The New York herald., 1879-03-26
TRAGEDIES AT SEA.
What Game Of Using Delaying
Pin Too Freely.
FATALLY STABBE ED.
A Captain Attacks His Mate and Is Killed
in the Struggle.

Consul General at Rio Janeiro, Brazil by the steam
ship Humbolt. very voluminous document of
very startling character. detailing all the circum-
stances connected with two charges of murder on
the high seas. Charles Thompson. alias Owen
Hughes was charged with having killed Henry Will
Jams. second nate of bark Niphon. of Bath, Me- and
John Powers. charged with having killed Richard P.
Barclay. master of the bark Elverton of Baltimore
Md. The accused brought to this city in
charge of the master of the steamship. with the wit
nesses in each Warrants for their arrest We're
immediately issued upon the affidavit of District
Attorney Fero. and they brought to the Fed
erl Building by Deputy Marshal Deubert. Thomp-
son was brought before United States Commissioner
Osborn, and on the charge of murder was COM
mitted without bail. for examination tomorrow.
The witnesses in this case-Thomas Frost, Richard
Dawson and James Murphy-were also committed to
Ludlow Street Jail. Powers. charged with the muir
der of Captain Barclay. was brought before United
States CommissioAer Lyman and committed with
out bail for examination to-day. The witnesses in
this Charles Clark. Christian Braccamore
and John Jackson. who also detained in custody.
There nothing in the appearance of the prisoners
to suggest the grave charges against them.
KILLING OF CAPTAIN BARCLAY.
Ia regard to the murder Of Captain Richard r
Barclay of the bark Elverton, Consul Adamson
writes that on the 22d of February, 1872 A. G.
at the Consulate and stated that the Everton which
had recently sailed from Rio Janeiro for New York,
had returned in charge of the first officer her master
having been killed by the second mate He issued
orders for the arrest Of the alleged criminal and the
detention of the crew. and gave hearing the oath
inst. The Consul forwarded by the steamer the
deposition Of the alleged murderer also those the
THE PRIsoNER's STORY.
Trhv Doxuo k1.o Al kySo &o1for
statement to the Consuls:-
American ship S. c. Blanchard. was frightened
because OF the many cases Of yellow fever and
wanted to get out OF the port. On Sunday morn
ing the 9th of February, I went on board the
bark Elvertorf and made bargain with the Captain
on board, and about an hour afterward We went to
sea. The mate was not able to do much, as he was
all the work for him. The Captain was not
satisfied with the way the crew worked.
and and knock them on their heads. ' About s the the
fourth fifth day out the Captain asked me if
could write my name. told him. mo. SIR. He said
he did not believe it, and that If could write my
name he would give that son of b-h below there
(meaning the nate) dose and get him out of the
but he too sick to take any notice Of it, Some
days after that the asked the Captain for
and watch. The ship was leaking, and they
tired OF pumping and ships work The Captain re-
fused them, and said to me. THAT is some of the
back there I'll sink her.. Ho said he knew the ship
not ft to 60 on the American coast the way
she was. After that the mizzen masthead showed
that it was wrung, and the Captain gave me orders
about fshing it, and then he went to lie down. got
the work done. and when hc came deck again
said, ''Not much OF job" He said it would carry
him US far he wanted to 20. One night it seemed
skysail. did not haar it. Then he called me aft
and told me he wanted me to pay much respect to
ing Of that passed between us up to the 18th of Feb
ruary. On that day, before going to dinner, had
sent man Wa aoft 70 bring down the mant9pssi ain foot
wheel. and he said, II intend to take Of every
went on deck and went to work on the mantopsail
footrope. / had in my hand an iron which we call
"prcker.'' which was using to cast the service
of the eye of the footrope. The Captain along
and asked what 1 had there. He picked it up ana
looked at it. He had his pistol in his hand at the
time he was examining the footrope.
''ILL BLOW YOUR BRAINS OUT
he said. II am going to blow your brains out" I
said, "Good God, Captainl what is the matter? Has
anybody been telling you lies? I'll call all hands.
With that called. Come this way. all hands," He
him. '.Never mind" Then he advanced step
quickly and put the revolver up to my head. 1
20 sSrn the pistol % AWAY @ % from as' my a hesd sd
He threw me right across the BOBBY hatch aud picked
up hatchet with M his left hand and had It raised
told him TO let go Of the pistol. and the time
tried to keep his left at bay with my right Cap
damn yoni'' With that got excited and hardly
know what was doing. struck him on the head
hand and he then clenched me around the
body with his left arm. He pulled me
0Ssd sS the cabin toll and how d0wn nov into ss the
struck him. He let 20 the revolver when he got to
the foot of the cabin steps and there released each
other. As as he Jet go went on deck. do not
know whether he dead then not. / had no in
tcntion of killing him. thought he was trying to
used no more violence than thought was Necessary
to protect my life. When went on deck gave my
his orders He toni me he would put back to Rio
and continued working the same as usual.
Charles Clark. cook and steward. in his testimony
before the Consul, gave materially tho story of
the killing lie said that the Captain and second mate
were struggling together down the companion way.
the latter the pricker into the Captains head
at the ear. Then the Captain called out. Ill for
give YOU" Then he called out, "Holp. men. help"
These were the words he heard from him. Alter
the second mate on deck he went down into the
cabin with three other Tho Captain was then
breathing heavily. He pulled the pricker out of the
Captains and took 1t on deck and gave 1t to
of tho men, who threw IL overheard.
The depositions of John H. Dearborn. hrst mate.
George Brown. Joseph Lambert O'Ncil. Christian
Braccamore, John ADAMS and Jasper Scott. OF the
crew, also forwarded by the Consul. ALI agreed
substantially the facts and narruted by the
prisoner John jackson testified that tho Captain
threatened 10 shoot him upcn the day. when he
at tho wheel and the ship was of her course.
and John Adams that he strung up in the rig
ging by the Captains ORDERS WHOM. with others of
the crew. he had asked for watch and watch in tho
ships work.
rfrE NIPPON TRAGEDY.
Tho papers charging Charles Thompson. alias
Owen Hughes. with killing Henry Williams, second
mate OF bark Niphon, of Bath. Me-, also for
wartcd from Consul General Adainson, from Rio
Janciro. This afray took place the day before
Christmas last. when the bark on her way from
Cardiff. Wales. to Rio.
Thomas Frost. one of the scamcn, made the fol-
lowing statement in regard to the affair The day
before Christmas all hands were called ont 10
shorten sail about hve A. NJ. When 1 came ON deck
the mainsail was hauled up and all hands laid aloft
10 furl 10. The second the sings Of tho
yard. 1 was on tho starboard side OF the slings
alongside tho second mate and Thompson on the
otheI side. Tho niato told Thompson to "lay out"
and when he lid Williams said. "What In the hell
you doing there lay In, God damn
YOU" Thompson replied that "you have just
told me to lay out" Williams then said,
"you damned crippled old -, I'll fix you
when get you deck" and made to witness the
remark, When the mate Williams met Thomp