The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-28

New YoRK, Aug. 27.-The twelve sail
ors on the bark Gyfe, who were brought
to this city yesterday by the steamer
Partisan Monarch, appeared before the
British consul this morning and told a
strange story Of the villiany Of the captain
Of the Gyhc, which ended in the scuttling
of the bark with the help Of his first mate.
The story is as follows: ave left Quebec
for Grccnock, Scotland and while in the
Gulf Of st. Lawrence the bark sprang a
leak. II was not Of much importance and
we were willing TO man the pumps and
keep on our course but Capt TAFT insisted
on changing our course and We headed for
81. Johns, n. f., arriving there July ID.
An immediate survey was ordered by
Capt. TAFT, and after being repaired we
resumed our voyage on August 10. On
the night Of the 10Th We again sprung
q leak. The pumps were manned and
worked until daylight, when they sudden
~ gave out. Several OF the men investi-
gated and found that the pump had been
tempered with and rendered useless. This
aroused the suspicion OF the iorccastle, and
Steward Brown was ordered TO watch
Capt. TAFT. Brown said he did so, and
shortly before noon on the 10Th saw the
captain and first mate 60 into the hold
through the iorchatch. The steward crept
forward, and pcering down, saw the mate
on his knees close TO the skin OF the vessel
with an augcr in mis- 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 10 the men, and II was deter
mined to watch the captain and mate still
longer Their patience was soon rewarded,
rs on that afternoon the captain and mate
again entered the hold, this time
through the after hatch. What they
| did in the hold no one knows,
| but the men believe that addi-
tional holes were bored through the
side in the after part OF the ship. On the
night Of the Goth a sailor named Lyons
| sighted the Persian Monarch, and on re-
/ porting II 10 the deck, was ordered 20 tell
| all hands Ia prepare TO leave the ship, as he
! had determined 10 leave her. There was
then ten feet Of water in the hold. When
| the men got ON deck, the captain made
| them all sign paper 10 the effect that the
vessel was unscawonhy There are ten
feet Of water in the hold, he said, but
when YOU go aboard the steamer, want
YOU 10 say there are fifteen feet Of water
in the hold.
"Whcn all hands got on deck, the cap
tain sent lioatswain Bcrgnist and six men
10 satumtc the deck and upper woodwork
with parninc, which was done. lie said
hc wanted to fire the ship before leaving
! her. When the steamers boat came up,
the officer in charge came aboard and saw
| the pnrnilinc lie asked what the stuff
! had been scattered about Tor, and the cap
tain explained. Al hands, with the cN-
ccption Of Second Mate Robinson, took TO
the boats. the latter saying lac would stick
10 the ship as long as a plank Of her
il1atcd
Gle did not consider her unscaworlhy,
he said, and though the chances were
poor. lac would try To take the vessel into
some port. The officers Of the Persian
Monarch, knowing nothing then OF the
story Of the scuttling, thought Robinson
crazy aud tried 10 persuade him 90 leave
the ship. hut lac persisted and remained
On the vessel. When the boats reached
the steamer, the captain, evidently bccom-
ing frightened, decided to return 90 his
ship aud called upon the men 10 return
with him. All refused but the first mate.
Immediately after the captain aud mate
had been returned 90 their ship the
steamer quit the vicinity, leaving the ship
about 800 miles south by east Of New
| ioundland."