New Orleans Republican., 1875-10-06
Homicide on the High Seas,

A very unfortunate affair occurred on the
British steamer San Antonio while it was
lying OFT the mouth of the Brazos during the
late storm.
1t seems that it is the custom of the cooks
after dinner to have an hour off duty, which
they usually take advantage of to get a
little sleep. On Saturday afternoon, the
eighteenth ultimo, Henry Mccormick, the
assistant cook and baker on the steamer as
was his daily practice, went to his room,
and, getting into bunk, went to sleep,
Some little time afterward Bernard Clark,
the chief cook, called him, but Mccormick
being all worn out with the extra duties
and excitement of the preceding forty eight
hours, was sound asleep and did not hear
him. Clark, enraged at this, rushed into
the room and struck the sleeping man five
or six severe blows in his face with his fist.
and al the same time pulled him half out of
his berth. Mccormick, half stunned by the
blows, and blinded with blood, which was
flowing freely from his wounds, asked what
this was about, when Clark picked up
water bucket which was standing on the
deck and threw it at his victim, fortu-
nately, however, not hitting him. Stag
gerlng on deck Mccormick called to his
assailant to explain why he had assaulted
him. In reply Clark turned, and, assuming
belligerent attitude, they had a square
fight. But few blows had passed between
them when powerful right-hander in his
face laid Clark hOrs de combat on the deck.
This ended the fight. Mccormick went to
his room where he washed the blood from
his face and bathed his wounds, while
Clark walked to his room and got in his
berth, and did not leave it until the next
day, when he was taken out dead, and pre-
pared for seaman's burial.
1t is thought that the violent fall which
the deceased made when he was struck BY
Mccormick, broke some blood vessel, or
else SO injured him internally that his death
ensued, as after he got In his berth he COM
planned of his chest, and fingered in great
agony until death relieved him of his suffer
inRs.
What was the cause of the deceased
making the assault on Mccormick ia q
mystery which will never be solved. They
had been acquainted some eight or nine
years, and had always been the best of
friends, never having had falling out or
disagreement before.
twenty third birthday will occur this month.
He is slight built, wears sandy colored
beard and mustache, and has light candy
hair. His face would be handsome were he
not so pitted by the smallpox, and his mild
blue eyes and quiet look give him anything
but the appearance of Q murderer or
quarrelsOme fellow. His manner is frank,
hnu no rchuuy suOmlCtoQ 10 the Cross
questions of Q -Ners reporter yesterday, as
he sought to CLEAN the facts of the sad affair.
Captain John Rea, of the San Antonio,
gives Mccormick the best character, and in
this the other officers and crew join. They
state that they attribute no blame to him
whatever, and to show what they thought
Of the affair, they did not iron or confne
Mccormick, but allowed him to perform his
regular duties as usual until the steamer
reached the wharf, when he was turned
over to the. United States authorities for ex-
animation. F.t
Upon consulting the authorities it was
decided that our courts had no power to
try him, IS he is Q British subject, and was
on British vessel at the time of the fight.
He was, therefore, placed in the county
Jail to await the departure of the San An
tonic, when he wfli be taken to England
for trial. - -
Mccormick = very much disappointed at
this turn of Affairs, q he. particulsrly de-
sired . speedy trial. He expressed regret
at the fatal Termination Of the difficulty,
and that what he did wss only to defend
himself from second attack from the de-
eeesed. whe was Larger and heavier man.
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