The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-12-08
Tie Work of n Fiend.

land, on the 9th ultimo, gives a shock
ing detail of the fiendish work OF a
wrecker on the bodies OF some of those
lost on the Albion, which was wrecked
on the 9th of October last off the reefs
OF Chance Cove, n. +, Every effort had
been made 10y scores of fishermen by
casting grapnels in the hope OF recover
ing some of the seventeen persons who
persisted. Their efforts being iruitless,
and the unusual circumstance OF the
sea not casting up any OF It's dead, the
people began TO have fears for the good
name OF the place. Six days having
passed without even any clue being OBJ
tanned as to even one OF the lost, or Of
ANYTHING which could be identified as
connected with them, suspicion was
aroused by one OF the old coasters hay
ing heard boat humping against the
steps Of St. Schott' landing on Sunday
night, the 22d ult. This was an unusual
circumstance, as il is contrary to usage
for the fishermen TO 90 out in their
boats on that day. Suspicion was now
directed towards an old pirate and
wrecker named VIM. Hepburn, alias
-" Barnacle Bill who lived a hermit
like in hut at place known as Devils
Peak" 1t was remembered that he
had been seen down about the beach
looking after his boats on the sixth day
after the disaster, and after consulta-
ton between several of the villagers and
the magistrate Of the place, 1T was de-
termined to call in the aid of Detective
Curry, who has charge of the police
barrack at Black Head, near st. Johns.
He was accordingly telegraphed for.
The sequel is told by the correspondent
as follows:
On Tuesday, the oath inst, Detective
Curry and his men arrived att SchOtt' S
overland, and after communicating with
the magistrate commenced operations.
a whole day was passed without yield
ing the least clue TO any crimes having
been committed, and Detective Curry
would have given up the case as fruit
less had henot heard thai old Barnacle
Bal mad been seen down about the
beach, looking after the boats, and that" "
a point which owed its Importance to
Bl.i's unchangeabiy secluded life. IL
was not every one in the little village OF
ST. Schott's VINO could tell the rude lit
tie path that led to the hut OF Devil S
Peak where old William Hepburn hid
himself from men, within hearing OF
the breakers. Several We're found, how
ever, 10 guide Detective Curry and his
men to Barnacle Bills habltation, for
which they set out on the morning OF
the Doth inst On reaching the hut the
door was shut, and several minutes
elapsed before old Bill was reused, as
he slept in the inner compartment OF
his dwelling. On hearing the storm OF
tapping at tAe windows and kicking at
the door and walls around him, he con.
senten 10 arise and come forward. He
appeared by popping a thick red night
cap out OF q little window IN the rear of
his house.
Let me in" demanded Detective
Curry; "it's nice morning, Bill
It's over zary to git me up at this
hour; come bime by,' said the old man
hoarsely, Withdrawing his head from the
window, which he slammed.
Let me in, sir, quick =! said Curry,
tapping at the window. Come, Bill,
open your door"
Bill again opaned the window, and not
being accustomed TO such treatment, he
growled tercely, and threatened Curry
with violence If he continued to annoy
him.
Send in that door = the detective
ordered, and the men obeyed. The de-
tectives entering found a small but coy
and richly furnished room. Old Bill
immediately rushed from the compart-
ment in which he had been sleeping,
and presented a long Old-fashion5d
horse pistol at Detective Curry, who in
an instant had him handcutfed and in
custody The old man cried bitterly,
and under promises of treating the rude
guests with ciSility, begged to be re-
leased. A visit to the interior of Bar
nacle Bills cabin revealed the the most
appalling sight. Detective Curry, on
removing curtain which divided the
wrecker's bed from chamber of hor-
rors, exclaimed, MY GCd What is
this?" on beholding heap OF mangled
corpses on the floor. Fingers, wrists,
and ears, cut and torn from the bodies
OF women, evidently to procure the
rings and other jewelry, lay around.
Two soiIed silk dresses were folded be-
side the bodies. In all there were nine
corpses, only of which has been as yet
identified 10y Detective Curry as that Of
a young lady who belongs to a wealthy
family in the Bay of lslandr. The old
wrecker is sullenly silent when asked
anything in reference to the matter,
speaks only OF his wife, to whom he re-
fers everything. She has not been seen
since the fearful discovery. the particu.
lars Of which, as far as | have related,
only reached here this morning. Coro.
ner Burton left on board the tug Victo.
ria, which will return ON Monday with
the prisoner, detectives, and dead
bodies. The news has created almost q
panic in this city, where the passengers
of the ill-tated Albion were so well
known. A later account gives the con-
feasion Of old Barnacle Bill" who
states that it was he who, on the night
referred to 10y fisherman Gwyn, lowered
a boat, and taking with him young
man named Hoer, proceed to the scene
of the shipwreck. Five bodies were re-
covered and brought on shore. On the
second trip they found four others,
which were brought on shore, and with
the rest conveyed on a fish barrow to the