The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-08-09
WAS 1T MURDER :?
Captain Brooks Found
Dead at Colon.
EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY.
A Shifty Investigation by a
Consul Alleged.
REPORTIssUED OF "DROWNING."
Deceased Was Commander of the
SoIedad-An Ex-Officer of the
Mail Company.

News has been received from Panama
that on the morning of July u the dead
body of Captain William Brooks, COM
mander of the Colon bian line steamer
Soledad was found drifting about in the
hay at Colon by several launchmen who
had been rowing about among the
wharves.
The body was found under the pier of
the Panama Railroad COmpany's prop
erty. Captain Brooks head was cut and
lacerated in a manner which led his
friends to surnise that he must have been
murdered. The evidence 10 the case shows
that he was probably foully dealt with,
but, nevertheless. the authorities of Colon
have tried to make it appear that the skip
per must have been on a spree, fallen
from the dock and been drowned.
The affair has been kept very secret,
and the inactivity of the United States
Consul is alleged to be noticeable. Cap
tain Brooks was not a careless person in
the use of intoxicants. The story of acct
dental death is not credited here or in
Colon. The captain is widely acquainted
in San Francisco, and all who profess to
know anything about the case claim that
he met his death at the hands of assassins.
The story of the murder-for murder 1t
undoubtedly was-is given as follows:
At about o'clock on the morning of
July 10 Captain Brooks left the Soledad
in company with two of his crew and
Mr.. Louis Seigel, an American trader.
=: On landing at the wharf Segel pro-
posed that the party go over to Higgins
saloon and get a drink.
Brooks drank twice. then asked to be ex-
cused. saying that he had little business
. TO attend to down the street. but that he
would return in short while. This was
the last ever seen of him alive by his
friends.
The Soledad was lying in the bay.
Seigel thought perhaps the captain had
gone off to her. so at a late hour at night
he proposed that trip be made to the
vessel On arriving on board it was
learned that the captain had not put in an
. appearance.
:: For two days q search was made of the
entire town, but BROOKS was not to be
found. 1t was not until the morning OF
the 18th that his remains were discovered
in the water.
=. Two local surgeons were summoned to
the police station, where the body had
been removed, and in The presence of the
United, States Consul an examination was
held. There were found to be several
ragged cuts in the dead mans scalp and
number of confused wounds. The inform
alton was given out, however, that the
captain had met his death by drowning.
There was only a small sum of money
in the dead mans pocket when his clothing
was searched, and silver watch.
On inquiring at the Pacific Mail dock in
this city il was learned that Captain
Brooks mad been in command of the Sole
dad for a number of years. He was an
old employee of the company on the At
Tantic side, and had made several trips to
San Francisco, generally on pleasure, as
he has a number of acQuaintances here
among seafaring men. Il Is said that he
has half-sister residing in Stockton.
The deceased was a native of Kenne-
bunkport, Me-, and one of the best known
mariners on the South American coast.
, An acquaintance Of Captain Brooks said
yesterday that the skipper was man Of
temperate habits and person not apt to
make any enemies among those be became
acquainted with.
1T is my opinion" said this gentleman,
'::'.that Brooks was killed by some native, OF
number of natives, who had a grudge
against him. The Central American la
borers are mean, treacherous lot, and no
matter how kind you may be to them on
all occasions they are liable to take of
Tense at an imaginary harm, then they are
for blood.
."There should surely be an investigation
into the cause of the captains DEATH"