The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-09-13
AN EXTRAORDINARY TRAGEDY.
n Horror IF the sea.

n Horror IF the sea.
A communication from Smyrna, of
August 4, published in the London
Echo, has the following
"a fearful tragedy at sea has just
been brought to light here. On Sun
day last one of the small native coast
ing craft came dashing - against the
Cerigo Quay, at Smyrna, in a manner
which led to the belief that she had
been abandoned. On boarding her,
the dead body of an elderly man, who
appeared to be the Captain, was found
lying on the deck. The body was much
hacked about, the head being nearly
severed from the trunk, and the clothes
torn and in disorder, leaving the i'm
preston that a severe struggle had
taken place. Near the remains was
found large hammer, covered with
blood. A little boy, under ten years,
lay wrapped in sail close by. He was
uninjured, but appeared to be
stupefied, and nothing Ineligible
could be elected from him. The
craft was partly loaded with a cargo Of
melons, but no papers whatever could
be discovered. The same evening the
small steamer, on its way to Cordelio,
fell in with another body at sea, fear
fully mutilated. The public was still
lost III conjectures respecting this
strange event, when, on Wednesday
morning, a Russian monk presented
himself at the Consulate here, and
asked for an interview with the Consul
He said that he had embarked at Scio
for Smyrna, in company with a Per
sian, on board a coasting tchirnek
manned by two men, with little boy.
Some hours before doubling Point
| James Castle, the monk overheard a
conversation between the Persian and
the captain. The Persian said
that the monk had about him a
sum Of $500 iii gold, besides
some bank notes, and proposed that
they should murder him for the pur-
pose of obtaining possession of the
money, the other sailor at the same
time to be got rid of. The Captain
agreed, and it was arranged that the
| Persian should go below to bed so as
to divert suspicion. The conversation
took place III Turkish, but the monk is
perfect master of six languages, and
understood perfectly all that was said.
He did not lose his presence of mind,
but took up bis position in a careless
and Indifferent way near the bows, di-
vested himself of his clothes, and said
to the Captain, who was at the helm,
that it was so hot he would sleep on
deck III preference to going down be
low. Sleep III peace, said the skip
per, | will take care and wake
you when We get to Smyrna.
They We're at the time not
very distant from the coast, and the
Russian, availing himself of the chance,
slipped over the side, and swan il
safety to the shore. He landed at
AyouG eorgin, Iifllk, and then made
to Smyrna. The Consul at once com
municated this statement to the Turk
lsh authorities, and on the police
making inquiries at the Persian rendez.
vous of Agem Khan, they found that 9
Persian had arrived there from Scio OF
the previous Sunday. On the monI
being confronted with tins Persian, he
ut once identified lis fellow-traveler on
board the cOastlpg craft. The Persian,
OF course, was arrested, and the stolen
money belonging to the monk was
found among his effects. He has since
made fulI confession of his crime
and his story is that, after
waiting some time below, as ar.
ranged, he had gone up on deck,
and finding the priest gone, believed
that the Captain had Facilitated his
evasion. High words ensued, and the
Persian murdered the Captain with the
hammer. He killed the sailor also.
and threw the body into the sea. He
wrapped the boy round and round in a
saul, thinking to suffocate him. He
then ransacked the vessel, and taking
all the money he could find, including
the large sum found in the pockets OF
the monk, made his way to the shore
in small boat which the coasting craf
dragged in its wake. The story may
read like an emanation from the NOR
bid fancy of an Edgar Allen Poe, but
1t IS in all particulars exact III it's grim
and literal truth. ~