The New York herald., 1877-01-14
ORDERED TO DEATH.

A STRANGE STORY OF AN ''UNLUCKY" SHIP
AND A MurisoUs cnEw-THE SHIP FIRED
TWO SAILORS ORDERED BELOW ARE suFro-
GATED.
ON the night Of Thursday, December %. lre broke
board tho ship Harvey Mills, oiThomaston, Me-,
lying in Beaufort River, below Port Royal. and laden
with full cargo OF cotton for Liverpool Tho United
States vessels Of war In the vicinity, the
alarm was given, sent strong detachments of mon,
with fro apparatus, board tho ship. Other vessels
sent aid, and every effort was made to qucnch the
flames which from the halcncs, but in vain. The
fire continued several days, and IL was not until The
vessel was towed to Port Royal and filled with water
that tho fire entirely cxtiuguishcd, Two lives
were lost and several mon injured. The Coro-
ner's jury returned verdict of accidental dcalh--a
verdict which did not satisfy the sailors who survived
and who tell the following strange story
SHIP
The Harvey Mills is a new full rIpged ship, owned in
Thomaston, he. Her captain is named Mills and he Is
a part owner. Shc carries OF eighteen twenty
men, including her officers. The Harvey Mills took on
her cargo at Port Royal and dropped down the haroor
preparatory to hS voyage TO Liverpool The crew,
engaged at New York, cano down. and tho first night
they passed board the ship seemed to impress them
unfavorabiy. THIS feeling grew upon them until
fore the time appointed for the commencement OF the
voyage the crew determined hat they would sail
in her going ait they so informed the captain wIlo
assisted by his officers promptly replied by putting
them all IN irons.
rIIn MurrxEERs FIRE THE SHIP
On Thursday Il ght smoke discovered curling u u
from the hold and that terrible cry
board "Fircl" was passed along the deck Of cour-e
there was nothing at hand 10 put out the brc, and
everything was at a standst until u large number Of
men from tile Unitcd states naval fleet arrived
board undcr command OF Lieutenant Rockwell They
brought with them fire extIpgushcrs and the pumps
were manned Water was poured into Tho snip, but
the fire continued to make ncndway, and She volumes
The crew. saor-iiks. now turned TO with will and
helped undo the mischief they had created. All during
the night the fire continued TO burn tho cotton had
been well FREQ and u was found possible put out
Steam tugs from Port Royal came down ana helped to
GOOD the vessel with waicr and party OF citzcn vol
untecrs from Port Royal also appeared upon tho
aud offered their services
ORDERED DIE
Tho following day IT thought that tho only
chance 10 save the vessel was TO weigh anchor and
proceed up Port Royal docks. There the vessel
.oud be scuttlcd and sunk and aerward raised The
could not be safely done The anchorage One OF the
boaswains OF the ship tshc had two ordered two mcn
into the chain locker TO be ready TO STOW the anchor
chains when the anchor raised. The cham locker
Is "a small place forward, below The lower deck and
was reached on The Hsrvcy Mills through n wooden
shutc. Tho lower hold OF tho vessel was hlicd with
carbonic acid gas and the boaiswain must htyo had
suspicion OF the danger as he dld not as was hs
usual custom, accompany the men into tiw locker
The opinion OF the sailors anu o one O the oroners Il
jury who uad been sailor. rs aiierward expressed
was tnat the men had been deliberately ordered to
their death. Al any rate the mcn ordered by tho
officer that dared not accompany them went INTO tho
shutc and were brought out dead.
THE kEscUE
Immediately upon hearing that men werc in
danger, If not already dead rush mado forward
and every effort put iort To save the two unfortunate
sailors. fhc two boatswans volunteered to go down
The who bad ordered the men there went down ns
Tar between decks and driven back almost over
come. The other Doatswan then went down ana win
the assistance OF several OF the succeeded IN get
ting up body. There was hush Tor a lew mo-
mcnts and then several volunteers came forward, IN.
GUIDING Lieutenant Rockwell ADdrcw A. Walls, OF
New York, a volunteer, was chosen, and went down.
In few moments The other BODY was recovered and
walls was drawn up. Tho names OF the unfortunate
men were Charles Hodge, OF THIS city, ana Antoine,
residence unknown. Hodge leaves u wiic and Guild Ia
this city entirely destitute.
a day or two aterwurd the fire still burning, the
ship was taken to Port Royal and locked. Hardy
was she there beorn almost tho entire crew. inclnuing
thc deserted ana scattered over the
w. gNe caytdin has said that he did not think tue