The Portland daily press., 1896-08-28
THE CLEAyES TRAGEDY.
Mate SIENNA Tells the Story of the
Murder Of the Cook.

Murder of the Cook.
Cook And Money-The Mate Thinks
the Whole Affair Part of Preconcert-
ed Plot.
The PRESS yesterday announced the
arrival of the brig H. B. Cleaves of this
port at Boston, Wednesday, bringing
| Capt. Wallace and Mate SIENNA. In an
interview with the reporters Mate SIENNA
told the story of the death of the cook
and the gar ticulars thai led up to it.
| Mate SIENNA said: "The Cleaves left
Boston June 5 for Baltimore, where we
shipped cargo of coal Tor San Juan,
Porto Rico. When we had finished load
ing our cargo at Baltimore. we had no
crew. and the captain went in search OF
men.
'He returned with four negro sailors,
whose appearance did not like, and ]
told the captain SO.
1.-THE vessel proceeded to sea, and from
the start the crew acted turbulent.
Nevertheless, no open mutiny occurred
until we anchored in the harbor of San
Juan. The second night afterward, two
of the negroes came aft and asked per,
mission to take boat and go ashore.
"Capt. Wallace informed the men that
he had received orders from the Ameri-
can consul not to allow any of the crew
ashore. it being Spanish territory. Two
days after this we went alongside the
dock sand began to unload the cargo.
From that time the crew began to act
just as they pleased, openly defying the
capital and myself. They went ashore
without leave and remained away until
all hours of the night, coming back half
drunk and noisy, and not only disturb
ing Capt, Wallace. the cook and myself,
but also the people on board of the Nor
wegian bark Bygdo, Capt. Omunsen,
who frequently complained.
"The Saturday after our arrival in
port the sailors came after supper to
Capt. Wallace nd asked him for some
money. He gave them couple of dol
lars apiece, when they went ashore and
did notlreturn until the following Sun
day morning at $50, when they went TO
the cook and demanded breakfast.
ut was given them, and they again
went ashore without leave and came
back at 2 o'clock, long after the dinner
hour, and demanded dinner, which was
also served. After they ate they again
went ashore, and remained away until
$50. Orders were given that they were
not to get any supper, as it was an hour
after supper time.
Capt Wallace was entertaining COM
pany, and hearing the crew coming on
board as if they owned the ship and
making disturbance, he went to them,
saying that it was Sunday and politely
asked them to behave themselves.
Zone of the crew named Williams,
walked aft on the poop deck after Capt.
Wallace, and in sneering manner said !:
II you don't like my way on Sunday, pay
me my money and will pack up and
leave" These words were mixed with
oaths and vulgarity in the presence of
the captains company, which included
two ladies.
SAT this moment stood aft on the
poop deck, near the house, talking with
q man who was one of the yessel's guests
l heard a quarrel forward and imms-
diately went there. I found two of the
crew in hot words with the cook.
I asked what was the trouble, and one
of the negro Grew whose name don't re
member, said: 1.-THE cook says am
drunk. We amt drunk. and have money
enough to go ashore and get supper
civilians returned forward, and Just
as he reached my side he made at me.
struck me with his head and knooke ed
me down, without any provocation or
reason whatever.
~ was thrown OF my back just beside
the open hatch, when two others of the
crew jumped on top of me. Williams
seized a-belaying pin and said. I'll kill
you! I'll kill you'll but caught his
hands. After severe struggle, Williams
and Morse having let 60 of me, / man
aged to regain my feet. In the meantime
Capt. Wallace and one of his guests
sprang forward tosmy rescue.
williams ran, and with his Delaying
pin he struck the cook, Antonio Bsrra,
across the back Of the neck. Berra was
sitting on the side of the open hatch at
the time, and was knocked senseless
across the corner angles, his feet and
shoulders resting on the sides, which
prevented himfrom falling down the open
hatchway Immediately.
"While he was in this position. be-
fore any of us could go to his rescue, an
other Of the crew, called John Morse,
seized the unconscious cook AID hurled