Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-01-08
BROWN WAS RIGHT.
He Could See Into the Her
bert FuIIef's Cabin.
An Experiment at Harrington on Du-
pIicate Of Her After-house
Proves that He Could Have Seen Mate Bran
Strike Captain Nash.

Harrington, Jan. IAN experiment. the
result of which proves that it is possible
for a person standing on the starboard
side of the Herbert M. Fuller's wheel to
see considerable portion of that vessels
after cabin. was made here. last night
in the presence of half a hundred sea
captains and other citizens representing
the towns of Harrington, Milbridge and
Addison.
Starboard tacks were aboard on the
mSht OF the celebrated triple tragedy on
the high seas. and the person guiding the
snip was very properly on the starboard
side of the wheel.
That teE pafson n c ,ns Brown able
6oth hands on the wheel he could see
distinctly what took place in the cabin.
From his position he could see the lower
part or capt; Nash 81 body, and from the
knees up of Mate Brh I'm.
some doubt was cdI on his testimony
by one of the. other men. who seemed
quite certain that THE cabin window was
in such a position. with reference to the
wheel that nothing within the after
cabin could be seen by the steersman.
me experiment made here. last night, by
the Globe. settles this phase of the Bra m
trial beyond dispute.
rare good fortune had preserved the
plans by which s. NJ. Drisko constructed
me rulers ter,house and these were
the dust of half dozen years, under a
work bench in his joiner shop
from these plans Mr. Drisko and two
other carpenters put together a tempo
rary after house on the same measure
ments as that on the Fuller.
They toiled all day long. and at :
the test. The whole town turned out to
see the fabric which represented the
after part of the after-house OF the now
celebrated barkentine.
20 .,ftn aIN;,
dow and Il steerage wheel the exact size
of that on board the Fuller Everything
was carried out with precision. and when
the job was completed a cot was sent for
and placed in position against the star
board wall of the cabin.
When everything was ready for the
T 1"st, Two young men. Fred Tabbult and
Thomas Hall, got into the cabin Hall
stretched out in the cot and Tabbult
stood over him with an uplifted AK
Lights inside the shop were then turned
out. leaving that place in total darkness
lmagnations had been wrought up con-
siderably, and the effect for ii moment
was startling.
:, Mr. Hook was at the wheel with both
found as the grave fell over the little
gathering. and not a sound was heard
Tor fully half a minute.
II required that length of time for Mr.
HOOK eyes to become reconciled to the
sudden change from light to darkness
Then he uttered an exclamation of sur
prise: Just as | thought" he said: Il
can see over half of the mans body
- RE was standing erect as he said this
ihen STOPPING and leaning in the drec-
ton of the window. he continued: Now
see how easy it was for Brown to see
the head and hat of any one who might
have been standing over Capt Nash. 1t
is all plain to me now"
Mr.: Hook gave place to Capt. j. s.
Mitchell, man IS years of age. who mas
followed the sea for 43 years. Captain
Mitchell looked carefully in and said
That settles it, ] took no stock in
Bram's testimony about Brown leaving
that wheel have been master in barks
barkentines. briggs and schooners for %
years. and | have yet to see one that
would sail three minutes with her wheel
dashed and the wind abaft the beam. The
fact is. there is no kind of vessel that
will not get into mischief in less time
with her wheel laShed.''