The New York herald., 1878-01-16
THE SCUTTLED SCHOONER.
Unvejling the Mystery Of the
Edward H. Pray.
DEVELOPMENT OF A CRIME.
A Police Visit to the Schooner
Guide-One Arrest Made.

together with the disappearance and cargo
last night dssjpated. HeaAID reporter at late
hour largo portion Of the missing cargo board
OF vessel purchased by Melvin J. Clark, captain OF
the Pray. days before the scuttng OF the latter
TIE reporter also converssd with those who saw
this cargo transferred. II Is asserted that Clark
and his confoderatcs can be proved guilty OF
"barratry" There is little doubt from facts obtained
last night by HERALD reporters that the Captain pur
chased two other vessels, loaded them with tho valu.
able cargo consigned TO tho Edward H. Pray, In his
care and then deliberately dsmasted and sculed the
latter under cover of darkness.
SCHOONER.
II will be remembered that The hulk OF the vessel
when found drifting had six augur holes In her bot
tom; was perfectly empty, save for some limo and a
few potatoes thar her mpsts. spars, rgging-everv-
sh,ag qarsadie down w ,he galley stove, had been
carried away. There was not The slightest ccw TO
the identity o the vessel until Saturday, when water-
soaked DIT of paper found the cabin floor
proved to be note to the schooner L. H. Pray. rho
caro- taken TO obhterate all traces OF the vessels
identity had extended to painting out the upon
her and cutting out the reg stored ton
mage Of the vessel from the hatch mbing She
towcd to point on the Jersey shore the Stevens
estate, where she now lies IN tho care OF wrecking
compaNy. Up 80 FAST night the latest Information
concerning the vessel before her dsmantipg placed
her at the foot OF West Fifty-second street,
where she took board casks OF
vino vinegar on the 7h inst After that
she disappeared and not heard Of again until the
wreck was discovered. Her cargo had besn shipped
by various persons IN this city, was OF scellaueous
character and included six aud half tons OF giant
powder for NJ e. varney, OF Baltimore. 1t remains
lor tho writer tell what occurred between Monday,
the 7th inst, when tue vessel was last good
trim, and Thursday the 10Th, when her hull reap
puared 10 tell the story anu possibly lead 10 the hang
inu IA a n
On the night oil the 7th inst the schooner with her
captain, Melvin II. Clark; tho mate Wlam May,
and the cook, on board, quietly dropped into the
and oated dow unuer cover OF TO point
tho Jersey shore, about halt milo south Of the
CominuDipaw Jerry. Here sho was anchored close TO
q small schooner named The Gude, OF Greenport l.. l.
This vessel Captain Clark had privately purchased
the proceeding day from Eckiord Goodale, who then
shipped on the Emperor bound for Bridgeport The
day small sIoop. called the Ciarissa, also
hauled alongside. When night fell the cargo OF the
Pray transferred 10 The other vessels, aud guam
tty oil worthless gas limo IRON the Guide was thrown
into tho hold together with quantity OF potatoes
with which the Carssa had beea laden. The sloop
when laden hauled up tho river. and Is lying ut
Weehawken.
Every shred Of rigging and furniture was transferred
from the Pray, and on inc night Of the 9th she was
hauled out jnio midstream, hoe masts were chopped
away and the plugs wero removed from six large
augor holes which had boon previously bored in her
bottom She sank slowly and the men entered their
yawi and pulled back 10 tho Guide, whore they pro-
posed remain until the cargo should be disposed Of
THE MYSTERY THICkESs.
The skppers OF the adjacent vessels who thought
the actions OF the three crafts suspicious woke up
the morning OF the 10th and found that the Pray had
disappeared. This excited no particular notice until
the story OF her finding IN the North River be-
came known through the newspapers. lu tho
meantime, however. the suspicions OF tho
men board the schooners In the vi.
cinity Of Communipaw were aroused by seeing
Junk boats visiting the Guide, which still lay her
moorings. Anotner circumstance confirmed their
suspicious, Captain Goodale alter the sale OF
his vessel to get watch which ho had forgotten in
his bunk and the owner. Captaia Clark, in reply
to Questions stated that the vessel bound Tor
South Caroina with gas lime. TINS conversation was
repeated to several captains OF vessels lying by
and as the wind mas held fair for that point almost
since IL was thought odd That the Guide did not
start She dropped down about = quarter OF milo
and there anchored, apparently In no hurry 10 leave.
Here she was visited ~ suspicious boats that stoo
around Ellis Island as II afraid OF bong seen. On
Sunday morning last Captain Clark his mate were
by skipper who personally know the
former leaving the Guide with two large carpet
bags Alter reading that the Atlantic Mutual Insu-
Company believed the Pray had been scuttled by
her own crew Tor the sake OF stealing the cargo this
skipper, recalling all these suspicious circumstances,
determined 10 inform the company: He went yoster-
day morning TO the 0lIice OF the company, No.
formation Mr.. Treadwell Cleveland, counsel Tor the
company, applied 10 Captain Carey, OF the FIRST
cnct, Tor assistance. Roundsman Mallam and Officers
Anthony j. Golden and Michael Flannery were de-
tailed visit the suspected vessel Tho tugboat Anna
j. Klpp was hired ana the party with Captain Young,
OF the Coastwso Wrecklng Company, steamed out
the schooner
VISITING THE GUIDE
small boat was obtained from another vessel and
was found in possession. He gave his name
AS William II. May and stated that he had been en-
ployed by the captain to work on board tho vessel re-
ceiving only his food Tor compensation. 81 am
tramp ho said "and don't know any thing about the
vessel"
"ihat's as it may be,' said Roundsman Mallam;
SWELL take care OF you anyhow" Hay was taken
into custody and the vessel was searched Sue was
found TO bc heavily laden with the spos of the Pray
The rigging aud sails wero fully Identified, and tho
cargo correspondcd with the bill OF iadIng OF tho
wrecked schooner, ana Included the powder. II
w. Dea
retreat from tho vicinity when tins discovery
made and the dangerous commodity was ut ouce
tendcry covered with wet calls. The vessel was found
leaking badly that the pdmp had to DO used at
frequent intervals. Although tho man May denied all
knowledge OF tue crew OF tue craft he was closely
questioned. He admitted that he had been board
Tor ltytwo days, and, Of course. must have seen The
strange doings OF last week. On searching HIM
SO IN cash found In an inner pocket, circum-
from which Tue police argued that no mad Occn
left on board 10 employ u tug and nave the vessel
haulcd out 10 point where her captain and mate
would board her. The two officers were left to keep
guard the giant powder and trap tho captain II
he should return. Hay was taken 10 the city and
locked up at Police Headquarters.
The kipp was kept in waiting at the Battery while
the parties interested. together with Captain Cafey,
held loDg and secret conference with superintendent
Waing. The result OF this was that number OF
trusted officers dcspac ched to hnd the Carssa,
and orders were issued 10 Roundsman Malan 10 re-
turn the Gaide ana remain all night ON the watch.
MOONLIGHT TRIP.
The moon was turning the waves of the bay to
silver ana dmming the lights ON the Battery, whom
Mr.. Cleveland, tue roundsma, aud officers Cullen aud
Woodward boarded the kipp, with u generous basket
of for the hungry buecoa.s on the GuiGc.
Wnen The Tug was s,ounIing along the Jersey snore
her passengers made eacn others acquaintancc,
and IT was found that some mys
terious way thoir number had beon augmented
by a reporter Tor the HERALD Taking a small boat
from schooner the parV was soon under the stern
Of the GUIDE, and greeted WIN the sight OF Two
cleaning revolvers AIMED ut them. by The hands OF
the vi2ant officers. These had the effect OF making
the party III the boat give tongue very quicNly. A
moment later aad they we're on board Nothing had
occurred in tho interval except the demolition OF
"A mutton pic which tho hungry officers had
Appropriated and whicn had hcen cooked by May a low
hours buiore. lantern was Swinging from tho
s,arpoard rIgging where II had been hung alter sun
aown 10 ITS customary place that the captain might
not suspect he had visitors on board The officers had
been taking turus at the pump and the vessel was
found to bs aground. The party mada careful IN
specLion OF tho vessel and even handed u
box two Of tho giant powder alter carefully
ipgushing their cigars. The craft Is an old aud
battered two.mss,ed schooner OF about nifty tons her