The New York herald., 1871-11-25
Was THIS MAN THE NCENDlARY?

The Vengeance of Portuguese Cock
Attempt TO Poison His Cnptnfn-Allegcd
Incendinrism-The Cook Breaks the Mates
Back.
On the night Of the 18th OF July last the sawmill
and lumber yards OF j. BIger Co., at Newburg,
were destroyed by fire, causing loss OF about
$4,000. AT the time the fire was supposed TO have
been the work OF an incendiary but the utmost
efforts Of the detectives and the Offering of reward
by the city autnorltes failed to bring about the dis.
covery OF the criminal Events Of comparatively
recent date, however. occurring In place so far
away from the scene Of the fire as Antwerp, Bel
giuln, taken In connection with some OF the crcum.
stances OF the disaster, seem now to point towards
the incendiary. Those who read the account OF the
nre in the HERALD Of July 1e may remember the
statement that the British bark Lothair, which, at
the iime OF this fire, was lying at the wharf OF j. Big
ler Co. aud receiving cargo OF timber for an Ant
werp house, had q narrow escape from destruction.
On the voyage to this country the master OF the
Lothair. Lawrence Sneden Leslie, had put his Por
tuguese cook, name unknown, In irons, on the
charge OF attempting 10 poison HIM. II was also
alleged that among the effects OF the COOK was
found vial Of poison. On arriving at Newourg no
effort was made to have the cook brought
to justice, the captain saying that his case
would be attended to on the return to Liver
| pool, where the Portuguese mad been ship
| ped. The COOK, however, was heard TO swear
vengeance against the vessel, her officers,
and III particular against her second mate, towards
whom he entertained, for some reason or other,
feelings or the btterest hate short time after the
| fire the Lotnalr sailed for Antwerp, ana the STIR
caused in NewDurg by the story OF the troubles on
| shipboard soon ceased. Recently, however 1t has
| been revived in consequence OF letters received
from Antwerp reporting further disturb
| ances on the Lothair. While she was unload.
ing in that city the second mate and
| the cook got into wrange, the fiery Portuguese
| seized the mate around the middle ana threw him
over the side OF the vessel. In his fall he struck
! some tlmbers and his back was broken death re-
sulting III two days alter the ARRAY. Tie Portu-
guese was arrested and held for lrial, and
VIII probably be imprisoned for lie. The
captain expresses his strong belief that The
establishment OF J. Biger a. Co. was fred Dy this
Portuguese COOK who by TINS means hoped TO carry
out his threats OF vengeance agalnst.the Lothair
and her officers; and although there Is fact
directly connecting him with the incenoiary act yet
the opinion OF many Newburgcrs, as well as O. 1T
least one member OF the firm named, and OF the
officers OF the Lothar, Is that the COOK was the
guilty party II such was the case the Portuguese
came very near the accomplishment or his design,
Tor the sawmlll and lumber burned with fierce
name and the bows OF the Lothalr were but twenty
yards from the names The pitch boiled out oil her
seams, her side was smoking and noles were burned
in the awning OF her deck, wnen by gool fortune
the ferryboat Union steamed up and removed her 10
q place OF safety. minute or two more In her
dangerous situation would have been fatal to the
craft.