The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-05-05
LOSS OF THE RACER.
Capt. cerrior's Trial Still Going on.

BOSTON, May 4.--The trial of Capt. Gerrior of
yesterday, in the United States Circuit Court, be-
fore Judge Carpenter. The government put on
two more witnesses, who gave corroboratiye tes-
timony, and the case for the prosecution was
closed. Mr.. Burdett, for the defence, announced
that his evidence could probably be put in in two
days. District Attorney Stearns will not press
the counts for barratry, with the death penalty
against the defendant so that the case loses
something of its Importance.
Mr.. Burdett, in his opening, at the outset, con-
troverted the claims of the prosecution that the
voyage was of the character of picnic or excur-
sion, and contended that the testimony proved it
to have been hard and dangerous trip, in the
depth of winter, and an honest effort by the cap
tain to wrest from the sea a livelihood for his wife
and family. He described with some detail the
particulars of the voyage and said that the places
he passed through were. of such a dangerous
character that some experienced navigators won
dered that the ship came so near the end of her
voyage as she did. The striking on the rocks at
Cranberry Island was not due to any fault of the
captain, who followed the instructions of those
who claimed to know the harbor, and sailed for
the middle of the channel. After the collision
with rocks at that point the trip to Cranberry ISL
and was constant struggle to keep the vessel
afoat. At that place the captain was unable to
iron spikes from the dory in order to mend the
planks, which was acting something like a scoop
in taking in the water. An experienced caulker
would be present to show the wretched condition
of the bottom of the vessel, and to testify that
there was clear space between the keel and the
hull, and it was necessary to drive the oakum in
at the end of the seam instead of the side. and
afterward to put several coatings OF pitch over it.
1t had been said by the prosecution that the ves-
sci went ashore on mussel bed at Port Clyde;
but in point OF fact there was no musSel bed
there. 1t was a bed of sharp rocks and mud.
AT 2 p. m. Mr.. Burdett, in continuing, said that
he would put the stand three residents of Petit
Menan who would show that the encounter of the
ship with the rocks was q very severe one,
so that the whole vessel was twisted, and that it
was extremity doubtful whether it was safe to go
any farther. The dories which the captain dis
posed of were worthless for his use and were not
worth taking away, so that it was not the mere
desire for profit that caused the captain to sell
them If the captain said "this vessel never will
never see Gloucester" he said what almost any
ing in mementary impulse. The sale OF certain
goods by the captain at Portland was only to get
rid of salt and other things that were of no furth-
er use. 1t was not true that he purchased an au,
ger at Portland and no one could be produced
that claimed to have sold it to him. At the time
the vessel had begun to fill with water he had been
elected to do his duty. In his indignation at the
seaman.for not calling him he threw plate at
prosecution to show that he went down into the
cabin and smashed everything he could, lay his
hands upon. They took to the dory and under
took to land at Cape Elizabeth, but were afraid of
being smashed by the breakers, so that they were
obliged to turn back until they were
TbeEe WAS nothng to pToV the
charge of chopping of plank in the bottom of
the vessel by the captain. The captain had sim
ply pulled off board which was Shiny and had
adhered to the vessel. In closing Mr.. Burdett
claimed that there was no possible motive for the
captain to sink the vessel, and there was really
no balance of insurance that would come to him.
Captain Fat, owner OF the Racer, being called
by Mr.. Burdett, said that there were no repairs
done to the vessel except what were done by Mr..
William HerriclE caulker of Southwest Har-
Dor, testified to working upon the leak in the
in the Racer was about 12 or is feet long; in the
forward part the seam was half an inch wide;
there was some rope in the seatn but no oakum;
the Racer was not safe vessel after eauked
her for more than month or so; II the vessel ran
ashore it would start TIE the Sc sean an quickly. a.
went ashore at Petit Manan the vessel lay on
rocks, some as large as hogshead, on her port
dry. but she was pitched little forward. The
vessel was wrenched quite bad. The vessel
leaked very badly when she came of.
Hiram and Frank Colwel testified to the rocky
condition of the bottom where the Racer ground
ed at Petit Manan.
This forenoon the accused took the stand to
testify in his own behalf, and his direct examin-
alton by Mr.. Burdett occupied the entire forenoon
Gerrior is mot an individual of prepossessing ap-
pearance, and by no means is he typical sea
captain He seems to be about forty years old,
and his appearance is rather of hang-dog and
diSSipated description. He told a consistent and
intelligent story, practically in repetition of the
narrative outlined in Mr.. Burdetts opening argu-
ment, printed. The Racer, he said, went out on a
genuine fishing trip. He did not even know she
was insured, and certainly had no arrangement
with the owner, Captain Falt, to wreck her. He
was willing to admit that he might have made the
suspicious remarks testified to by government
witnesses to the effect that the vessel might never
reach Gloucester again. His reason for making
such remark was that he knew the vessel was
unseaworthy and he did not believe she would
keep aflOat. The vessel grounded once or twice,
and this started anew some old leaks and finally
led to the ships laundering. He denied buying a
bit in Portland or using one to bore holes IN the
bottom of the vessel. He had one or two bits on
board, but they were not used. He sold three of
the ships dories because they were useless. He
received only dollar apiece for them.