The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-03-01

ship Iilc +. StarbuCl
During mutiny, led and participated in 10y
drunken sailors ON board the large American clip
per ship rillic T. >tarhuck in the Delaware YES
tcrlay afternoon, the first mate WAS stabbed and
ii is thought viii die The lile +. ~tarlujch sail
ed from this port Yesterday morning huuud for
iiogo, Japan. Most of the member, of The crew
We're we'll supplied with liquor, and the ship had
not proceeded far before they began t" show signs
of discomfort and began grumhiing about the work.
When on Marcus Hook several refused to work,
and all began 10 drink, more whi>key.
There were several quarrels among the men, hut
it not considered serious untll the vessel was
on Delaware City. Then blows were exchanged.
Clifton Curtis, the trSt mate. Who is % wears eft
age and II resident of Maine went into the fore.
castle to Quc the disturbance and also to order the
men ON deck. AS he did SO, James Cook, one 81
the seamcn, who had been the principal leader in
all the trouble turned and rushed at ihm,
There was Il desperate struggle and Cook finally
pulled an old sheath knife. This he plunged into
the first mates breast. The same instant several
others of the crew, friends of Cook rushed up to
help him ''tio up the mate As Cook plunged his
knife into Curtis breast the latter twisted his body
about, Cook looscd his hold and the knife remain
ed sticking to the hilt in Curtis body.
The first mate alone in the furccaStle with
the men and brought at buy he drew his revolver.
Cook immcdiately drew another knife and made
several passes hut failed to touch the officer who
fred two shots and then sank to the floor con-
plctely exhausted from loss of blood.
One of the pistol shots took effect In cooks
thigh and he also fell and began IN aiming. The
other men, seeing their ronraac fall, started
towards the wounded mate, apparently To Kill him.
Just at thHt moment Captain Curtis, who had
heard the noise and pistol shots from the deck
appeared AT the companionWay with Il revolver in
each land and accompanied lN the second mate
and several tars who had not lcen drinking with
the other men The Weapons and determined
countenanccs of the officers frightened the men
and when they We're ordered on deck they went
quietly.
The vessel was anchored OF Rccdy Island and Il
ply stefan sent for. Cooks wound was not serious
and after being dressed he was taken to Delaware
City and from there to New Castle and lodged in
Jail First mate Curtis was brought to the city hy
Captain Curtis and placed in the PENNSYLVANIA
Hospital The knife had entered his hrca 81 about
an inch below the heart No hope is entertained
that he will recover and mt an early hour this
morning the ply stefan reported him 10 be in dy-
ing condition and DIR. Bowers had telcgraphcd To
the mans relatives in Searsport, Maine, to come
at once If they wished to sec him alive
Captain Curtis. after seeing his mate under the
care of physicians at the hospital, engaged rooms
at Green's Hotel. When seen last night by Times
reporter he said
81 don't know exactly how the trouble originat-
ell, but the thing which led to it was the fact that
nearly every man was drunk more or less. On the
day of sailing all crews usually get some liquor,
and I'm my crew had no norc than they have
many times before. don't know anything of this
man, James Cook, as only shipped him this morn.
Ing. He was not very drunk, hut just had enough