Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-04

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a messenger came to him with the intelli-
gence that his crew was in open mutiny. lie |
went on board and found that the sailors were
incensed against the mate, and declared that !
they would not serve under him longer. Ill |
consequence of his brutality toward them
Captain Pitcher promised them that if they |
would resume work he would see that they |
were better treated in the future. The YES
sci sailed, and everything passed pleasantly
until Holmes Hole was reached. Here
short stay was made, Capt Pitcher wishing
to see some trienos and transact business.
The vessel lay some distance from shore, and
the Captain was rowed ashore in the vessels
boat He left orders with the mate to have
the boat meet him at a certain hour The
Captain was detained longer than he had an
ticipated, and when he went down to the pier
there was no boat awaiting him. He was
forced to borrow a boat from a friend and
row out to his vessel. The mate gave as an
excuse for not meeting him, that the boats
crew had refused to wait because the night
was so cold. From this time until the yes
sci arrived at this port, last Wednesday,
there was constant trouble between the mate
and the crew, and on several occasions he
assaulted one or more of them. Even while
the vessel was discharging its cargo there
were constant disputes.
The Captain ordered the masts TO be scraped
yesterday, and the mate repeated the order
to the crew, who refused to obey it, alleging
that it was a holiday, and they could not be
expected to work. Three of the crew, Sam-
uel llasson and Thomas Anderson, seamen,
and X. +. Burleigh, steward, went on shore,
and visiting several saloons, drank to excess.
They returned to the vessel about 7. NJ,
| intoxicated Capt. Pitcher, meanwhile,
learning that his orders had not been obeyed,
announced to Harris his intention of discharg-
ing him. declaring that his reputation for bru-
tallty was so bad that it was exceedingly diff
cult TO ship a crew, and that in consequence
of his tyrannical actions he had driven away
one crew and demoralized second. Harris
begged to be allowed to return with the yes
| sci, but the Captain was inexorable, and gave
him the arrears of pay due him. AS they
went up on deck from the cabin they were
met by iasson, Burleigh, and Anderson.
Hasson, addressing Harris, declared that the
latter told Capt Pitcher several lies, and,
among others, one to the effect that he Has
sony had refused to wait tor the Captain in
the boat at Holiness Hole. High words fol-
lowed, and Hasson declared that he would
whip Harris before he LETT the vessel Harris
replied in equally violent language, and the
three men attacked him. Capt. Pitcher claims
| that he did his best to prevent the attack, but
this is denied by Harris, who says that the
men attacked him with clubs, and that he
called to Captain Pitcher and another
man to help him or he would be murdered.
Harris says that finding himself overpower-
ed and believing that his life was in danger,
he drew his jack-knite against his assallants.
Hasson was stabbed in the left breast, the
blade passing directly through the heart. He
fell backward nsensible, and died in three
minutes. Burleigh received two cuts in the
| left side, both Of which are dangerous. An
derson, who had not taken so prominent a
part in the attack as the others, on seeing
their fate turned and fled. Harris also escaped
from the vessel, throwing away the knife as
he ran and continuing his flight to the twenty
third-st. ferry, one block below. lie there
met Officer Murphy and gave himself into
custody, stating what he had done, but declar-
ing that it was in sef-detence. He was taken
to the West Twentieth-s st police station, as
were also the body of the dead man, the
wounded man, and the witnesses of the ARRAY,
Harris was locked up. The witnesses were
also detained TO await the result of coro-
mer's inye stigation. The wounds of Burleigh
were dressed by a Police surgeon, and he
was then removed to Bellevue Hospital. He
was very weak from the loss of blood, and
the attendant surgeons were of the opinion
that there was little chance of recovery. The
knife used by Harris was found where he had
thrown it.
Harris claims that he was compelled to use
the knife in order TO save his lie. Captain
Pitcher on the contrary, says that the prison
err could have escaped from his ASSISTANTS, and
that there was no necessity for using the knife
Hasson was resident Of Rockland, Maine,
aged 20, was good seaman, and in general
/ a quiet young man. Harris is a tall, unscru-
pulous man, and his appearance justifies the
account of him given by Capt. Pitcher. His
age is 32, and he resides in Rockland. Maine.
Coroner keenman will investigate the case
to-day. Tribune Of 2nd.