Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-31
nailp Nennebet Somnal.
DESTRUCTION OF A Snip BY AN INSANE
CAPTAIN.

BY the arrival of the steamer Lusitania
at Liverpool, with portion of the crew of
the ship River Eden, details, says the Lon
don Daily Telegraph of Nov. 2S, are to
hand respecting the blowing up of that
vessel after being set on fire by her cap
tain. We published some days ago brief
telegram announcing the fact. 1t now
appears from inquiries that the River Eden
which was owned by Messrs. Hargrove,
FERGUSON & Jackson, of Liverpool, was
on voyage from London to Valparaiso,
with crew of sixteen hands, all told, and
a general cargo, including about 100 tons
of gunpowder. She left London on Sept.
10, and nothing extraordinary was noticed
in the manner Of the master, Captain Bow
den, until the 9TH of October. He then
became SO strange in his behavior that it
was concluded he was insane, although
. the reason of this was not apparent, mas
much as there was no liquor on board be-
yond the quantity prescribed by the Board
of Trade. On the 14th of October the
bark Elizabeth Graham was sighted, and
the chief mate of the River Eden, Mr..
Clarkson, sent off q boat to this vessel to
request her Captain to come on board.
He did so, and had consultation with
Mr.. Clarkson, whom he advised not to put
Capt. Bowden under restraint, as he APP
peared harmless, but to make for Pernam-
buco, and in the meantime to endeavor to
soothe him and keep him quiet. Capt.
Bowden slept in the afternoon ofthat day,
and everything appeared to be well. when
about midnight the vessel was found to be
on fire in the after part.
The crew then endeavored to secure the
Captain, and in the struggle which ensued,
the latter fired at the second mate,
wountting him somewhat severely in the
head. 1t was found that Capt. Bowden
had poured paraffin oil over the deck oil
his cabin, and had set fire to it, as well as
to some sails which were in close proXimi.
ty. The flames spread SO rapidly that il
was determined to leave the vessel, and
accordingly the boat was got out. The
Captain however, refused to leave, and
fired at another of the crew, iniuring him
slightly on the forehead. Finding all at
tempts at persuasion vain, the men pulled
away from the ship, and went on board a
brig called the Junita, which was for.
tunately near at hand. This was about
O'Clock in the morning, Shortly after
ward two men of the Junita volunteered
to go to the burning vessel and rescue the
Captain. They did SO. Capt. Bowden
UtlHS thkcH vi dUOut OoU. liz hNel
Eden blew up directly afterward, and all
that remained was few fragments Of
spars floating upon the water, the hull,
which was of iron, having sunk at once.
On board the Junita, Capt Bowden be-
come SO violent that it was necessary to
place him in irons, and to fasten his legs,
but Notwithstanding all these precautions,
he succeeded some days afferward in get
ting partially loose, and before he could
be prevented jumped upon the rail and
threw himself into the sea. The crew
were taken to Bahia. where the second
mate was placed in hospital Capt. Bow
den was man Of temperate and steady
habits, and entered the employ of Messrs.
Hargrove, Ferguson & Jackson with most
excellent references, the River Eden being
his first command He was a native OF
Dungarven, in Waterford, and was mar
ried, but had no family.