The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-26

GLOUCESTER, Mass, March 25.-Ship
Annie M. Smull of Boston, from Trapani,
was spoken entering the outer harbor by
a press representative who learned from
Capt. Howes that plot had been con-
cocted by the cook and steward, who are
Cinnamon, to murder the captain and
his wife. The cook recanted from his
murderous design which so Infatuated
the steward that he made an attempt to
kill the cook, hacking him all to pieces
with sharp knife. The steward then
thinking that the cook would not from
the wounds, committed suicide by tax
ing opium, and his body was committed
to the deep.
The Chinese cook is cut and hacked
almost beyond recognition and DR.. Nor
row, who boarded the ship this after
noon, ordered his removal to the Chelsea
Marine Hospital His wounds may
result fatally. His name is John Quong
and that of the steward who assaulted
him and later committed suicide. was
Ew Sing. The captain said that they
were very attentive to their duty and APP
peared to show the utmost kindness,
both to the officers and sailors, during
the voyage from New York to Marseilles
and thence to Trapani. Three weeks
ago, the steward showed symptoms of
insanity and tried to kill himself when
He Was PLACED in Irons
and confined between decks. Examina-
ton being made, a large quantity of
opium was found. After weeks con-
finement, the cook interceded with the
captain to liberate the steward, which
was done and good behovior was prom
ised. However, on a later occasion, the
steward was discovered prowling about
the captains room and that OF the
mate at night. He was again put in
irons and confined to his room. About a
week ago, he was liberated, but was
again found to be acting as before.
The captain having reasons to believe
that conspiracy was going on, armed
himself with a revolver and ordered the
steward not to come into the cabin
again, taking boy aft to do the cabin
work. The captain and his wife, becom-
ing alarmed over the situation, did not
go to bed, and everything went along
smoothly until o. m. on Tuesday last,
when the mate, rushing INTO the caDln,
said the steward was killing the cook in
the galley. The captain and officers, to-
gether with the watch on deck, broke
open the galley, where they found both
men on the floor. The steward with a
knife and butchers axe was
Chopping the Cook to Pieces.
The steward retreated to his state room.
When the door was fastened, the wound
ed man was taken into the cabin and his
wounds dressed. The cook, who could
speak some English, told the captain
that the steward had conspired with him
to kill all the officers, together with the
lady. and seize the ship. This he first
consented to but, having nothing against
the captain and his wife, he recoiled
from the murderous plot which infuriat-
ed his countryman and led him to COM
NIT his rash deed.
The steward, seeing that his plan had
been frustrated, and thinking the cook
had been killed, committed suicide
rather than be surrendered to the state
authorities on arrival in port. This he
attempted Wednesday night and died
Thursday at a. m.
The body was committed to the deep
in the afternoon. The captain and his
wife were very kind, and had given the
Cinnamon no provocation for conspiracy.