The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-28
A SEA CAPTAINS CRIME.
The Story Told BY Twelve Sailors of the Barb
Gyfe-Eforts to Scuttle the Vessel.

New YORK, Aug. 2Z--The twelve sailors OF
the bark Gyfe who were brought to this city
yesterday oy the steamer Persian Monarch, ap-
peared before the British consul this morning
and told q strange story of the villainy of the
captain of the Gyie. which ended in the scut-
tlng the bark with tie help Of his frat mate.
The story is as follows:
1--WE left Quebec for Greenock, Scotland, and
while Ia the Gulf OF St Lawrence the bark
sprung a leak. 1t was not OF much Importance.
and We were willing 10 man the pumps and
keep on our course, but Captain TAFT insisted OF
changing our course and We headed for st.
Johns. n. F., arriving there July 10 An i'm
mediate survey waa ordered by Captain
TAFT, and after being repaired we resumed our
voyage on Aug 10. On the night of the
18th we again sprung leak. The pumps were
manned and worked until daylight, when they
suddenly gave out Several of the raen investi-
pered with aud rendered useless. This aroused
the suspicious of the forecastle and Steward
Brown was ordered to watch CAPTAIN TAFT.
Brown says he did so, and shortly before noon,
on the Goth, saw the captain and first mate 60
into the hold through the forehatch. The stew.
ard crept forward, and, peerirg down, saw the
mate on his knees, close TO the skin OF the ves-
sell with an augur in his hand and the captain
standing over him. All this time there were
four feet of water in the hold. The steward
started aft, and reported what he had seen to
the men, and il was determined to watch the
captain aud mate still longer. Their patience
was soon rewarded, as on that afternoon
the captain and mate again entered the hold,
this time through the afterhstch. Whist they
did in the hold no one knows, but the me- be-
lieve that additional holes were bored through
the side in the after part Of the ship. On the
night Of the 10th sailor named Lyons sighted
the Persian Monarch. and on reporting ii 20 the
deck, was ordered by the captain TO tell all
hands tn prepare TO leave the shin. as he had
determinsd to leave her. There was then ten
feet of water n tho hold. When the men got
on deck, the captain made them all sign paper
to the effect that the vessel Was unseavortby.
There ten feet of water in the hold, be said,
but when You 60 aboard the steamer want
you to say there are fifteen feet OF water in the
hold.' When all hands got on deck the captain
sent Boatswain Berggnist and six men TO satu-
rate the deck, upper wood work and cordaee
with paraffne, which was done. He said he
wanted to FIRE the ship before leaving her.
When the steamers boat came no, the
saw the pArsfine. he asked what the
stuff had been scattered about for, and the cap
tain explained. All hands, with the exception
of Second Mate Robinson. took to the boats,
the latter saying he would stick TO the ship as
long as plank of her fosted. He did not con-
slider her unseaworthy, he said. and, though
the chances were poor, he would try 10 take the
veesel into some port The officers of the Persian
Monarch, knowing nothing then Of the story of
the scutting, thought Robinson crazy and tried
to persuade him to leave the ship, but he per-
sisted and remained on the vessel When the
boats reached the steamer, the captain, evil
IDENTIFY becoming frightened, decided TO return to
bis ship, and called upon the men TO return with
him. All refused but the frat mate lmnedi-
ately after the captain and mate had been re-
turned to their ship, the steamer Quit the vi
cinity, leaving the ship about 500 miles south by
east of Newfoundland