The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-08-05
A MYSTERY OF THE SEA.

TTNHE NEPTUNE was as fine vessel
as plowed the Atlantic ocean, and
although she was caught in several
storms every year, yet for ten years did
she make her monthly trips, with her
usual large cargo of living freight. Her
captain was as jolly an old sea-dog as
ever lived, and If once you crossed with
old Bowler, you would, If possible, make
the trip with him again, his greatest
pleasure being In making his guests at
home. l had been acquainted with him
for several years before the occurrence
am about to relate, and what was at
first but passengers acquaintance, had
ripened into firm friendship, cemented
by such strong ties that it would have
been difficult to sever them.
1t was in the month of December,
1S4-, that dispatch reached me from
Cape Race, from Captain Bowler-it
read as follows:
STEAMER NEPTUNE, OFF CAPE RACE,
10.30 A. M. Dec. IA.
DEAR r. Meet us at the wharf. l
have strange and dangerous case on
hand. BOWLER.
The next morning 1 also noticed in
the papers a dispatch to the effect that a
murder had been committed on board
the Neptune, on her trip across. No
particulars were given.
readily knew from this that the
Captain wanted me to sift this matter
for him, so i was at the wharf some
time before the steamer was to arrive
and so anxious was L, that / chartered
tug and steamed down the bay to meet
her.
The Captain was delighted to see me,
and as soon as got on board, carried
me into his private office, and told me
the full particulars of the strange case,
without making any comments what
ever, until after had expressed my
opinion. swell, r." he said, as soon
as he sat down, "I have strange case
on board. L have been crossing the
ocean now these seven years, and this
is the first time that anything upleasant
has happened on board
"The circumstances are these: The
murdered man shipped as first cabin
passenger at Liverpool for New Orleans,
and seemed to be man of some wealth.
The third day out we met with several
strong puffs of wind, and on the fourth
and fifth we had right stiff breezes,
something that you would call storm.
Well, Mr.. De We're, the murdered man,
was very uneasy and very sensitive,
and once or twice, during the most
severe part of the gale, he was jostled
and knocked by the prisoner, a Mr..
Wallace. This of course was accidental,
for when the old ship would give lurch
the passengers would have to look out
for themselves. Still De We're was un-
der the impression that Wallace had
knocked him Intentionally, and threats
of dire vengeance passed between them.
even found it necessary to interfere to
preserve good order. At length the last
straw was placed on the camel's back.
That morning while he was taking a
glass of wine at the bar, by some acci-
dent Wallace tripped and fell against
him, dashing the wine in his face. This
was too much, and as Wallace fell on
the floor of the deck, De We're gave him
kick in the face with great venom, at
the same time cursing him.
" Wallace raised himself up, and wip-
ing the blood from his face, merely re-
marked, "your blood shall be equally
poured out" 1 endeavored to pacify
them both to the best of my ability, and
thought no more of it during the day.
"That night there were two new hands
that had shipped in Liverpool, who
were going to work their passage across,
on duty in the fore part of the ship.
(The Captain did not use any nautical
terms, as was genuine land lubber.)
The next morning De We're did not
come down to the breakfast table, but 1
did not pay any attention to this, as he
frequently remained in his bed until 12
O'Clock but when he did not come to
lunch began to look for him, and could
find no trace of him anywhere. A
strict search was at once set on foot, and
after several hours his murdered body
was found hanging on the anchor. at
once had the body drawn up, and insti-
tuted searching investigation into the
cause of the murder, for it was evident
that it was nothing but murder. AS
a first precaution caused Wallace to be
,.,t ,,odar arrast and fbao hold on ;r
formal inquest. The body bore marks