The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-17
THE OlPrURE or rHk CHEsAPEAKE
An Exciting Tnctdent at the Rebellion Re
vived In the Triai ~ Lieut.. Parr.

An Exciting Incident sr the Rebellion Re-
vived In the Triai 81 Lieut.. Parr.
BOsToN, July i6.-IIcnry A. parr was ar
rested in Boston on June 20 for murder com
miued on Dec z, 1863. on board the steamer
Chesapeake, on hcr voyage from New York to
Portland. whom she was captured by n number
Of passengers. who took passage at New York
on Doc, D. 1868. and were supposed to DO In the
sympathy and interest of the Southern rebel
lion. The prisoner was brought up to-day for
examination. The complaint charged the muir
der OF Orrin Schaffcr on tho high seas. Charles
Johnson. mate Of the Chesapeake. testified:
"On the 81 day Of December. 1868, while
the steamer was lying at the dock in New York,
seventeen passengers came aboard near tho
time of her sailing. which was about o'clock
In the afternoon Of that day. They had no
baggage except one who was afterward known
ns and called by the others Capt Balm. They
had some trouble about their passage money.
as the fare had been put IN from S. 10 81; They
OF them had on rough Scotch goods. | don't
know that thoy were dressed in the color worn
by the Confederate soldiers. We sailed from
New York Mt about o'clock on Saturday after
noon. ! had seen one or two of the passengers
before the day of sailing. / think il was Parr
and another who. day or two previous TO the
time Of sailing, came down aud looked over
tho steamer. Nothing unusual occurred
on board tho steamer from tho, time Of
Dec. I. between II and o'clock The passen-
gers, acted like other passengers. took their
meals regularly. and excited no Tears or suspi-
cions as 70 their plans or intentions On Mon
day night. at about IL o'clock. II was my watch
There were four other men on duty besides my
sef-thrce men on deck and two below went
into the engine room. and one of the passengers
was there. He inquired about what time
the steamer would arrive at Portland. From
the engine room | went to the pantry To
get something to cat. had not been
there hut minute when heard pistol shot.
started Tor the engine room. When got there
! saw man In there with revolver In his
hand. He pointed II at me and fired. | jumped
aside, and the ball hit the cylinder and glanced
of. didn't notice when WINS In the engine
room that Orrn Schaffrr. the engineer. was
wounded. think he was up few steps on the
ladder from tho engine room. near the deck
ran through the saloon to the deck. and saw
a numher OF passengers there. Two moro
shots were fired at me- while was on tho deck.
One struck mo In the leg and another shaved
of the hair on the top Of my head rs clean "a If
II had been done 10y a razor | don't know how
have been ten or twenty When came upon
the deck from the engine room | ran forward
TO- the kitchen. where the first mate WIS sitting.
While there the defendant Parrl came along
with, tho cook. with "A revolver in his
hand. The cook said TO him. II you
take the boat you ought not TO kill everybody.
after came on deck. he was leaning out Of the
passage way leading TO the engine room with
know that life was extinct when saw him, lie
was soon afterward thrown overheard. I did
not see MIN Wnen ne was thrown overheard.
but heard one OF the passenger conspirAtOrs,
called Capt. Balm. give the order None OF tho
crew Of the steamer used their revolvers. The
steamer after she was In the possession OF the
conspirators. was commanded by Capt Balm.
There were not many who knew much about
navigating. man by the name OF Osborn was
tho only one who seemed familiar with the sea.
At the time Of the firing there was no noise or
shouting. AL seemed to be done quickly. and
without much confusion. There was no resist
ance on the part of tho crew. for they outnum-
berod tho crew. and the steamer was In their
possession before all OF them were on deck.
The steamer Mt tho time OF her cap
ture WAS pursuing her usual course,
about twenty miles off Cape Cod.
could see the light. Some OF the men were ar
rested and put In irons. We were not treated
badly. The first harbor the steamer made after
she was captured was Seal Harbor. n. d. A
new man cane on board at that place In pilot
boat or yacht. she had a, red flag as a
signal don't know what his name
was. The defendant was. on. dock at
tho time some Of the others
had gone below. don't know what kind Of a
flag the steamer had Mt her masthead. don /
know that the Confederate flag was hosted
The n,osI Of the cr;wo i9c,ptiipg thG Calioin
tho day. following the capture Of the steamer
Five ~ the crew. among others an engineer
were retained"