New-York tribune., 1879-03-26
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
rArAL AFFRAYs ON sHIPBOARD.
RETURN 0T Two PRISONERS CHARGED WITH Mof-
DIR ON THE HIGH SEAS

RETURN on Two PRISONERS CHARGED WITH MUIR
DIR ON THE NIGH SEAS.
The British steamship Humboldt which arrived
in New-York on Monday night from Rio Janeiro'
brought from that port two prisoners. They were
Owen Hughes alias Charles Thompson, a seaman
on the American bark Nphon, of Bath, Me-, who IL
charged with the murder, on December "a, 1873
of the second officer, Henry W. Williams and John
Powers second mate of the bark ElvertOn, of Balti
moro. accused of the murder on February II, OF
the master Of the vessel, Captain Richard H.
Barclay Warrants for the arrest of the prisoners
issued upon the documentary proofs taken peiore
the American COnsUl-Gcueral at Rio Janelro, were
served nv United States marshals early yesterday
morning The prisoners, with the witnesses were
taken before United States Commissioners Osborn
and LYMAN. by whom they were held without ball
for examination.
On the VOYAGE Of the bark Niphon, loaded with
Goals. from Cardiff TO Rio, the assault of which
Thompson is accused was committed. The vesSe'
sailed from Cardiff on December 16, 1878. ana
arrived at RIO on February 13 following.
From the deposition OF Thomas Frost and
other scamen of the bark who were wltneS Sses OF
the afrav il apnears that the day before CHRIST
mas all hands were called out at about Ocl'ck IN
tho morning to shorten sail. he weather was
thick, and the wind was blowing fresh. Nhlle the
men were furling the mainsail the second mate h9d
some angry words with Thompson on account "t an
order given by the former on the ward. Alter tne
fho deck the second mate struck Thompson several
times with Delaying PIN. and after knocking H,h
down kicked him, lie then turned away 10 @ @oIuer
forward some VINO were approaching ti,rnl'
but again struck Thompson over the mead. 1he
prisoner does not deny the circumstances OF Ihe
alteration but in his affidavit, wllch Is VII
Confession says: g excited, and hardly
knowing What did, l grabbed my sheath-knfe and
struck AT the mate in seli-defence. lie dld nor
strike me afterward he put his hand 20 his head
and walked OIL" -, -, MI,
John Powers. the second mate Of the bark Elver-
I l.. xr-itg, olastTfT I'D
of Captain Barclay. had arrived at Rlo JanelTo as
second officer of the American ship = Z. Blancnard,
ASeOrdCins tSS C6esu @ at Rio. he went on
board the bark Sunday morning FGbrnary
g. aud concluded with Captain Barclay bargain
to go with hm as second mate. ne signed Tue aItI- ~
cles and about an hour afterward the vessel put 10
sea- The first officer was suffering from lever ana
the second mate had to perform many OF ms dutleS
few days out Captain Barclay asked his second
officer if lie could write, saying, If you can' II
give the mate dose and get him out OF the WaY'
said but he was too sick to take any notlcc OF II;
The vessel was leaking badly, but the captain sad
that before he wOuld take her back to kio Jane,ro
he would sink her, One nlght lie gave iI, an oIuri bi
which the second officer did not hear; Calling, hlm
aft the captain told HIM that he wanted M olnSerS
to pay as much respect TO him as to too Alnlshty'
On February II, the day of the assault, IoWers
while nj dinner with the first mate, heard Captain
Barclay scolding to the man at the Wheel AFTER
dinner he went on deck to repair the maln-t0psIIl
foOt-ropc he had in bis hand an IRON tool callcT
"nrickrrb which he was using in his work. The
me- n,cEed mn t6e foof-ropc and looked at it, The
captain had pistol in his hand, and laying down
the rope, SAID, - am going to blow ytuI brains
out" With these words he advanced qIchE ana
put the pistol to the mates head. Inc 0ihCer
grasped the captains night arm to turn away me
pisto, but was thrown down by captain
Barclay, who picked up q hatchct with ms
left hand. q" lie had the Ratchet raised over me-
The second mate continued; "he said, i am gong
TO shoot Kill YOU With that | got excited and
struck him on the head with the pTiCker. lie drop
ped the hatchct, and graphing me around the BODY
ard lao
how many times struck him he released his hold
of me lust as We reached the foot Of the cabin
stairs" >,
Charles Clark, the steward, was in the galley,
and at the sound of voices looked ont. The captrln
was holding pistol at the mates h9ad. Inc
men closed together, he says. and IN the strug-
gle fell down the cabin stairs. As they went down
the cOmpauion-way, the mate drove the prlcker INTO
I'm forgive YOU Nil Powers; and i'll moment
called out again. Help men, help" Those were
the last words the steward heard. The captain fell
on his face, and immediately the mate came on
deck and gave himself up 10 the chief officer. VINO
af once gave orders to change the course of the
vessel toward Rio JauelTO.
CAPTAIN BARCLAY died about Q o'clock in the even
ing Of the same day, without having recovered con-
sscOuncss. The body was kept uptii the ARRIVAL OF
the vessel at port, Oh February ~
PROTEST AGAINST HILL GATE PILOTAGE
Owners and captains Of coastng vessels passing
through Hell Gate are becoming discouraged with
the prospects of The bill before the Legislature
calling for the repeal Of the Hell Gate compulsory
pilotaec law. Several captains stated at meeting
Yesterday that the harbors and channels were so
MAINLY defined and so well known that they had
not taken the services of pilot for years but had
never been relieved from the half-Pilotage. They
do not have the option Of accepting pilot or dis
pcusinC with ms services The only alternative -
10 take the pilot and pay full rates reject HIM
and nav hal rates. All the pilot needs to do Is 10
hail vessel and get the answer NO. Whch may
be from me without the captains knowledge,
when tine haf-rate becomes chargeable. HE eX-
tOTtIOn is considered oppressive, ara II continued,
ii is though, viii break up the c0aStnS trauc 10
itIs asserted that the pilots, in order to secure
the ha.f-rate law which was threatened with repeal
q few Years arO agreed with the residents ot suffolk
County. L. l.. to exempt their vessels, about thirty
IN number. from the plOtage law II they Wolld not
favor repeal. Ii is also stated that cons derabe
opposition made 20 the reelection 10 congress
OF Eugene Hale, of the Ellsworth District, Maine,
by the CAPTAINS of COdStlng vessels because Oi ms
Indifference to the passage ol the bill III Congress IN
opposition 10 compulsory ana oi-shofc PH0tage'
The Leg slatnres OF Maine, Massachusetts ana Con-
nccticu have each, in previous years, passed reSo-
lutiOns asking the state of NeN-lOIk to TeieVc the
cOasting marine from ;he operation OF the compul-
sorry plotaGc law, but the Nessel-oWners clam that
lecatisc Of the lack Of funds they have little In
fucuce at Albany to secure legislation IN their IL
tercsts.
LEASING TIE OLD POST OFFICE.
The lease of the old Post Office Building on Mas
sau.st.. to the present tenant James H. COnant, of
Boston for another year, has created considerable
feeling among the members of tie Chamber of
Commerce 1t is claimed that the lease OF such
large building should at least be competitive, and
that $1,000 year and the Croton water taxes,
which MI COnaut is TO pay, If dispTopoTt0nate to
the real value Of the property as the sub-tenants
are compelled TO pay to the lessee $4,000 year.
81