The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-08-08
THEY COULDN'T KILL ALL.
THEIR FIRST VICTIMS BLOOD
SICkENED THEM.

4 Thrilling Tale OF the Sea Recalled
by the Recent Murders on the
Barkentine Herbert n. Fuller.
Sailors Plot TO Murder the Omeers
of the Bark Hesper, But Desist
After killing One because Their
"StOmachs Turn sick"
From the New York Times.
Washington. Aug. 1.-Slnce the discov-
cry OF the horrible murders committed on
the barkentine Herbert f. Fuller. which
lately put into Halifax towing a boat
containing the bodies Of the captain. his
wife, and the second mate. the subject OF
FOUL play on shipboard has received much
attention. Were u not that sailors gem
orally are superstitious and have a whole
some dread OF the law. the lives OF ship
masters might be placed in greater leo
pardy than they now are through forecas-
Tie plots. Some shippers are so cruel and
permit their officers such license in their
treatment OF their crews that il is a Won
der that the record OF crimes on the high
seas is not fuller. The one fact that every
snip must sooner or later seek a port I'M
doubtedly saves many a sea captain from
a tragic fate. The court records Of the
big seaports Of the world show. however
that despite the almost certain punish
ment that awaits ocean male-faotors mu-
TIMES and attempts at mutlny are Of
frequent occurrence. Some of the most
appalling deeds often may be traced to the
evil influence of some member Of a crew
Once in a while a ship reaches port with
story that smacks OF the startling scenes
in Treasure Island or THE Wreck OF
the Grosvenor." but oftener the tale is re-
stricted TO an account Of cold-blooded
murder.
There is on file at the department OF
justice IN this city the record OF q case
Whi0h resembles In many particulars that
OF the crime on the barkentine Fuller
Inc story is that OF a plot to murder the
captain and nrSt and second mates Of the
park Hesper The plot was based on the
luea OF an ignorant sailor that the bark
carried large amount Of specie He pro-
posed that after the officers We're put out
OF the way the crew should steer the bark
Tor me coast OF Chile, burn her when with
easy distance of the shore, and then take
TO the long boat after dividing the "swag"
Inc conspirators butchcred the second
mate IN the most shocking manner but
grew faint-hearted at the sight Of his
blood, and the remainder of their murder
Gus plan was not carried out Two Of
them were hanged for their crime but the
thlfd, who richly deserved death, escap-
ed the gallows by a technicality.
Inc hesper, commanded by Capt f.
Sodergren, was making a voyage from
Australia to Honolulu. She left Newcastle
Dec Y with crew consisting Of fourteen
persons. She had a miscellaneous cargo
Her deck was loaded with coal to the hight
OF ten or twelve feet. The top OF the coal
was covered over with hard wood and or
that temporary deck was laid Henry
Lucas was the first mate. and Morris Fitz-
gerald second mate. The latter had charge
OF the starboard watch. So far as can be
learned from the records the captain
was a man of action. but without much
learning. He was OF foreign extraction
and most Of the crew were Scandinavians
Inc hesper, however. carried the Ameri-
can nag. The captains wife was on board
me bark had fair winds and made a
good course through the lower parallels
on the night of Jan. Is. 1S93 the star
board watch was on duty from 8 until
II O'Clock. 1t consisted Of Mate Fitzper-
aid and Seaman Thomas st. Clair. Her
man Sparf Hans Hansen and Edwin Lar
sen. The port watch was made up of
Mate Lucas and Seamen Thomas Green
Jams Olsen, Henry Westerlind and Pandy
Secarla: Lucas was routed out OF his
punk ABOUT twelve minutes to midnight
by Herman Sparf. He dressed leisurely
ana as he was going on deck eight bells
struck Tor II O'Clock. Lucas went to the
wheel and asked for the second mate
The man at the wheel said he did not
Know where Fitzgerald was. Lucas call
ed the mates name, but received no an
sWer. He asked several members OF the
They gave evasive answers. Lucas took
a light and went forward, but without
discovering any trace Of the second mate
Then he became suspicious OF foul play
and called the captain
Capt. Sodergren APPEARS to have had
both courage and presence Of mind. He
called the starboard watch on deck again
and asked each member II he had seen
the second mate. The replies were con-
fiicting. One man had seen Fitzgerald on
the deck-load. Another had seen him
going forward shortly before eight bells
were struck. The captain caused lights
to be brought out and made a thorough
search of the vessel. Very soon his sus-
picion that the mate had been murdered
was confirmed. Near the mainmast he
found great pool of blood. He had Or
dered the starboard watch to remain on
deck and now he ordered the men into
his cabin. The scene must have been
thrilling. There was a fresh breeze blow
ing, and the Hesper was smoking through
the waters of the South Pacific at the
rate Of seven knots an hour. The little
cabin stood behind a table on which lay
the logbook of the bark. Before him
were grouped the sailors, at least three
of whom showed evidences OF great ex-
element. Herman Sparf, a big Scandi-
navian, stood nearest the table. AS the
captain rested his eye upon him, he saw
a long, deep streak OF blood upon Sparf's
cheek.
One by one the men were questioned.
All said that they could not account for
had seen nothing unusual during their
watch. Sparf declared that he had seen
the second mate ascend the fore rig
ging, but had not seen him come down
Perhaps he fell and cut himself and
then walked overheard" volunteered the
big Scandinavian. Larsen, another mem
Der of the starboard watch testified that
he relieved Thomas St. Clair at the wheel
at 10 o'clock The second mate was then
close by the wheel st. Clair went for
ward and soon returned, telling the mate
that something had carried away. F'itz-
gerald walked forward, and ST. Clair fol-
lowed him. A few minutes later Larsen
heard the ships dog bark, and sounds
like a human being in distress. At this
Capt. Sodergren remembered that he and
his wife also had heard the dog bark and
a man cry out. The captain did not at
tach any Importance to these sounds at
the time.
Although the captain learned nothing
bearing more directly on the disappear
ance of the second mate, he decided TO
place st. Clair, Sparf, and Hansen In
irons as a precautionary measure The
men did not resist. Soon after daybreak
the captain, pursuing the investigation.
found a piece of human hair with blood
adhering to IL. The hair was black tinged
with gray, and was recognized as that
a.. 10 IT, L.