The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-02-27
An Ocean Horror.

Some time in the month Of May,
| 1870, Q wild, strange rumor was Hosting
about London TO the effect that the
crew of The Caswell, q large barque be-
| longing 10 the port of Glasgow, had
msssacreed their officers and seized the
vessel. No one could tell where the
rumor originated. 1t seemed 10 be
drifting in the air, and the majority who
heard Il believed no foundation for such
frightful tale existed; but within q
week the truth was more than confirm
ed.
The pilot cutter Werrit. Of Queens
town, while cruising OF the Durseys.
sighted q large barque flying the blue
peter. and put u man aboard Of her.
Toward evening ths strange craft made
furthsr signals, and in response four
more men from the pilot-cuttsr board
ed the ship.
When they did SO, they found q sea-
man. apparently Greek, lying on the
msin-hatch with his hsnds ironed, while
the sails and rigging were in deplora-
BILE condition, and the whole appear.
ance Of the vessel was dirty and flthy
in the extreme. A few miles of Queens
town the gun-bost Goshawk took her
in tow. and shortly after she was lying
securely at anchor in the roads.
The first detailed account Of what had
taken place was obtained from John
Dunno. Of Bristol, able mariner, one OF
the four hands found on board bv the
crew Of the Werrit. The tale told ~
him was terrible one
The Csswell left Glasgow in the pre-
cseding autumn. bound for Busnos
Ayres, under the command Of Captain
George Best. The frst.mate was Will
liam Wilson, . Scotchman; the second
Allan 4sclean, the steward was Edward
0riRths, . Dundee man, and the rest
were English.
All went we'll on the outward voyage,
nothing more thsn.a few trifing diss-
greements occurring among the crew.
The weather WAS not severe enough at
any time to place the vessel In peril; but
on arriving at Buenos Ayres. the cap
tain, for reasons not stated, discharged
the entire crew, with the exception of
the two mates and the steward, the car
penter-Peter McGrsgor Q couple
of csbin.b boys. Ferguson and Mcdonald.
The new msn shipped were three
Greeks. called Big George Nicholas
and Christie Sambo two Maltese, Jasper
aud Giuseppe; q Sootcbman, James Gar
roch, and IN Englishman, John Dunno.
with these, fourteen souls in all. the
Caswell made her way ont Of Buenos
Ayres in ballast Tor Valparaiso.
Again everything moved along for 3
day or two with average smoothness;
but the nationality of the crew, ss given
above, shows that it was composed of
exceedingly combustibls material. which
was sure to take fre If kept long in
contact.
At the end Of some three or four days,
chickering's and disputes arose, and it
became evident to more than one person
that serious trouble was inevitable.
On the fourth Of January. Dunno
who was on deck. saw Captain Best
talking to Big George, the Greek. They
were so far removed from the spectator
that he could not catch ell thsir words:
bat the captain apparently was reprov-
ing the Greek for some disobediencs of
orders. Those fellows are hot tempered.
and the officer no doubt had abundant
cause for his exhibition Of anger.
Big George, at this time. was at work
in the rigging, aud only few words
were spoken. when the Greek sprang
out upon the tsffrail and thence to the
deck. where, with lightning g-like
stroke. he buried his knife in the breast
of the captain.
The first mate, who was forward at
the moment Of the assassination was
committed, ran aft toward the poop.
As he passed the galley. Christie and
Nicholas, the two other Greeks. rushed
out upon him. Such despersdoes are
always armed to the teeth. end the poor
mate seemed to have been totally un-
prepared for such treacherous assault,
and he was cut down in twinkling
What Immediately followed. looked
~ il the whole Of the scoundrels held
themselves in readiness to join in Q
murderous mutiny. whenever Big
George chose to inaugurate it; for JAS
per and Giuseppe, the Maltese, almost
Immediately appeared from below with
rsvolvers, and quickly put Wilson. the
mate, out Of his misery.
The steward, alarmed at the sound
Of fighting. FASTENED up the companion.
hatch, and was shot dead ct the mo-
ment his head came within range.
The dve murdsrsrs were now togeth-
er in compact lighting form. and they
proceeded 60 complete their massacre.
with . cool dendishness which can
scarcely Be imagined. The whole gang
turned upon Msclesu, who bad no earth
~ show, and who instantly succumbed
But this being done. the opposing
parties were not equal enough to make
either certain OF success In the deadly
encounter. By the sudden onslsught,
the mutineers had gained . frightful
sdvsntsge. but they themselves were in
danger Of losiug more than they were
willing to suffer. In the event OF Ntfemp-
ting 60 clean out the remainder OF the
crew.
On the one side were the Ave armed
and dsspsr.te men; on the other. Nc
aregor the carpenter, 0erroch. Dunno.
and the two boys, Ferguson and
Mcdonald. The former decided TO hold
parley with the latter. during which
they offered to spare their lives II they
would assist In working the ship.
II will be seen that the assistance OF
the weaker party WAS desire BILE IN work
ing and sailing the shipt and the mem