The New York herald., 1879-12-25
AN OCEAN TRAGEDY.

<AAN OO4<A4N = ~N<A0 I<~
TWO ITALIAN SAILORS KILL THEIR sEcoNI
NATE AND FELLOW SAILOR ON BOARD sHII
AND ARE SHOT DOWN BY TUE CAPTAIN.
The stanch. trim bark Francesca Donovaro arrived
at this port from Savona. Italy. on Tuesday night
and proceeded at once to the Atlantic Docks. in
Brooklyn. where HERALD reporter boarded her
yesterday. She showed trace OF distress from her
voyage Of hfty-nins days. aud but for terrible
story the ships log and the fact that of the
fifteen men who sailed In her failed to reach New
York. there was nothing to show that tho vessels
deck had been the scene of mutiny and bloody
struggle for life in the middle OF the Captain
stefano Farrsndo. who commands her. is stalwart.
active man. about forty years old. below the mo
dium height. but very broad across the shoulders.
and with determined look. which is rendered
almost ferocious by his huge beard and mustaches.
He disinclmed to tell the full story Of the
tiny at first. but by dnt OF persistent questioning
the outlines Of It were drawn from him at length.
BLOODY WORK.
The bark left Savona ON October 90, laden with
ballast, to carry o cargo from New York to Genoa.
whore she is owned. There fifteen men on
board. among whom were Gregorio Pedro Irene. Of
noilo. and Antonio Aredundo. Of Manila. both sea-
men. Nothing worthy of note occurred until mid
Jean Baptisto Pinchatti. the first mate Of the bark
caine on watch shortly before midnight. relieving
the second mate boatswain. and had only been ON
deck few minutes whom Gregorio sprang at him
and stabbed him with stiletto. The blow was
aimed ut the heart. but. although there was no
chance for struggle. the mate struck the others
passed in little below the heart. inficting dan
yerous wound. but fortunately not fatal one. The
knife raised again. but Pinchatti with desper-
ate effort. fung his assailant of. throwing him to
the deck dozen feet away. Then. fearing to
clinch with an armed man while unarmed
himself, he turned and to the cabin.
The noise attracted the attention of tho second
mate Antonio Marchesa. who had not yet gone to
trouble was Gregorio met him as he camo out. and
with single blow OF his stiletto killed him in
stantly. Arata Edw0rdo. seaman, whose bunk
close to tho hatch way heard the noise of scuiing
feet and Pinchats involuntary cry and reached the
deck in tine to Marchesa fall. Gregorio drew
his dripping knife from his. breast. The boy Ed
wardo The Is hardly more than boy) stood for an
instant. horror stricken. and then, With a boys
courage. grappled the murderer. At his heart also
blow was struck. but again Gregorio missed his
mark. and Edwardo was only wounded. He clung
to the elder man In desperation. and was badly cut
on the fingers OF both hands, He was forced to let
60 after being severely cut several times. but the
nosc Of the struggle had aroused all ON board. and
on releasing himself from Edwardo's grip, ran att
toward the captains cabin. with his stiletto still In
confronted by the captain himself who carried re-
volver In his hand. The seaman saw it. and with an
Italian dread or firearms turned and
/ THE AssAsSINS SHOT DOWN.
At almost the same moment that Gregorio had
stabbed the mate Aredundo had crept to the bunk
stabbed him to the heart. Unable to do more In the
dim light before the crew aroused Dy the noise
i on desf; a; ne made his way up the hatchway and
was grim tabeau on that deck. Two men had been
murdered and two more struck down, and the MUIR
ment and then evidently realizing that 1t was o
question Of survival between themselves and the
full and lnarticulste cries. that the mate described as
being like the of wild beasts. Again they
showed the instinct of men accustomed to the use
Of the knife. Every man before them had the knife
that sailor always carries, but only had
pistol They rushed toward the captain. fearing him
the most The fear was justified for both men fell
before reaching him. His two shots wore effective
and In few moments both the mutineers were
dead.
Tho only witnesses Of their death were tho men
they had tried to kill. and the only record Of what
they said when dying is that made by the captain.
kill all board and take Of tho bark and
large sum in gold. which they supposed to be on
correctness Of this story, but the gentleman in
charge Of Messrs. Funch. Edge Co.'s counting
room. when applied to yesterday for additional par
ticulars said that the firm in certain way stood in
the relation OF counsel to the captain and that no
particulars would be given until after the case had
been put in the hands Of the Italian Consul This.
he said would be done tomorrow morning. and in
tho meantime he thought it best to say nothing.
"fhe captain" said he Stands in the position Of
one who has done terrible thing. and until he is
in the hands Of the proper authorities will not say
anything that may prejudice him."
Tho bodies of the dead men speedily thrown
overheard and all traces OF tho ARRAY removed Tho
wounded men were cared for well possible and
both recovered before reaching port. The lack of
officers. however. imposed heavy responsibility
the captain. who was practically on watch for the
rest OF the voyage He totally unable account
for tho mutiny. saying that If the two had
succeeded Ia killing the rest Of the crew snd he had
no reason to suppose that they had any accompcesl
they would have been unable to handle the ship and
would have been almost like children afoat. He
been for two weeks watching for favorable chance
to strike the blow.