The Republican journal., 1876-05-04
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The following certificate III a case pending in
this County, has been received from the Law
Court, Oscar II. Sampson, ct. al, in Equity, V.
Hannah Alexander. Bill sustained, with costs
Williamson, for complainant. Wallace for
defendant.
The Cape Ann Advertiser has an account of
a melee that occurred on board schr. Daniel
Webster of Salem, while on a fishing cruise to
the Western Banks. The schooner recently
put into Halifax, N. s., where the crew desert
ed her. The Captain, Angus Nicholson, of
Bucksport in this State, claims that he was
obliged to put i'll, as his men were in state Of
mutiny. The crew give different version of
the affair, and say that the Captain was dcs-
perado, and they We're afraid OF their lives
After some little difficulty in the early part of
the voyage, one of the men says
"The trip progressed without any open outbreak,
until the morning of the 18th ult., when Powers,
Zone of the crew having brcaktasted at the first
table and returned to his bunk, was accosted by
the skipper and asked if he had had his breakfast
Powers replied that he had, and went deck with
his oil Clothes to await the appearance of the rest
of the crew, to go out to the trawling grounds
Nicholson followed Powers deck and asked him
if he could spar, to which Powers replied in the
negative, and said that he did not wish to speak 10
him the skipper), if he could avoid it, during the
trip. Therenpon Nicholson struck Powers twice in
the face, calling him vile name and on the second
blow Powers clenched with his antagonist threat
ening to knife him if he offered to bite. The two
! were separated, and the skipper went to the cabin
with threat that he would fix Powers. The lat
ter went below to get his mitens, but called ON
deck by the skipper who had returned from the
cabin with revolver in his pants pocket Powers
proceeded to lower his dory, and noticing that the
thole- pins were in asked the boy to remove them,
to which the captain objected; but Powers again
ordered their removal, and they were taken ont
None of your bossing here cried Capt. Nicholson
taking out his revolver but Powers seeing his dan
ger, Immediately grappled with him, although too
late to prevent his firing one shot which fortunate
ly failed to take effect. Chisholm and Patterson
(more of the crew were few yards from the YES
sci, in dory, and Burke and Curtain in another
at this time (all returning they noticed
the melee) but Narley, Philbrook, Mcdonald and
Khoss were standing near by, and were all endan-
clinched Varley seized an opportunity while the
skipper was holding the revolver behind him to
take out the chambers, still containing six charges
ready for use. Nicholson and Powers fell upon the
hatch and the former took aim and snapped the
pistol again. but of course without effect. Two of
the men stepped in to separate the combatants but
threw it at Nicholson but it fell short Powers
then struck the skipper blow with his fist, knock
ing him down., After the melee Powers and varley
went off in dory and returned with their travis
Six of the having decided that they would not
complete the trip, Powers became their spokesman,
and went to the cabin and informed the skipper that
they wished to go shore, they considered their
lives in danger long they remained in the yes
sci. Captain Nicholson threw his revolver on the
cabin floor, and told Powers that he could take the
revolver or the ammunition, whichever he chose
and Powers took the former and threw it overheard
The crew insisted upon being put on Shore either
at Gloucester Halifax, but the skipper declined
to break up the voyage. The men, therefore, re-
fused to fish, and after lying on the Banks two days
longer the anchor weighed and the vessel start
ed for Halifax the mutneers offering to help in
weighing the anchor, working the vessel and stand
ing watch if desired"
1t is thought the American Consul will make
thorough investigation into the matter