The New York herald., 1875-12-08
AN OLD SAILOR KILLED.

THE CAPTAIN OF THE SCHOONER sILAs BRAIN
ERD SHOT DEAD BY THH srEwARp-FArAI
sEoCRL TO AN ENCOUNTER WITH RIVER
THIEVES.
Captain Leonard Buell., OF the schooner sas Brainerd
lying in the Wallabout Basin, Brooklyn was shot and
almost instantly killed yesterday afternoon In The cabin
of bis vessel by the steward Charles Peterson The cir
cumstances which led TO the shooting are somewhat
sensational the killing Of the Captain being the sequel
to 4 struggle with party Of desperate river thieves
The vessel sailed last Friday morning from Portland,
Conn with q cargo OF brownstone, portion OF which
was consigned 10 6rm on The Harlem River az Tooth
street
The schooner with the Captain and crew Of four
men, reached Harlem Friday night and was anchored
the dock at the yard About two O'Clock on
Saturday morning the vessel was boarded by gang Of
Ave river thieves who came alongside in a small boat
These pratcal personages, after hunting about the
deck for punder descended TO the cabin, where the
crew were sleeping in their berths While the thieves
we're prowling about the cabin they awakened Charles
Peterson, the steward, who raised an alarm. One Of
the marauders pointed pistol at his head threatening
70 snooa MN ne dd not keep quiet Al this uncture,
trance into the OF the Captain that officer
threw open the door, leveled shotgun at them and
fred The ntruders ran deck leaped their boat
and rowed rapidly away. few blood spots on the
deck led Captain Buell. to think that his shot had
a large number of which were buried the walls OF
the cabin.
THE TRAGEDY IN BROOKLYN
That portion OF the cargo consigned TO the Harlem
firm was unoaded Saturday and in the evening ot
that day the schooner owed over TO the Waabout
Basin for the purpose Of leaving the remainder Of the
cargo at the stone yard OF Christmas Co.,
the Naval Hospital AZ one O'Clock Yesterday
afternoon the work of unloading the stone
begun. An hour later Captain Buell. was in the
cabin converslng with friend Joseph Fittei OF No
IS Skilman street While the Captain telling Mr.
Ftel of the fight with the river thieves al Harlem,
Charles Peterson the steward entered the cabin. Cap
tain Buell. asked him to narrate what he remembered
the subject Peterson went TO his berth and took
from under the pillow a small seven barreled ''ry
coon" revolver He then told the story of the struggle
at Harlem, illustrating tho occurrence by hourshng
the revolver about to show the OF the thief who
threatened him After pointing the weapon at The
berth in which he lay when attacked by the river thief
Peterson about to place the revolver in
his pocket when II was discharged. The bulet
entered Captain Buells mouth and lodged in his head
He put his hand TO his chest and said "oh, Charley"
aud then staggered back and fell into the arms OF Mr.
Fltell, the blood gushing from his mouth Peterson,
when he what had happened, sprang forward, and
cried, "Oh, Captain, haven't shot you, have IY As
soon as he saw the blood downg from Captain Buells
mouth he ran for physician. The crew, who were
attracted the cabin by the explosion OF the revolver
carried the wounded Captain on deck Peterson soon
returned with Dr. Stafford, OF Canton street, but
medical assistance was unavailing, and
THE WOUNDED MAN DIED
few minutes after the arrival OF the physician ohcef
Regain who heard the report of the revolver arrested
Peterson and took him TO the Myrtle police sta
ton, where he was locked up to await the action Of
Coroner Simms who notified TO hold an inquest
Joseph Fittel, who witnessed the shooting, accom-
panied him there a witness. Captain Buell. was
of the best known and most popular sailors on tho
Connecticut River and Long Island Sound, having
sailed these waters for nearly forty years. He
resided at Haddam, Conn, where he leaves
widow and three children He was sxty-one years of
age Peterson had been in his employ for four months,
and their relations, according TO the testimony OF tho
OF the and others of an amicabe char
The prisoner is nineteen years OF age, and
Of Denmark He appeared greatly agitated over
the terrible accident and expressed in broken English
his deep for the shocking occurrence Accord
ing to his statement the Captain, after the ARRAY 1T
Harlem, instructed HIM to keep his revolver loaded,
and gave him money purchase cartridges The body
of Captain Buell. was taken to the Morgue His rela-
tives in Connecticut notified by Captain Crafts, OF
the EonrLh precinct police.