The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-07-31
A Mystery Of Years Cleared Up.

1T will be well remembered by many
in this community that several years
ago the ship Alaska left Burrard Inlet
for China with cargo of lumber. She
arrived at her destination in safety, and
was announced to have sailed again for
this port to receive second cargo.
Time rolled on, and at the expiration
OF the usual number of days allowed
for the passage from China the good
ship Alaska was announced as " due. :"
She failed, however, to put in an ap-
pearance; but this was not considered
at all extraordinary, as voyages from
China vary in duration as much as voy-
ages to or from any other place. But
the days she was overdue gradually
crept into weeks and the weeks into
months, and, after she had been re-
ported "missing" for long time, the
conclusion arrived at was that she had
doubtless foundered or had become the
victim of foul play.
Years passed by and no word came
of the rescue of any one who had been
on board the Inflated ship, and at last
the faint glimmer of hope, which had
sustained the hearts of the friends of
officers and crew died out. The wife of
the supercargo of the vessel, who had
been watching and waiting" for
many years, succumbed to the effects
of the terrible suspense, and was quick
ly followed by her only child. The fact
that during the time which would be
necessary for the Alaska to make the
passage to this port there had been no
heavy winds or storms was the main
reason for the suspicious of foul play;
and among those who entertained them
was gentleman who happened to
meet drunken sailor in saloon in
Japan. The old adage, in vino veritas,
was again verified Gas will be subse-
quently seen), for the sailor quickly
began to give a disjointed narrative
of mutiny and bloodshed. The gen.
tleman kept the narrative in his
memory, and, following up his de-
termination to unravel the mystery
surrounding the fate of the ship, en-
comprised the arrest of several sailors
who had been incriminated by their
drunken Companion. One of these
sailors admitted that he had belonged
to the crew of the Alaska, and made a
full confession of the circumstances
concerning her loss. He stated that
when but few days out from Hong
Kong, sailing under light breeze off
the coast of Japan, the crew mutinied,
and, without a moments warning,
threw overheard the second mate, who
was the only officer on deck at the
time. Hearing commotion, the Cap
tain and first officer rushed up, and
were Immediately murdered and given
to the sea.
The supercargo, Mr.. Thorndike,
brother OF the owner of the ship, who
had $1,000 in coin on board, shared
the same fate as the other officers, and
the crew, having secured the money
and everything else of value that could
be readily moved, set fire to the vessel,
and, taking to the boats, pulled for the
coast of Japan. Having landed in safe
ty they divided the spoils, cherishing
the hope that every trace of their foul
deed had been obliterated. But time,
the certain avenger of crime, has
proved that their hope was fallacious,
as, following closely on the confession
above referred to, the arrest of all but
two of the criminals was effected, and
they will in all probability quickly be
called on to pay the penalty demanded
by justice.-Nctoria (B. co. Colo,sist.