, 1875-07-17
Bark Union Intentionally Wrecked
by her ia plain and Hate.

TN the oth OF May last lniorma-
ton was received in this city of
the sinking of the bark Union on
Clark's Island, at the eastern en-
trance to the Straits of Rosario,
b. C. The bark was owned by
Donald Beadle of this city and
others, the Captain, J. VI. Lindell,
having a one-flfteenth intere st.
She sailed from this port on the
goth Of March, bound for Nanaimo,
where she was to take a cargo oil
coal and return to this port. The
announcement of her wreck and
total loss excited great surprise,
because of the unusually safe
character of the locality where she
was sunk. Circumstances which
have since transpired have height
ened the surprise in no inconsid-
cradle degree and developed the
particulars of a dastardly plot be-
tween Captain Lindell and his
mate, fellow named Dean, to run
the vessel on a rock for the pur-
pose of obtaining the interest of
the captain in the insurance. The
vessel was insured for five thous-
and dollars in the State Invest
ment Company, and for five thOus-
and in the Commercial Company.
On the voyage from this port the
captain and mate held frequent
consultations over the matter in
the cabin whenever the lack Of
deck supervision permitted.
Notwithstanding their caution,
the steward, whose duties led him
in and out of the cabin on several
occasions during a conversation
between his superior officers,
managed to catch the outlines of
the plot, and subsequently con-
firmed his suspicious by giving
close attention to the dialogue
while pretending to perform his
regular duties. On the passage up
the vessel ran aground on fiat in
Puget Sound, but managed to
work off in about two hours and
proceeded to Nanaimo. The cap
tain and his mate had contemplat-
ed abandoning the vessel, but,
upon consideration, they resolved
upon waiting until they should be
on the return trip with the cargo
on board. Upon the arrival at
Nanaimo. about $50 tons of coal
were taken on board. In the
meantime the steward apprised
the American Consul at Victoria
of the plot which he had overheard
and prophesied that the bark
would never reach San Francisco.
The Consul acquainted the U. S.
authorities in this city with the
stewards prophecy, and it was
followed in a couple of days by
the announcement of its fulflment
in the wrecking and total loss of
the vessel. The spot which the
conspirators chose for the eonsum-
nation of their plot vas Clark's
Island, a rock located at the east
ern entrance to the straits Of Ro-
ssrio and distanced three days sail
from Departure Bay. Before the
time had arrived the boats were
got ready and everything prepar-
ed for a sudden desertion of the
vessel. On the third day, which
was May 7th last, the bark struck.
The weather was fine and water
almost as smooth as in our bay.
The boats were lowered and the
vessel abandoned. Many Of the
ssilors repaired to Victoria, but
the captain and mate came to his
city. The Secret Service De-
partment had beenapprised of the
affair, and Detective Finnegass
was on the lookout for the con
spirators. He succeeded in ar
resting the mate Dean and a watch
was maintained on the residence
of the Captain, and when he put
in an appearance he was also ar
rested. 1t will be a matter Of
news to the majority Of readers
when it is learned that the penalty
for this oifense is DEATH. The
mate has confessed everything.