Bivius, Shut your mouth or viii stab
YOU" Come on them" replied Bavius at the in
slant BayiuS was standing the ladder three feet
ngner than Johnston, just in range Tor the latter to
make easy aud deadly thrust At the very ,itas OF
Bavius. At the foot of the mast on deck stood the
steward OF the vessel looking up, his gaze attracted
by the words OF anger between the men. A. r. ius
cried Come on" Johnston with n spring caught
the rafting, swayed himself around, and ~ logging
lis lnifs 5uured It into lef side OF Daviu- just
yellow the rios.
WILD suRIEK
rent the air, md cvery eve below. Officers and men
sou ut the shrOuis. Down on deck, ut the foot Of
the Steward, icl two kn "a. tue all bloody, and
both murdcrous in aspect Faint, but with presence
of mind. Blyius sought to ESCAPE dreadful fali to
decs and cert lin ooatl. lie caught hold oi John.
s,on. Tle latter, now appaleA, Tor passion had
died away, said to B1Nius, In tones of kludnCSs,
loose my arms and
TWILL HOLD YOU
and prevent your falling" Bavius at once COMPLIED
and Johnston seized lin and carried him rom the
ra,tng- 10 the mast top cap, and holding hin there
called to NUrd above and the oiicers below To como
to his assistance. passenger, Mr. James Gariy,
was standing nj tie moment on deck Though he
did not understand their words yet he heard their
voices. The shrieks of Bsvins appalled, him. lie
saw the bloody knife fall he knew i, meant hor-
ror. He Ned TO the poop where the fret mate, MIR.
Merchant, stood. aud told him there Was
huRDER IN THE sHRoUps.
The mate at once ordered Mr.. Fling, the second
oticcr, and three into the cross trees Arrived
there, MIR. Cling shouted below that Johnston had
scene OF tue md-air murder to hnd Bavus wounded,
deathly pale. nnd tainting In tho arms OF his mur
derer In tie crOsstrces and H. the shrouds OF the
sip. Tue first ma saw that there WAS but one
tnng to DO done. Bavius was he pless as an infant
lie could neither descend 70 the deck himself nor
aeshy man, and his wrisht too great. The mate
Eimseif IN an instant vita his knife severed ~ liGe
rom the mast ropes woye 1t around the inauimatc
Bayius, and, with tho aid of the men In the cross
trees,
LDwERKD THE DYING MAN TO ruK DECK.
All then descended, and BARNS was carried to tho
cabin, where a bed was ARRANGED On its noOr Amer
being stripped, Ills wound WIS examined Through
the cut pIO,ruded mass OF tat, hich stopped all
bleeding from the wound The pain was intense
and 1t was obvious that serious blow had been in.
Gicted on the vals for the knife that had lone
deed WAS six inches In ! ngtL, aud had entered
UP TO ITS HILr.
Reduction OF the protruding mass was so painful
t.at the man could not cndnrc IT, An anOdyne was
given and In al hour MIR. Merchant, tile mate was
euabed TO reduce the prOtroding mass and up
the wound. 1t was now 5oc.ock, ana tho patient
was at ease, und hopes of recovery were enter-
and extreme vomting Of blood then sci in and con-
tinued until 10 Ht night II t1cn ceased but the
quantiy lost Was 30 great that the officers could
hardly
CREDIT THEIR SIGHT
Then the captain knew that death was only cues.
tion Of time, bat 1t would be a speedy one
Through tie ni.ht the patient was quiet but sink.
ing. Quietly the first and second mates, with all
necessary attendants, watched tie dying man the
Night tarougb. He knew be was dying ANA begged
TO be lett to depart la peace Calling the ca tain TO
Ls side he told him the story OF the afray gave is
history, and dictated the substance O dying letter
to lis .at,cr Ia Rcnde!lir Germany, alia babe All
adicu
EVEN TO IHE MURDERER.
This was at daybreak AMI deatn seemed imminent
But lac still fingered; nay at eghi bells IN the morn
ing le seemed TO rally, ana all thou. .ht tat danger
WAS passed. But tie seeming rally proved deluson,
ana at hine O'clock the leek aguin bldncled, and
| prostraton came down in dcathly form sui the
| great PA sic1 power oi Beyins fought dea and
| Lout lin nt bay for hours longer. Noon came and
the man still lived, but WAS SLOW ly going. As the
deathly pnllOr cuNcreI his iate, the eyes were
sunken the lips liyid and shryeed. Still he lived
sun lie WAS in his senses A. lhre5 he became
| delrious, and In his mother tongue. the German.
which the kind wachera Oi his death coulG not uR.
| dersiand, but amid wiich were heard the words,
"GOTr, MurTER AND YADER,"
he die I, all OF the ships not duty and the
passengers were beside the dying man 0s his soul
| IN mia ocean went To its hnal account Beside Lin
| at that supreme moment Mas the one WHO had sent
MIN death. And the poor Bdyins was no more,
| When the shades OF evening We're falling, the
corpse Of TIE slHn sal or, deceny thIOuICd, was
| laid on the alter deck tor tnat solemn