The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1893-05-18
1T WAS A Big FAKE"
The p. p.'S Sensational Story of
Murder of J. w. Crump.

In response to a telegram sent the
Pensacola Daily News the GAZETTE
received the following special regard
ing the manner of Mr.. Crump's death,
showing no new developments up to
Monday LAST
PENSACOLA, Fla, May Is, 1898.
To the GAzErrE:- j. w. Crump fell
overheard from schooner on night of
May Sd, while en- route from this port
to St. Andrews Bay. His body was
recovered on Gulf Beach two days af-
forwards and buried at village of Mary
Esther. Body will be shipped to-
morrow to Louisville for interment.
DAILY News.
A copy of the Daily News contained
the following which practically gives
rise to the theory of foul play:
About o'clock Friday morning at
the village of Mary Esther, situated
on Santa Rosa sound, in Santa Rosa
county, about twenty miles east of
Pensacola, the body Of strange white
man was found floating in the water.
The man was neatly dressed and ap-
peared to be about IS or 60 years of
age. He evidently had not been dead
long as blood was flowing from his
left eve. There was a bruise on his
forehead and those who found him
thought that his neck had been brok-
en-. In his pocket was check with
the name J. w. Crump on it. He al
so had on a Waterbury silver watch
which had stopped running at l :49 a.
m. The body was buried at Marv
Esther Friday afternoon, and any one
desiring further information of the
dead man can obtain it by addressing
William Henderson, Mary Esther,
Santa Rosa county, Fla, who discov-
cred the body.
Mr.. H. A. Lusk. formerly of this
place, but now residing at Harrison,
Florida, writes the GAZETTE, under
the date of May 7,regarding the death
of his old friend, Mr.. Crump, giving
facts as he cleaned them from differ
ent parties who have talked with the
captain of the boat, on which Mr..
Crump lost his life. Mr., Lusk is in
clined to think that Mr.. Crump met
death by accident and not by foul
play. He says:
l have not been able to see the cap
tain myself, although I have spent a
day and half hunting up facts and
circumstances. Mr.. Crump took pass
age at Pensacola on a small schooner
which phys between Pensacola and ST..
Andrews Bay, called the Jessie P. It
was about thirty miles out from Pensa-
cola and mile from shore when Mr..
Crump was last seen. He was stand
ing on the side of the boat about ten
o'clock at night, apparently holding
on to the ropes that go from the rail
ing of the boat up to the top of the
mast. The only occupants of the boat
at the time were Mr.. Crump, lady
passenger, who was in bed in the cab
in, Capt. Schellenger, and a Mr..
Holmes, who was acting as mate of
the vessel, and who had charge of the
boat until II o'clock at night. The
captain had urged Mr.. Crump to go
down into the cabin to sleep, but Mr..
Crump persisted in staying on deck,
as he said he wished to enjoy the sea
breeze and fresh air. The captain,
thinking Mr.. Crump would go down
as soon as he got little chilly turned
in about 10 o'clock in his bunk below,
remaining there until II o'clock when
he arose to take his watch on the boat
He inquired of Holmes how Mr..
Crump was. Holmes replied, "All
right, i guess" But the captain
thought Mr.. Crump must be cold, il
on deck las he himself was chilly down
below. He Immediately went to where
he had fixed couch for Mr.. Crump
found the couch empty, and on fur
Their search Mr.. Crump was nowhere
to be found. Mr.. Holmes saw him
oLo,,x IN -.rlA