The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-06-27
REVIVAL OF AN OLD CRIME.
Arrest of a Man for Completely in the
Chesapeake Piracy.

| On the arrival of the ST. John steamer in
Boston last Monday, United States officers
arrested Harry A. Parr for completely in the
almost forgotten piracy committed in 1868 on
steamer now running from this harbor. The
arrest was made on a warrant for murder
committed during the cutting out of the
steamer Chesapeake, while on her passage
from New York to this city. The facts of the
case as stated by the Herald, are that at four
O'Clock p. M Saturday, Dece mber 5, 1868, the
steamer Chesapeake, Capt. Millett, left New
York with passengers and merchandise for
this port The passengers numbered seven
teen, and the cargo consisted of 100 bales of
cotton, valued at $4,000 shipped by Messrs.
Frank Skinner 8 Co., for the use Of mill in
Maine, for which they were agents, and $40,
600 worth OF sugar, owned by parties 10 Quebec,
Canada. About 80 a. m. Sunday the passen.
gers took possession of the vessel in the name
of the Confederate States Of America, shoot.
ing the second engineer and throwing his body
overheard, patting the captain in irons and
seriously wounding the first engineer, whom
they compelled to assume command of the
vessel, with orders to make for Halifax The
mutiny or piracy occurred while the vessel was
about 20 miles N. N. E. from Cape Cod, and,
in a very short space of time, the news of the
crime came to this city through friend of one
OF the pirates, who was cognizant Of their
contemplated scheme. The gunboat Acacia,
Commander Childs, was sent in pursuit, but
her machinery breaking down, she was obliged
to put in here for repairs. The steamers Sassa-
Gus, Grand Gulf, Vicksburg, Dawn, Sebago,
Ticonderoga. Potomac and Kansas were sent
in pursuit of the pirates. who, when last seen,
were steering for the Provinces. The prize
steamer Ella and Anna was lying at this port
10 charge of tie United States marshal, who
offered her to the government Under the
command of Lieutenant Nichols the Ella and
Anna proceeded to St. John, N. B and there
ascertained that on the 10th of December the
Chesapeake had landed the rightful captain
and crew, with the exception of the first
engineer, whom they retained to work the
vessel, on Partridge Island. At this place
Captain Locke alias Parker, who formerly
commanded the privateer Retributiop, joined
and took command of the Chesapeake, with
the notorious Henry Braine as first and Parr,
one of Morgan's men, as second officer. The
Ella and Anna proceeded across the bay ard
succeeded in capturing the Chesapeake, which
was lying in Sambro harbor, waiting for
Captain Locke and Mr.. Braine to return from
Halifax, whittier thep had gone to obtain set
of engineers, the one they had refusing to join
with them. The crew of the Chesapeake had
been apprised of the arrival of the cruiser, and
with the exception Of three mep, the crew sue
ceeded in escaping. The vessel was taken into
Halifax by the captors and delivered up to the
authorities. The prisoners were rescued by
ths citizens, and, although caught and tried
some time afterward, escaped unpublished. The
admiralty court, after considerable time and
legal qubbllng, returned the vessel to her
owners, Messrs. 81. B. Cromwell & Co. The
pirates succeeded in separating and shipping
from various ports in the Provinces, and be-
came scattered all over the world All traces
OF them were lost, until short time ago the
government was placed in possession of in
formation that Parr. who, it is alleged, took
an ctive part in the seizure, was living in the
Provinces and would be in Boston on a short
visit Monday. On the arrival of the steamer
an officer was in waiting for her. and Mr..
PAR was placed under arrest. His case has
been continued until the 9TH of July next.