Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1875-09-04
Another Solution of the Morgan Mystery,
Troy Times Of the 24ih,


The statement published i'm the Times
of the 10Th inst, over the signature of
Captain Samuel /. Masters, Of Greenwich,
in relation to the fate of William Morgan,
whose supposed abduction and murder by
the Masonic fratrrnity in 1876 caused
great excitement in this country, has
brought 10 public notice another witness,
whose testimony is corroborative Of that
of Capt. Masters in every particular. The
person alluded to is Capt. Andrew Hitch
cock, of West Troy, residing on the cor
ner of West and Canal streets.
Captain Hitchcock is 60 years Of age,
and still retains not only his health in a
great degree, but also an excellent memo
Ty, as the following fact will prove. He
read Mr. Masters communication, and,
because il Tailed exactly with knowledge
possessed by him and might aid in set
thing a long mOoted question, he.has con-
sented 10 the publication Of his statement.
He was asailOr in 1880, and in the month
Of February was on board the United
States man-Of-war Java, then at Smyrna,
Asia Minor He, with 200 Others, had
been transferred from the Delaware, on
which vessel he shipped, TO the Java, when
the Delaware was ordered home, and his
vessel had remained in Asiatic waters all
winter. Frequent excursions were Of
course made to the shore, but il was not
>
1880, that the second cutter, Of which he
was one of the crew, was ordered by the
cOmmandant, Capt. skinner, TO 60 ashore
with some of the officers.
Upon reaching the land an American,
wearing the habiliments of Turk, ap-
peared 10 meet them. He cOnversed with
the officers, but Mr.. Hitchcock heard him
admit that his name was Morgan, and
that he was the person whose disappear
ance had created suth excitement in
America. He appeared to be in good cir
cumstanceS and cOntented with his life.
He was asked to 20 Oh board the Java but
refused. although he promised to 20 on
board at some future time That time
never came. however, Tor during the stay
Of the Java at that place Morgan could
not be persuaded to leave the shore.
The affair caused great excitement on
ship-board At the time, especially among
the officers, all of whom firmly believed
in the identity Of the Turk and Morgan.
Whether or not he ever stated 10 the Of
ficers how h. got TO Smyrna, or what
caused him TO become Turk, Mr.. Hitch
cock does not know. He never saw him
but once, although he was frequently
seen by others
The Java sailed for America in Janua-
~, 1881, and Mr.. Hitchcock, upon being
paid of at Norfolk, Virginia, came d.
rectly home. He told his stories in rela-
ton TO Morgan, but so great was the ex-
element at the time that no one believed
him. He Is still convinced that William
Morgan was the man seen in Asia Minor
in February, 1880.
The captain says he is a disinterested
witness. He is not a Mason, and has no
interest in the matter except TO lay the
truth before the public. He distinctly re-
members the date OF the occurrence, fix
ing il by the time Of the destruction Of
the man-Of-war Hornet, and the hanging
of an old shipmate, Wamdcli, on Gibbet
Island, New York, which occurred one
year after he saw Morgan.
If the statements o. Captain Masters
and Hitchcock are 10 be taken for the
truth. and no evidence has ever been ad-
duced 10 contradict them, then the ques-
ton Of the Morgan mystery must be con
sidered as definitely settled the only con-
clusiou being that Morgan eith:r Wen
Of his own accord, or was in some manner
TRANSPORTED 10 Asia Minor, became
Turk. and doubtless died a natural oeaIh'