The Portland daily press., 1891-06-10
THE INDIAN HERO OF GAY HEAD.
He Saved Many Lives when the City
OF Columbus sank.
His Own Life Ended MIserabIy by
MurdeFer's Hand.
Another Man Missing Supposed TO
Have Eeen Also a Victim.

New BEDFORD. Mass, June 9.-Peter E
johnson, the Gay Head Indian. who figured
so conspicuously in the saving of lives at
the City Of Columbus disaster, was mur-
dered today on Egg Island. in Acushnet
River. about mile south of Fort Phillips,
Fair haven. Joseph Hamel, fisherman.
was out in the river with George Frates. He
was near the island when he was hailed by a
man who wanted to be taken to the main-
land. Hamel said he had not time. and the
man offered him $1.5O for the passage. Ha-
mel accepted the offer. and the man got
aboard. Just as the boat reached the Fair
Haven shore. the stranger jumped into the
water and waded to the dry land. Then he
said he had no money. but had an uncle and
brother in the city who would pay. He
disappeared behind Petticoat Beacon, add
ing, NOW you go back and look after my
boat Pl be back and pay you"
Hamel and Frates went TO the island, and
on gong ashore found on the side opposite
where they took the stranger off, the body of
man lying near boat, face downward.
Blood besmeared the boat from end to end.
A felt hat in the boat was cut, and had hair
adhering to the edges. A pile of rope was
covered with blood. Hamel left for the
mainland at once, and the matter was re-
ported to the Fair Haven authorities. Sc
lectman John l. Bryant sent a constable to
the islaud to look out for the body, pending
the arrival of the medical examiner
1t has been learned that johnson, a negro,
named George Fletcher, and white man,
left this city at Z p. m. last night, in john
sons boat. All three had been drinking,
and quart bottle of liquor was in the boat
man supposed to have committed the murder
was given out, several liquor dealers claim
to have seen him in their saloons. That the
murderer came to this city there can be no
doubt.
w. Wood, a pawnbroker. says that at
about half-past one man came into his
shop and wanted to trade his coat and hat
for an old one. to get little money. he said.
to get meal. Wood noticed the man had
some dirt, as he supposed, on his clothes, and
told the man his clothing looked as If he had
slept In sewer ne 0nd man salG ne
asked Wood for another coat and hat, and so
cents to boot. Wood gave the man the mon
ey, the man giving his name as Charles
Marston. After the news OF the murder
reached this city, Wood noticed that the de-
scription Of the man from whom he purchas-
ed the coat and hat exactly Tailed with the
description of the man supposed to h
committed the murder. Wood also remen-
bered a remark made by Marston that he had
been down river on bit Of time. On the
sleeves OIL LUb COdb Ncio lUuuu udIK ST b.
and on the inside lining Of the sleeves large
quantities of blood stains that had not been
washed out in the hasty soaking they re-
ceived. The hat was found to be spotted
with blood. The man left the shop at 1.30,
and was not seen again as far as heard from.
George Fletcher, who went in the boat
with johnson and the supposed murderer,
has not been seen today. In all probability
he was killed also and thrown overheard, as
there was no way Of reaching land from Egg
Island without boat. Johnson's body was
brought to this city this afternoon. The
head had eleven cuts. The little finger of
the left hand was completely severed, and
the back Of the right hand was cut as if
the man threw up his hands as protection
from the blows.
Arrested In Taunton.
New BEDFORD, June 10.-Word was re-
ceiyed from Taunton by telephone early this
morning, stating that a man giving the name
OF CHARLES Marst0n, and answering the de-
scription of the supposed murderer, was ar
rested sshe9rtg sfter midnisht and ledSsd ip
on In boat with an Indian and a colored
man. Further than that he would not talk
lie gave no account of himself,