Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-26
HUNTING A CRAZY SAILOR.
Anxious Hours on an OiI-Laden
Shsp.
New York Times.J

Anxious Hours on an OiI-Ladsu
Ship.
New York Tlmes.I
Captain Fritz. Of the ship Granite State,
which arrived al this port On Monday from
Hong Kong, said last night that he had
"cotns on his tongue" from relating an
extraordinary tale OF the sea. He refused
TO admit that II was a " chestnut" % he
was unacquainted with the article. but he
bad no hesitation in confessing that the
affair." happened "somc time ago." year
AGO, IN fact. still the tale has not been
printed here. and Is entirely too thrilling
10 be disposed OF in the same manner as
was able Seaman Leon Salaries.
Just about this time year ago the Ora
mic State was ploughing the South Atlantic
under short sail, for the weather was
.qually. She was loaded with petroleum
In cases. She bad n crew OF Americans,
English, Danes, and swedes-Leon Salaries
beng the only spaniard aboard. Her pas
sengers consisted OF the wife and daughter
Il Captain Fritz. Salaries was a general
fayorite among the sailors and had couside'
rable influence over them. lie was active
as a cat, sang a good song, and whiled
many an idle hour away with his mando-
| lin. The ship had been out about four
months when Salarcs's manners underwent
n complete change. lie became surly, l1zy,
and impudent. Finally he seemed 90 lo'e
all control over his temper. and one DAY
requested Captain Fritz 10 seek even
warmer and much dryer quarters than the
South Atlantic ocean. He, moreover, IN
formed the Captain that the ship WIS ga
floating he'll" and that he did not propose
10 be "kiled with work."
OF course, Captain Fritz, after the usual
manner Of sea-captains, child Salaries for so
far forgetting himself as 10 Use disrospcct-
iul language 10 his superior. Salaries
backed toward an open hatchway; and.
holding lighted match in his hand, threat
ened 10 drop 1t into the hold among the
pctroleum-cases unless a number Of the
sailors who desired to reason with him in
a scamanhke way retreated instantly. the
sailors refused 10 retreat, until Salaries
yanked a particularly unpleasant-loOk,ng
sheath-kniic from ITS resting-place down
his back and invited them In heated terms
10 "come on
While the sailors were debating the wis.
dom Of accepting the proposition Salaries
dropped INTO the hold. AS he disappeared
he Yelled his intention Of setting fire TO the
cargo. Ills threat was sufficiently blood
curdling TO keep every one on deck during
the night. In the morning, on account OF
loss OF sleep and suspense, passengers and
crew were pretty thoroughly worn out.
Captain Fritz was determined to secure
Salaries, but at the interceSsion OF his wife
and daughter he was induced to offer Salaries
immunity il he would return to duty. A
sailor entered the hold and bawled out the
Captains promise. IL met with no reply.
Captain FrltZ then determined TO cap
ture the mutincer, a. the general opinion
was that Salaries was insane, and would be
certain 10 fire the ship unless he was cap
tured. Several OF The sailors volunteered
to accompany Captain Fritz In bis search
for the mad man. The latter, 1t was sup.
posed, had tecreled himself In the eyes Of
the ship. The way was dark as pitch, and
in order 10 guard against fire the men car
ricd dark. lanterns. All hands were com"
PEELED 10 crawl upon their hands and knees
and 20 feel their way, as it was considered
unwise TO show Themselves To man armed
with a sheath-kniie. as from the darkness
he might spring upon them suddenly and
take a lie or mere before he could be
seized.
The exploring party had been in the hold
for several minutes when Captain Frltz
flashed the glare OF his lantern across the
darkness. As he did so he was struck
heavy blow upon the right wrist. Salaries
had fastened ms sheath-knife TO the end OF
a ovcl.haudlc, and had brought the Keen
edged blade down upon the captains wrist
with irichliul effect. The hand was almost
severed from the arm. The party at once
TotrCated. The captain was helped to the
deck. where he was compelled TO remain,
as his wound required immediate attention,
The sailors returned to the chase.
Two OF them were armed with reyolvcrs,
and had besides pOcketful OF cartridges.
They trie. to induce Salaries to talk IN
order TO find ont his hiding-place. but The
Spaniard kept silent. one Of the sailors
,Ticd the effect Of shot. The Spaniird
made no response. Then the two m1n who
we're armed with reyovers opened IRE.
They discharged thirty shots before their
ammunition was exhausted. During the
fusIlade nothing was heard from the
Sraniard. He was simply b'dlnc his
time. When the firing ceased lie
took bis inning. suddenly yell
startled the sailors. IL came from Dane,
one Of their own Number. The Splnlard
had crept upon them IA the darkness and
had made q slash at the Dane. The knife
sank into the sailors back, and he became
Quickly unconscious from loss .of blood.
his lantern dropping between couple OF
cases Of petroleum.. The next victim was
sam. Roberts, IN Euglishman. He received
yengeiul stab In the eye. and was knocked
hCrs du combat Alexander Crigg was
slasEed across the left arm, and several
others only missed the whiZzing blade by a
hairs breadth.
The Spaniard's onslaught filed the sea-
men with rage, and, u,tcring reyenseirl
wells, they dashed forward as quickly u
their confined quarters would allow. For
a long time their search was. unsuccessful,
but they finally found their man wedsod in
between couple Of boxes-dying. He
had cut his throat. He and the men he
had wounded were taken on deck. Salaries
died in ten minutes, and not long after
| ward the body was thrown into the sea.
The other sailors recovered.
Ten DAYS later the Granite State arrived
at Hong Kong. Particulars OF the bloody
| fight were at once given to the America n
| Consul, who transmitted them TO
Washington. Captain Fritz was able last
| night to use one wrist about rs well as the
| other, and displayed no anxiety to discuss
| the affair ut length. The second mate
| barely remembered that there had been q
" fuss - on Il former voyage.