The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-01-05

the whole performance. promising the
cooper 20 see 70 II thai no flaw occurred.
though otherwise We would act discreet
Some Of ne men kept guard over ths
doomed prisoner. while others prepared
for the gre~sorne performance A block
was fastened on the forsyard. through
which they rove q pew hoass-sal a
stout manila rope. which led down 70 the
deck. where one end OF II was again rove
through leading block, whilst the other
part was left dangling loose, to be fas-
tened 70 the small rope around the c1i-
pr.rs neck.
They drew lots to see who should adjus.
the moose and give the signal when every
thing was ready to swing the condemned
man of, and II fell by singular coiaci-
dence OF fate or chance, whatever Z may
have been, on tae Chlsan's own boatsseer-
er, the Portuguese who had formerly steer
ed the captain and whose place mad TAX
en- when l came aboard the brig. Sailors
as q rule are more or less supersutous,
and this was interpreted as decree OF the
Lord When the culprit was placed on the
forehatch and his former boatstserer pro-
ceeted 10 strap his legs together and tie
his hands behind his back, after adjusting
the moose properly he weakened and Of
fered 20 make fun confession Of his guilt
Il he would be allowed sufficient time FOR
prayer and exhortauon TO the Virgin after
wards, which was readily granted him.
The main and most important substance OF
the confession was that he had secretly
possessed himself OF a small quantity OF
arsenic which was kept in the captains
room, and was used TO poison the rats
which infested the vessel IN large numbers,
and that he had unobservediy mixed some
OF this in the fish chowder which the stew
ard had deposited on a table in the pantry
on that fatetul evening, and while the lat
ter had gone back 20 the galley TO fetch
80 .F- -.
The reasons for committing his Infamous
and most cowardiy crime are already
known, and need no further comment.
Suffice IL 10 say that the wretch SHOW ed
ct least at the last moment some apparent
sign OF repentance, for he prayed long and
earnestly for forgiveness When be had
finished a handkerchief was quickly tied
over his eyes, and the boatsteerer before
mentioned once more examined and adjust
ed the moose, after which he stepped 70
the break Of the topgallant forecastle and
gave the bell one loud stroke, whersupon
the criminal was quickly swung of. To-
wards evening the dead body OF the muir
derer was sewed up in canvass and st mid
night committed 10 the deep, but without
the customary rites OF a funeral at sea, TO
which the supersuuous Portuguese would
not consent.
The stewards body vas buried the fol-
lowing noon in the usual style, the brig
lying to, COlTFS al H4lA-AiASts INC
sells bell tolling the funeral kneu and the
men singin. requiem after the mate Aaa
read prayers for the dead.
The woman never recovered from the
shock of The :Vious morning. when she
had witnessed her lover strike down the
steward 10 his death, and she never
learned from any Of US on board the true
circumstances OF the second mates mis-
cradle end, though she seemed 10 be
aware something had happened 70 him.
She kept ner room, speaking 10 no one,
taking her food mechanically when Of
fered, and behaved IN general Ike harm
less imbecile.
We left the whaling grounds OF the Gal
lapagos islands forthwith and proceeded
TO Tumbez, for existing circumstances and
conditions rendered il decidedly disadvan-
tageous TO continue our cruise.
When It became known on our arrival
in Tumbez what had occurred during the
voyage, the sentiments OF the population
of the little town ran high in favor or the
Golconda's crew. The people declared It
perfectly right that summary punishment
had been melted out 10 the murderer. The
Chilean consul. however. was determined
to Investigate the matter OF Alvarez ex-
ecution, but the primitive form OF govern
ment existing in those days in that OBJ
scure corner of Peru prevented anything
further than court Of inquiry before the
captain OF the port and the judge or the
district. to whom the mates official log
had been turned over, with the result that
after a lengthy examination the case was
finally dismissed. to the great chagrin Of
the consul.
The unfortunate imbecile woman was
sent to Valparaiso, where she was cared
for by one of her sisters, and lived for
many years after. In the leading papers
OF Callao OF that date was published this
direful but true tale Of "retributiye justice
on the high seas"
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