The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-07
MUTINY AND MURDER.
The Erigantine Bowen In the Hands
Of M6utinecrs.
The Captain Killed and Five Men
Dangerously Injured.
THE HARBOR POLICE AFTER THE CULPBITS.
The Arrival Of the Brig i'm the
Lower Bay.

The insecurity of human life upon the high sea-
is becoming daily more alarming, ana the Oldest
and most careful mariners look with terror upon
the responsibilities they undertake In AZ
sumng command OF vessels that trade
across the ocean. The great number Of
terrible crimes committed on shipboard that have
lately startled the public mind show . dreadful
looseness the merchant service on both sides OF
the Atlantic. The system OF shipping seamen both
In Liverpool ana New York seems to have
RUN TO THE LOWEST EBB,
ana Il to he hoped the recent outrage which tho
Europa reported yesterday Will have some salutary
effect upon those engaged In the business OF getting
crews for ships. The brig J. L. Bowen left
New York for Gibraltar and Cadiz on Saturday, the
2sh OF May. with cargo OF tobacco and slaves. She
was commanded by Captain j. o. Amsbury, and her
crew consisted OF six colored seaman, the mate,
jeremiah Sleeper, OF Rockland, Maine, nephew Of
the captain the second mate, steward and car
penier. The captain was man fifty years of age .
naive OF Quincy, Mass. He leaves
A WIDOW AND THREE CHILDREN.
Captain Amsbury Is described by the owners OF
the ship as hearty. tnickset man, very good ma
tured and honest, and had never been known to-
have had any difficulty with his men.
The captain OF the Europa states that on the "a
q y, he sighted brig dying signals
Of distress, ne Immediately bore down
cook and one OF The sailors came on board and
asked for assistance as the men on board tho
Bowen had mutinied and
MURDERED THE CAPTAIN.
The commander OF the Europa, Captain vichler.
sent mis- first officer on board the III lated vessel 70
ascertain the state Of affairs This gentleman found
Captain ArmsDury lying In MS bunk with
HIS SKULL SPLIT OPEN,
quite dead; the chiel mate stretched upon the
deck senseless the second mates arm broken, and
two Of the men and passenger frighfully injured.
No particulars were given OF the cause OF tho
arrived at as 10 how the riot commenced The
owner OF the vessel, Mr. lngraham was dreadfuily
him. The ship left port, he said, with every pros
pect OF comfortable voyage. The captain appeared
to be thoroughly satisfied with his crew; but one Of
them was
UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF LIQUOR
when the ship cleared and the captain took no notice
OF tnat as he expected the man would soon come
out or 1t. Sergeant Walsh, OF the HarbOr P0llces
received information OF the affair YESTERDAY.
and Immediately started down the. bay
Bowen, but she was nowhere to be seen. The
Seneca went down below the lower quarantine and
OF the missing ship was apparent
FEARFUL MIsGIvINGs
are anoat about the fate OF the man put In charge
OF such lot of seoundrels, and the conduct OF tine
commander or the Europa Is much wondered at.
board TO put the black rudlas In irons before ieav
ing his first officer to their mercy Ia an enigma To
tempt such batch Of villains with another valuable
A DANGEROUS PROCEEDING.
Being fully aware OF the consequences awaiting
their crime on their coming into port, they would
scarcely submit to be quietly brought without making
some effort 10 escape THIS Is what the authorities
dread and the prolonged absence of the ship as she
is now overdue, strongly favors the suspicion. A
set Of desperate cutthroats who would set upon an
inorenslve and humane commander, without provo
cation. and
BRUTALLY SLAUGHTER HIM IN HIS BED,
will hardly stop to count the results OF q second
them the opportunity Of running into some
small port along the coast and give them
snd o the t1 wss % ss
that no efforts OF his VIII be wanting In the en-.
Geavor to catch the murderers. The Seneca went
down the bay again last night, and IL Is to be hoped
the Industry OF the officer Will be rewarded aud
justice satisfied.
The Arrival Of tho Brig In the Lewor Bay
Arrest Of the Mutineers Mt Staten Island
Statement OF Captain Sleeper.
The brig Bowen, about whose fate so much appre.
hension was felt on account OF the mutny, arrived
In the Narrows last evening, where she now lies.
The following is the report Of Captain Sleeper, who
succeeded to the command when Captain Amsbury
died.
While slowing the anchors on I'd inst ut four 4. NJ,
one OF the crew dls0beyed ORDERS and on being
spoken TO by the lrst mate ne and Captain AmsburG
by the crew, SIX In number, who are all negroes.
and Captain Amsbury was struck on the
Injured. The mate had his shoulder dis
located, and also received two severe wounds on
the head with q capstan bar, from the effects Of
which he disabled for three days The second
mate and steward were also severely injured. Got
the captain ait but all EFFORTS to save him were UNI
avaihnR; lie died 1t haiipast SIX O'Clock same day.
sd, latitude AZ. longitude ds ~ was spoken by ship
Europa North Germany, from Bremen, and received
from her the first mate, who took charge OF the
brig
yaAt ten ?. NJ. 6th, the brig was anchored In the
NarrUws. Assistance was sent for and obtained mt
the Stapleon Is. IT, police station and was conveyed
on board the brig at ll:15 r. NJ, and the mutlneerS
were promptly secured and taken to Stapet0n,
where they were locked up
Captain J. O. Amsburv's remains were buried at
sea on the 4th al ten A. NJ, 252 miles east-s0utheast
OF Sandy Hook. lie o native OF quincy Point,
Mass.