The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-12-15
Stealing a Steamer

In February last the steamer Ferret, belonging
to the Highland Railroad Company my ysterously
disappeared from the Clyde The disappearance
was noted by Lloyds, and precautions taken to ap-
prehend her. After leaving the Clyde the steamer
taken around to Cardiff, where a fresh crew
was shipped and the vessel coaled n o track was
found OF her until April 20, when the steamer III
dia entered Port Phillips bay. near Melbourne,
Australia A constable named Davidson was sus-
plclouS, and All examination OF Lloyds register
showed him the India of tonnage of the vessel
bearing that name was not enrolled. The tonnage
OF the suspicious craft moreover was exactly that
OF the missing Ferret Many other suspicious cir
cumstances were noticed. The captain never came
on shore. The men were not allowed to leave the
ship, and the fires were always kept ready to get
up steam at moments notice The vessel was
seized by the customs officers April y h and sub
Iected TO close scrutiny. The name Ferret
found 10 have been filed off the bell, and the mum
bers on the c0mbings of the main hatch We're
found mutilated, but when scraped and scrubbed
with kerosene the old number of the Ferret
dlscernlbe In all Of the ships books, the name Of
the vessel had been removed, and between the
leaves OF the log book was discovered a seanan's
advance note bearing the name OF the Ferret The
crew made full confession 1t appeared that
the steamer left England as if for Marseilles,
showing her number at Gbrater, but in the
night she headed and taken to Brazil
Her cargo of coffee was shipped and taken to
the cape and sold for tl3 600 The name was
CHauBeu twice uurng tne voyage FROM the
cape she proceeded to Martins The vessel
was never at Bermuda, although her papers
were so dated On leaving Maurtius the steamer
cleared for Guam. On the vessels arrival at
Melbourne, the captain offered tS500, but
wanted tl0,000, and when taken he was about
having her repalnted, with the view of selling her
IL sydney The examination revealed the fact
that the vessel had been fitted for voyage of
wholesale swindling In small tin box were
found duty stamps of all nations and customs
seals OF all ports where the vessel was likely to
call The sale or contract note of the cargo of
coffee, in the name of s. Henderson in account
amount received for it, From a letter found with
it it found Henderson had retained but
t2300 out Of the cash received and had forwarded
bills for $4,000 to be made payable in London in
nine months To show that the person in charge
OF the India had power to sell the cargo of coffee
he was provided with printed note heading sup
posed to be from firm III La Guayra, with a re
ceipt duly stamped. This document purported to
be an acknowledgment that cargo of coffee had
been disposed of to q S. Henderson and had been
duly paid for, A new log book already entered
up, and which contained the name of the Raven.
was found The Raven to have been the fu
ture name of the craft. Packets of customs pa
pers for all ports were also found together with
type aid small printing press, breach loading
niles large quantities OF choice clothing. 4 num-
Der OF octave books containing a complete code
OF private signals to be used in connection with
contederates in London were also found Hen-
de1son, the reputed owner, appeared on the ships
books as purser, He was arrested, with the cap
tain. K. H Wright, and in their possession was
found large amount of money. The steamer
principals in the conspiracy are now convicts for
long terms