The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-07-29
CAPT. JrNKlNS STABBsp.
Murdcrous Assault ON the Master by
the Mate of the BenmOre.


the Mate of the Benm0re.
The San Francisco Chronicle of
July II has an account of the dan
gerous wounding of Captain jenkins
by his first officer. 1t says:
"Captain Jenkins of the British
ship Kenmore, which arrived yester-
day morning from Honolulu, was
stabbed at sea on the night of June
30th by his first officer, Robert
Damn. The wound is a dangerous
one, as it penetrated the right side
to the depth of two inches, and is
thought to have extended into the
liver. The captain is sick man.
Although able to move around lit
tie, the pain in his side compels him
to lie most of the time in his berth.
The first officer was brought into
port in irons.
"The whole matter will be submit
ted to the British Consul to-day, as
the only way Damn can be brought
to justice is to take him to British
territory. There is no court in the
United States that has any jurisdic-
ton over a crime committed on the
high seas on British vessel.
"The Benmore anchored in the
quarantine grounds yesterday on
| her arrival.
Captain jenkins was seen shortly
after the arrival of the vessel. He
was lying in his berth and was ap-
parently suffering much pain"
From an account of the assault
given by the captain to the Chroni-
Gle reporter the following particulars
are gathered:
Capt. Jenkins shipped Robert
Damn as first officer of the Kenmore
on the written recommendation of
the British Consul at Honolulu while
the ship was lying there. He had
first officers certificate. Shortly after
Damn began his duties, while loading
sugar, the captain found he was in
competent. The captain told him so
but also thathe proposed to keep him
on board till the vessel sailed. When
the time to leave came Damn insist
ed on making the voyage, as he had
signed articles. The mate was worse
at sea than in Honolulu. Captain
Jenkins had no confidence in him
and had to watch the navigation of
the ship at all hours. The mate did
not obey his orders and he had to
speak to him sharply.
On the night of the cutting, June
80, fifth day out, Damn had the
mates watch from to IL p. m. He
had been inattentive all day and the
captain had also noticed him sharpen
ing up long bladed, ugly-looking
knife, but he thought nothing of it
at the time. When night came on
the captain went on the poop deck
and watched the man at the wheel.
The mate did not like his vigilance.
He growled around awhile, and, see
ing the captain doze off on a settee
on the skylight, went to his room
and turned in. The captain was
awakened by the lookout calling for
} the officer on watch. He knocked
on his room door and commanded
him to return to his duty. There
was no response, so he continued tC
hammer on the door, when it sud
denly opened and the mate made ;
, lunge at him with his knife. Ht
jumped back and as he did so felt ;
sharp pain. The steward, passen
ger named Hugh Stewart and the
deck watch came to the captain:
assistance and overpowered the mate
The crew were called aft and Dam
was put in irons and kept in the hole
until the ship reached port. He was
allowed the liberty of the deck :
couple of hours each day.
The mate would say nothing eXcep
: that he denied everything and assert
ed that the captain hao abused him
As to the charge of incompetency h
said he had a masters certificate, pro
e cured in New Zealand, and that b
J knew what he was about. Damn wen
r to San Francisco from Tahiti si
months ago. He came to Honolulu
as sailor on the bark Forest Queen
and failing TO get employment her
e as carpenter shipped on the Ben
t more.