The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-25
BRooDED OVER A MURDER.
Handed a Letter Sentencing
Him to Prison.
low SAILOR PETERSON DIED.
Lashed to a Mast and Beaten San
Francisco Seaman Died From
fiis Wounds.

lSeUD6IR has CUtu LIZ w 40
found dead in his room in a Hon olulu
hotel just before the steamer Arawa sailed
Tor this city. The Coroner's jury returned
a verdict of death from an overdose OF
laudanum.
The Arawa's officers mentioned the
captains death in a most matter ot-fact
way yesterday, but investigation and
further inquiry into the history OF the
dead skipper brought to light one OF the
most revolving and peculiar stories of the
sea that have come within the grasp of
waterfront reporters for years.
Captain Belts end was most tragic
The night before his death he whispered
a terrible secret into the ear of a friend
A piece of crumpled envelope fell from
his hand and a torn envelope bearing the
postmark of Bremen, Germany. The
letter contained a startling message-a
sentence to eight years at hard labor in
the German prisons for aiding and abet-
Ting the murder of Charles Peterson of
San Francisco, able seaman.
John HaDfnO, cook, was located at
the Sailors Home, then traced to Broad
way house. where be is known as John,
the Washer" He was one of the Isen-
berg's crew when Peterson was killed.
However. the facts teld by John are not
nearly so explicit as the tale recited by
Peterson's relatives in this city and the
translated accounts from German papers,
clippings from which have been for
warded here.
The Paul Isen berg has visited this port
often. She sailed from here on December
%, 1898, for London. On arrival there
the crew made charges against First Mate
Hermann Spree, Second Mate Muller and
Captain Belt, with the result that all
three were arrested and charged with the
murder of Peterson. Spree was examined
and sent to Bremen for trial. Muller
mysterlously disappeared and Captain
Belt was held under bonds.
The Iseuoerg was under charter to sail
for Honolulu. where she now is. The
marine urt of inquiry decided to allow
TIE captains testimony to be taken and
forwarded to Germany, then permit him to
complete his voyage while the matter of
bis Innocence or guilt was being decided
by the Bremen authorities. He was placed
under heavy bonds aud sent out on his
voyage.
Here is the whole story ofpoor PetersOn's
etrocious murder, for murder it clearly
was, though the law does not define it as
first degree" crime:
as stated before. the bark sailed out of
the Golden Gate two days before Christ
mas of 1893. AS she passed down the
stream she left behind vessels trimmed
gayly with eYergreens and enlivened with
uiany-cOlored bunting. The ships in har-
Dor were preparing to celebrate the yearly
festival; signs of happiness and good
cheer were at every hand.
On board the Isenberg there was an IN
certain feeling among the crew. Spree,
The first officer, had already commenced to
show his ugly temper by bowling oaths at
the men as they heaved about the capstan
end shook out the sails. Captain Belt was
morose. He never spoke to any of his
crew unless he had reason to rip out some
oath that would seem TO be sticking in his
throat aud Cooking him. Second Mate
Muller was the Quietest man on board.
His case was one of a sleeping volcano.
He belched forth in all his fury later.
After the bark got well out to sea the
officers began to abuse the crew. Captain
Belt made no effort to suppress the
tyranny. but looked calmly On as though
enjoying the opening scene in some ex-
ceedingly comic opera.
THAT lazy dog Peterson" he grum bled.
81 shipped him as an able seaman; he is
not worth an ounce of bareback"
Mates Spree and Muller followed their
prompter. They took from him the cue to
a diabolical plot and from that time on the
sailor was the especial butt of their COM
bined seOrn and cruelty.
Poor Peterson was sick. He was not
lie
into the forward house aud lay down in
his bunk. Just few minutes rest vas all
he wanted, and he thoughtlessly infringed
upon one of the rules of the ship. not
thinking Of what the consequences might
be.
Spree staggered along the deck and
took peep into the quarters of the port
watch. He spied Peterson's long legs
dangling over the end of his berth and a
fiendish light came into his eyes. He
stepped softly outside the door and beck
oned to Muller. Then Selling wooden
belaying-pin he rushed into the house
again and grabbed the sailor by the feet
With a jerk Peterson was landed on the
deck, and in irice both mates were on tor
of him, beating with fists and behaving
pin. The sufferers cries attracted the
captain and some of the crew. The
former looked on gleefully for awhile, but
apparently fearing that the man might be
killed he said to Spree: y guess you've
taught him a lesson. Let the --
60"
Peterson appeared On Geek that day and
the following morning, looking as If he
had been cut all to pieces with a knife.
He was so weak he could not handle a
rope. His inability to act was miscon-
strned into meaning "mutinons conduct"
and it was ordered that be be triced up to
mast. While in this position of help
lsssness Captain Belt and his officers bea,
the poor fellow with ropes until he was
black and blue. 1t is further alleged that
when the bleeding wounds we're exposed
salt water was poured into them to in.
crease the agony OF the prisoner.
Peterson grew worse after this treat
ment. For a number of days he was per-
mitted to remain unmolested. though al
all times the object of much vile abuse OF
tongue. Some of the other mem bers oil
the bark's crew received attention from
the skipper and mates and were kicked
cuffed and beaten. But one day Peterson