The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-26
NOT THE CAPTAINS GHOST.
4 Remarkable Finding of "A COrO-
ner.s Jury at SapeIo.

Darien. Ca, Feb 25.-The Norwegian
bark George B. DOane seems to have been
persistently pursued by III fate for nearly
a year. About eight months ago she sail
ed from Ireland for Canada, and nearly
reached the Canadian shore, when she
was struck 10y furious northwesterly
gale. Her sails were torn into shreds and
the vessel driven back TO Great Britain
she was again fitted out, ana sailed Tor
SapclO- Alter long voyage her cOmman-
der, Capt Larsen, was missed one morn
ing when the vessel was thirty miles on
Sapelo. A search then instituted proved
fruitlesss and II was supposed that the
captain, Respondent over his hard luck.
had committed suicide by jumping over
board
Tne owners were communicated with,
and a new captain was appointed
The vessel. while these communications
were pending, was delayed Ia the SOUND
for several Gays Finally she was lowed
up TO the ballast wharf at SapelO 10 nave
her ballast discharged. one morning
when Second Mate Nangen climbed over
the pile OF rock ballast aft. permanently
kept in the vessel 10 trim her, ne suddenly
found himself face to face with what ne
thought was Capt. Larsen's ghost.
White and trembling he returned from
the hold with lightning speed and in brok-
en- sentences announced mis- terrible eN-
perieuce. a search was again made, and
there behind the permanent ballast pile,
sure enough. Capt. Larsens body was
dangling in the air.
As the captain was supposed 10 nave
committed suicide, the coroner OF Nc
lntOsh county, a cOlored man, named
Harry McGregOr, was sent down Tor the
purpose OF having the body removed.
MCGregOr empaneled a jury OF cOlOreQ
people exclusively. some OF whom hailed
from the sunny isles of the West indies,
others from the Lord knows where. Nc
Gregor himself is an intelligent colored
man, and If he erred. he surely thought he
was right, and IL must furthermore be
said to his credit that the choice of black.
nj VI
the few whites at Sapelo stunning the
disagreeable task, and consequently keep
ing out of the corOner's way.
There are necessarily many ridiculous
features about the farcial judicial in
quiry which ensued According to an eye
witness good many of the jurymen were
rowing about the "Doane's'' deck bare
footed. but putting on princely airs.
If the officers of the vessel attempted
to correct any foolish or irrelevant Ques-
ton they were Immediately reminded by
some of the dusky and ragged members
Of the coroneT's jury of the majesty of
Uncle Sans laws.
"Once while things were getting terri
bly, mixed says the eye witness, the
second mate attempted to explain mat
ters, but a burly, barefooted darky, and
a number of the coroner's jury, stepped
to the front and threateningly said If
you don't shut up, sab, | will derive at
de Judgement dat 70 killed de captain and
hunged him up dere, sab "
The first mate (Rypoas) on hearing this
terrible imposition, muttered audibly "Oh,
AEQINs Will nave we come TO.
This was too much for the dignity of
Uncle Sans jurors, and by unanimous
vote of the corOner's jury the officers and
crew were found guilty OF foul play in re-
gard to the death of Capt Larsen, and
were subsequently arrested.
The steam tug MallOnee, in accordance
with the verdict of the coroners jury,
was engaged to carry the guilty crew and
capt. Larsen's decomposed body to
Darien
News of this startling development of
the case was quickly conveyed to Darien
gors duSky compatriots were at the land
ing, waiting to applaud his Napoeonic
act.
On arrival Of the Mallonee. however. Mr..
Robert Manson, Swedish and Norwegian
vice consul, simply admonished the cor
oner not to make a fool of himself any
longer, and the coroner proved his faith
in the vice consufs advice by turning both
officers and crew loose.
Amongst the crew was a class of citi-
ZenS from the Emerald Isle, not particu-
larly noted for choice language, and our
worthy coroner and his jurors came in for
a large share of gratuitous and vociferous
VituperatiOn.
Any levity. however, in the description
or this tragedy viii be considerably tenn
pered when IL is known that Capt Larsen
leaves behind, on the cliffs of the Nor
wegtan coast, a widow and five or six
little children, depending entirely upon
him for their bread.
The George b. Doane will leave this
port in about ten days, under command
of Capt. JOhansen.