The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
A PLOT TO sIEzE THE BARK oRMUs
AND MURDER THE CAPTAIN.

The Vess ell Narrowly Escapes Being
Wrecked and Falling Into the Hands
of Part of Repellious Crew-A
Rough Experience in the Straits of
Florida-The Plot OF the Mutineers
Exposed-The Weasel Reaches Port in
Leaking Condition.
The bark Ormus of Philadelphia, Capt.
Robert Witbank, is in port after a severe
experience with storms and a mutinous
crew. The Ormus sailed from Mobile May
IA with a cargo Of lumber for Queenstown
for orders The vessel experienced heavy
weather in the Gulf of Mexico and the
straits Of Florida. On the fourth day out
the ship sprAng a leak The Windmill
pump was started on May IS. In the straits
Of Florida, with the wind blowing a gale.
the pump broke and the captain was COM
PEELED TO order the men to the pumps
Three Of them refused to go, and were
mutinous throughout the passage.
From the 25th to the Goth the winds were
variable and battling The vessel finally
drltted on the little Bahama banks, and
anchored of Memory Rock. She had
labored very heavily in the previous heavy
weather, which caused the leak to increase,
huu On huCnOTluk JuSI0 W6E6 Ten IEeJ OF
water In the hold. The vessel rode at
anchor for nine days, until June Z. during
which time she was visited several times by
wreokers, but their assistance was refused
owing to exorbitant terms. The vessel had
by this time been pumped out by the crew.
She again got under way and proceeded for
port Of refuge.
AN OFFER OF RESCUE.
She had light winds until last Saturday on
the western edge Of the gulf stream when she
encountered very heavy weather and again
began leaking. She then had nine and a
half feet of water in her hold. The British
steamship Swedish Prince was sighted and
the disabled vessel hoisted her colors. The
steamer bore down TO her and endesvored
to take the bark in tow. She was success
full in getting steel hawser fast, but be-
fore q second could be secured the first one
parted and it was imp )ssible 10 get hold Of
10 again, owing to the heavy SEQ. The
steamship then laid 70 to the windward and
sent small boat under the lee of the bark
TO notify the captain that hawser
could not be got to him. but that
the steamer would take off the crew. Capt
Witbank refused to abandon bis vessel as
Savannah was NOT far in. The steamer,
after few hours. proceeded on her way.
Capt Wiltbsnk managed TO get the bark
of the sea buoy at Tybee Sunday. She
had 1871 feet Of water in her when she was
anchored She was towed into the river
that night and up to Venus Point, where
the tug and pilot lay by her until Monday,
when the Jacob Paulsen pumped her out
ARRIVED IN PORT SAFE.
The captaiR and the few men OF
the crew who turned to displayed
good deal Of patIencs and good
seamanship IN bringing the vessel TO port
In the condition she was in and especially as
they were handicapped by three Of the crew
who had refused to do duty. While she
vessel was being made fast to the dock
Joseph Burnett, one Of the recaIcitrants
escaped over the side and deserted. The
other two, Charles Mattock and James
Flood were up In the forecastle and q watch
got out and deserted. While at Venus
Point on Monday afternoon James
Flood, one OF the mutineers.
made the following startling
statement which he signed:
1, James Flood, seaman on board bark Ormus,
do solemnly declare and say that We, Charles
Mattock, Joseph Burnett and myself did con
spire together to kill Capt. wiitbank and Mr..
With, the mate, and to throw the steward over
board, also to take charge Of the vessel. Mat
took said he could navigate the vessel fur
Their say that Charles mattock was the main
mover In the matter, backed up by Joseph Bur
nett, and that they induced me to join them,
and we trisd to get the second mate. steward
found that FrAns did not want to join us we
whipped him to try and compel him to join us.
| Joined because was afraid Il did not that
Mattock and Burnett would kill me. 1 further
declared that all the trouble and disturbances
that has taken place on board the vessel was
caused by Mattock and Burnett and not through
any fault Of the captain or officers. l make
this declaration freely. feeling that have done
wrong and feeling sorry for it.
ENTERED IN THE LOG.
The statement is recorded In the log book
and was witnessed by several of the crew.
Capt. Wiltbank desires to return thanks
to the captain and crew of the steamship
Swedish Prince for their efforts Co assist the
Ormus and also for the captains kindness in
permitting his ship to lay by the Ormus
four or five hours. The deserving mutineers,
Is claimed, were shipped on board a bark
which sailed yesterday. The Norwegian
bark Peabody sailed yesterday morning
for London and 1t is hardly probable that
they went on her, as she had her full COM
plement Of men.