The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-18
THE OLIVE PICKER CRIME.
MUTINF AVID MURDER ON BOARD
AN AMERICAN SCHOONER.

The CaptaIn aad Nate Kiried By the cesk ed
the Vessel set on Pire-The Grew La ID %
the Brazil Coast. Are Arrested In Bshia.
and III ne Brought Home on the Lancaster.
WASHINGTON. Sept. IA cablegram was
received at the Navy Department to-day re-
porting the arrival yesterday Of the United
States ship Lancaster at RahiA, Brazil. where
she will take on board six members OF the
crew OF the schooner Olive Pecker. accused Of
murder and mutiny. who are to be brought to
Boston TOR trial. Particulars OF the tragedy on
the Olive Pecker, which resulted in the murder
Of Capt. Whitman and Mate Sanders, and the
burning OF the ship. came to the state Depart
ment to-day in a long report from Mr.. Brics.
the United States vice-Consul at Bahia.
There were prenonitory symptoms OF trouble
on board the Olive Pecker when she sailed from
Boston on June 30 for Buenos Ayres. VIII
liam Horsbru<h. a British subject, des1 Jed
as the engineer. and who presumably ran the
engine used to hoist sails, heard in Boston har.
Dor that Capt. Whitman was a violent man.
He wanted to cancel his engagement, but the
Captain would not permit him to go ashore.
and the Boston Harbor police we're called upon
to compel EOrsbrugh to replace the cylinder Of
the engine, which he had taken or to prevent
the ship from going out. When the ship was
two weeks at sea Horsbrush had adifficulty
Will JILL NAAG sTAAf ALC NboA. . lot
American citizen, aud the engineer was put In
Irons.
Horsbrugh stated that while he was manacled
the Captain struck him several times. Then
Capt. Whitman and Cook Andersen had a row,
because the Captain said that the cook threw
hot wA.er on his dog. Andersen says that Capt.
Whitman assaulted him hrutally and other
members OF the crew were bcutally treated by
statement furnished by the Vice-Consul. when
the Captain attempted to hit him with a bottle
he drew a revolver and shot Whitman through
the head. killing him instantly. This was in
he found Mate Sanders, according To his testi-
IuOny, with a marlln>plke. Sanders attempted
10 hit Andersen with the spike, and the cook
bred three times. killing the mate.
The testimony OF other members OF the crew
differs FROM tina. OF Andersen. They say that
the mate had lust been using the marlinspike in
the rigging and that it was tied around his
neck. This indicates that Andersen. after kill
Ing the Captain. rushed on deck to finish the
mate. With drawn revolver he compelled the
unarrncd crew to obey. They demonstrated,
and Juan de Dois Barrial, a Spaniard, was par
t~icularly emphatic in his objections, Ander-
sen made them throw the bodies Of Whitman
and sanders overheard.
The Spaniard wanted 10 steer for the nearest
land but Andersen would not have this, and
compelled Andrew March, an E~nglishmAn, to
pour oil on the cargo and set 1t on hre- Tho
crew took 70 the boats, and two days later, on
Aug. :. reached the Brazilian coast. Ander-
sen, accompanied by John Lind. a Swede,
went one way. and the engineer, the Spaniard.
March ami the other member OF the crew,
Martin Barztad. a Norwegian. went another;
Andersen aud Lind reached Bahia, where the
others reported the killing to the police au-
thoritics and the United States Consulate. The
COOK and Lind were arrested and the others
were also taken into custody.
The Lancaster Il q slow.gOirE vessel OF the
old type. and will be q long time coming TO the
United States