Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-07-29
a TALE or BLOOD.
A Crazy steward outs His Captain's
Throat.

Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal
LEwEs, July 26.-0n Saturday evening
tho wrecleing steamer Tomasi, Captain
Townsend, working 20 miles from Fen.
wick's Island, brought ashore Captain W.
t. Nixson, of the schooner Nellie O.
Bayne, on her return trip to Boston from
Washington, with cargo of ice. The
captain was severely cut about a-halfi inch
from the jugular vein and also gashed on
the top of the head, by crazy steward
named Edward Sears, on Friday night.
Doctors d. Hall and II. Burton were
called as consultant surgeons, and they
found the wounds quite large and gaping
open widely, almost reaching from ear 70
ear, all the muscles being separated on
the right side. II took 40 stitches TO sew
up one cut, which reached from the left
ear all around the neck, also under the
chin ON the right side. The second
cut ran downward about eight or ten
inches, and quite deep, and the gqsh on
the top of his head was also deep The
doctors thought the wounds would prove
fatal at frat, but after they were dressed
the captain said he felt better
Captain Nixson WIS bolstered up In
bed when your correspondent Raw him.
He seemed quite cheerful and laughed
when the doctor told him he would
have TO wear piccadilly collar to
hide the scar. Captain Nixaon gave to
your correspondent the following particu-
lars of the case
ION Friday night, about 8 o'clock,
while we were 80 miles from Fenwick's
Island, my watch had just ended and
had gone below into the cabin to lie
down for the night. As lay down some
thing told me TO get out of my bunk and
jumped. just as l did so who should
l see but the steward coming with his
hands behind him and such diabolical
look that made me shudder and, ms went
10 dodge him, he made q back handed
lick at me, yelling at the top of his voice:
It's all right, captain; it's all right, cap
tain; won't hurt you ! yelled for the
men and the mate came TO my assistance,
but by the time the mate had secured a
spike had /. ned myself and run out on
the hatchway, where tainted. The men
filed the gashes with flour and laid me on
a mattress, and thought VISA going To
die before could get medical aid"
After this fracas the mate rushed up to
the steward and asked him what he meant
by such conduct. With demented look
the latter said IL was all right and handed
to the mate razor dripping with
the blood of the captain. Then the mate
turned the steward over TO the men, who
lashed him with cord and afterwards put
handouts on him and fastened liu, TO the
cabin floor.
While the mate with another man at
tended to the captain, the steward, who is
powerful man standing nearly six feet.
gave the men all they could do TO keep
him from jumping overheard and drown
ing himself. He kept up continual
bowling and shouting all night, he
kicked down the partition in the cabin I;
at times singing and praying and asking
the Almingty to take him and at other
times swearing and yelling of the top of
his voice. He will be kept in irons until
the United States marshal comes and re-
ceives him.
When morning came they put their
colors at hhlf-mast, but not being able to
signal any vessel the mate took the yawl
and pulled to where the Tomasi was
working, and Captain Townsend on hear
ing the news, brought them into the
Breakwater.
Captain Nilsson said the steward told
him few days before that there was
going TO be trouble in the forecastle, as
he had heard good deal of talking going
on among the men and they were going
to murder the captain and rob him; but
the captain took no precautions, thinking
it merely some silly work of the stewards.
While lying at Georgetown, on the Ports
mouth river, he was told that the same
steward had cut captain in the West
Indies, but, he added, ~ thought it was
all a lie to injureth cook, but since he has
cut me he has owned up and said it wal
true" The mate said he had noticed the
steward had appeared very funny for foul
or five days back, but he had not men
toned it to the captain.