The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-10-05
ACCUSED OF BARRATRY.
The Burning of the Ship Fannie Tuck
or Under Investigation.

NEW YORK. October 3.-The American
bound for Seattle and Tacoma by way Of
the Horn. She was three-masted, full
rigged ship of 1900 tons, built In Maine IN
1875, and valued at $4,000. Her miscellan-
eous cargo of 10000 tons, consisting of nails,
iron. hardware and waste stuffs was valued
at $4,000. She was owned In part by her
commander, Capt. John Frost, A. F. STAFF
ford Of this city, and others. Capt. John
Frost is an experienced sailor. 60 years old,
and belongs in Maine. He bears good re.
putation among shipping men.
The ship reached 1872 south latitude. off
Brazil, when she began leaking badly. There
had been leaking during the entire. voyage.
1t was decided to make a port and try to
find the leak. Bahia being the nearest
point, 1t was decided to put in there. In
three days the ship was anchored off the
coast. For ten days she lay there, the crew
shifting the cargo and searching for the
leak. At a: m. Aug. 80, one OF the men,
Thomas Suite, who is Nova Scotian and
who was on his first trip with the vessel, en-
tered the hold with a lighted candle. A sail
or followed Suite down through the chain
locker to the place were the waste and hemp
was stored. He lost sight of him for a mo-
ment. When Suite emerged from the hold
the sailor saw flames spreading rapidly. The
alarm was given and the crew tried to put
the fire out They found that the fire was
gaining and getting out boats towed the
ship around the point into the harbor: AT 8
o'clock in the evening they realized that she
would be destroyed. They abandoned her
and she was total loss.
Word was given from Bahia that there was
nothing suspicious about the fire. As soon
as the second officer and five of the sailors
arrived on the steamer Advance last week,
the national board OF underwriters institu-
ted an investigation.
Suttie was taken before the board. He
made confession.
AS result, r. N. Hanna. chief inspector
OF the board. filed complaint with the
United States commissioner, and warrant
was issued for Suttie's arrest.
The deposition of Mr.. Hanna said that he
was Informed and believed that Thomas
Suttie, on the high seas or within the United
States, did c0nspire aud combine and con-
1ederate with the captain of the American
snip FANNIE Tucker to destroy the vessel
with intent to injure any person that may
have underwritten any policy of insurance
thereon here or the goods on board.
Inc source OF his information was state
ments made by Thomas Suite. So far as
could be learned, the ship was not fully In
| sured. The amounts of the insurance could
| not be learned. She was insured in the Bos.
| ton Marine, the Delaware and Mutual, the
| Insurance OF North America, the Providence
| and Atlantic. Suttle was taken before Com.
| missioner Shields today and committed tc
| Ludlow street jail In default of $4,000 bail
| The examination will be held next Saturday
| at 10 q. m. Capt. Frost is now on his way
here and will arrive In about 10 days.
Probably a Total Wreck.
MARsHFIELD. Oregon, October 4.-The
steamer Arago, from Coos Bay to San Fran.
| cisco, coalladen, was wrecked at North
| Spit, yesterday. The passengers and crew
were saved but the vessel will probably be a
| total wreck.