The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-01-05
A STRANGE STORY
Of the Hanging Of a French Sailor ON
M an American Ship.

BoeToN, JAM A Portuguese sailor
named JOSE hfAntonio, who arrived at the
Mariners Home, In this city, day or two
ago from New York, In which city he land
ed on Dec. 20, on board the schooner Hope
Cover, Philadelphia vessel, from Mexico,
tells a most extraordinary an sensational
story about transactions which he witnessed
while on the high seas. A reporter found
him at the Mariners Home to-day, and,
after some preliminary talk, the old sailor
was gradually drawn out, and bis story
was found to be most remarkable one.
Briefly told II ia substantially as fol-
lows:
my name is Joseph Antonio, and l am
q Portuguese, belonging In the Western
Islands. shipped az steward OH board
the schooner Hope Cover, Capt. Allen,
from Philadelphia, September Goth, at
Pensacola. Another seaman at the same
time was 'Shsnghaid' on board the Cover
from German bark, and We were both as
signed to duty, he going before the mast
and in the commissary. The schooner, l
was told, was returning from q Mexican
port where she had discharged cargo Of
coal aud had put into Pensacola to await
orders. Almost Immediately
AFTER GOING ABRoARD
orders were received to 60 to Mexico-I
could never remember the name of the
portland take cargo odmahogony forl New
York. We Immediately set sail, and after
being out three or four days the mate Or
dered one seaman, Frenchman named
Antoine, to bring up bucket Of water
from the hatch. When the seaman came
on deck, he accidentally spilled some of the
water on the floor, and this so exasp Grated
the mate that he struck the sea.
man & several blows on the face,
causing blood to flow from his nose.
On the following morning friday, when
about 200 miles from Pensacola, the
Frenchman, after receiving his rations,
took his turn at the watch. This was about
1880 o'clock. About O'Clock l saw the
mate, who had lamp In bis hand, 20
down the forward hatch, and as he did so
he ordered the Frenchmau to follow him.
As soon as they went down the matches,
which up to this time had been left open,
were closed, and I thought this very
strange affair, especially so when the
Frenchman did not
COME ON DECK AGAIN.
knew that some Of the crew were In the
hold when the mate and the Frenchman
went down. The captain all this time,
know, was not with them, as saw him
after near the man at the wheel. Soon
after going below the mate and crew re.
turned, but the Frenchman did not come
back, and the patches were not opened.
About seven bells, or at II 80 o clock some
one asked where the Frenchman was, and
the remark was made, significantly, "Per.
haps he Is asleep In the hold forward. The
matches were then lopened and q rope was
hauled up, and to my horror suspended at
the end OF the rope as 1t was drawn up was
the lifeess body Of the seaman with
moose adjusted about his neck.
he was laid upon the deck, and after the
entire crew had gathered about the body
was picked up and pitched overheard.
When the vessel put into the Mexican port
papers were furnished to the American
consul to the effect that the seamen had
hung himself while on the trip from Pansa.
cola, but II does not seem that the counsel
was told that when the body was hauled on
deck the hands we're dashed behind the
body. had no chance to 60 ashore, and
when landed In New York was paid of
and discharged, and when leaving tue yes.
eel, the captain said TO me, "Steward, take
care Of yoursslf.' came directly to Boa- !
ton and have informed the Judge Of The
United States court. l