Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-04-29
A STRANGE TRAGEDY.
BY w. CLARK RUSSELL.
Copyright, 1895, by the Author.

Copyright, 1895, by the Author.
CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY.
A few days later brought us into cold
weather. This was followed by the ice
and conflicts of the Horn. We drove toe
lar south, and for q week every after.
noon we hove to under close reefed
main topsail for fear Of the ice through
out the long hours Of antarctic black
ness. We were in no temper to think
of ghosts, and yet, though no one had
delivered the news authoritatively, 1t
had come by this wild, bleak time to
be known that Captain Grifiths and
Miss LIE Grand were engaged. Mrs. Bur
ney told me 80 one day in the cuddy,
and with wicked fash Of her dark eye
wondered that people could think OF
making love with icebergs close at hand.
It was no business of mine, and SEEM
ingly I gave the matter no heed, though
I could find leisure and curiosity some
times for an askant glance at the cap
tain and his beauty when they were at
table or when the weather permitted
the lady to come on deck, and their be-
havior left me in very little doubt that
he was deeply in love with her, but
whether she was equally enamored OF
him could not guess.
We beat clear of the latitude Of roar
ing gales blind with snow, and noun
famous ice islands like cities Of ala
baster in ruins, and seas ridging in
thunder and foam to the height Of our
mizzen top, and heading north blew
under wide wings Of studding sails to-
ward the sun, every day sinking some
southern stars out Of sight, and every
night lifting above the sea line some
gem Of the heavens dear to northern
eyes
Iwent below at eight bells ON Fri
day morning when we were two months
"out" from Sydney, as very we'll re-
member. The ship had then caught the
first Of the southeast trade wind. All
was we'll when I left the deck. I was
awakened by hand violently shaking
my shoulder. sprang up and found
Robson, the second mate, standing be-
side my bunk. He was pale as the ghost
the Dare had described
There's been murder done, SIR" he
cried "The captains killed.
stared. at him. like fool and echoed
mechanically and DULY: Murder done
Captain killedp Then, collecting my
wits, l tumbled into my clothes and
rushed to the captain g cabin, where /
found the doctor and the third mate ex-
amining poor Griffith's body. 1t was
half past 6 o'clock in the morning, and
the daylight strong, but none of the
passengers was moving The captain
had been stabbed to the heart. The doc
tor said he had been killed by a single
thrust. The body was clothed in white
drill trousers and white linen shirt,
which was slightly stained with blood
where the knife had pierced it.
Who had done this thing? twas hor-
rible, unprovoked murderl Throughout
the ship the captain had been the most
popular man on board The forecastle
liking for him was as strong as senti-
ment Of any sort can find expression In
that part Of a vessel. There had never
been q murmur. Indeed had never
sailed with q better crew. Not man
had deserted us at Sydney, and Of the
hands on board at least half had sailed
with the captain before.
We carefully searched the cabin, but
there was nothing whatever to tell us
that robbery had been committed How
ever, CHASTITY, shocking murder had
been perpetrated. The man on whose
skill and Judgment had depended the
safety Of the ship and the many lives
within her had been foully done to death
in his sleep by some mysterious hand,
and we determined at once upon q
course.
First sent for some of the best and
most trustworthy seamen among the
crew, and bringing them into the cap
tain's cabin showed them the body.
then, in my capacity as commander of
the vessel, authorized them to act as a
sort Of detectives or policemen and to
search every part Of the ship, and all
the berths in the steerage, and tween
decks for any clew to the doer Of the
deed Itwas arranged that the cabins of
the first class passengers should be thor
oughly overhauled by the second and
third mates
All this brought US to the hour when
the passengers arose, and the ship was
presently alive. The news swept from
lip to lip magically. In all parts of the
ship saw men and women talking, with
their faces pale with CONSERVATION and
horror. had not the courage to break
the news to Miss LIE Grand and asked
the doctor, quiet, gentlemanly man, to
speak to her. Twas on the poop looking
after the ship when the doctor came
from the young lady's berth.
"How did she receive the news?"
asked
II wish it may not break her heart, "
said he gravely. "She was turned into
stone. Her stare Of grief was dreadful
hot the greatest actress could imagine
such look. There'll be no comforting
her this side Of England.
doctor. could he have done it him
sef?"
"Oh, heaven, no, sir!" and he ex.
planned by recalling the posture Of the
body and the situation of the hands, not
to mention the absence of the weapon,
why it was impossible the captain
should have killed himself
don't know how it came about, but
while paced the deck waiting for the
reports of the mates and the seamer