New-York tribune., 1897-08-19
CAPTAIN AND NATE KILLED
MURDER OF THE OFFICERS OF THE
SCHOONER OLIVE PICKER.
THE VESSEL, WAS BURNED. TOO AND THE CREW
LANDED AT BAHIA - THE HDhbtHi
FULLER TRAGEDY RECALLED

THE vrssr1. WAS Br,RNEp TOO. AND THE CREW
LANDED AT BAHIA THE HERBERT
FULLER TRAGEDY RECALLED.
Boston. Aug 1S-A cable message received IN
this city from Buenos Ayres says that D. W.
Whitman captain, and William Saunders ma'e'
OF the schooner Olive Pecker. which sahed
from this port on June p. have been muruereu
by the crew. The pricpal owners OF the 'es'o'
are j. P. Eicott & Co.. Of Boston. VINO also sent
out the barkentne Herbert Fuller on which
Captain Nash and his wife and Mate Bamperg
were murdered
The message containing the Information was
from banking firm in Buenos Ayres. and 1t
gave only the bare fact Of the double murder
together with the statement that the vessel was
afterward burned, but the crew escaped ana
landed at Bahia The owners hope they are In
custody OF the United States Consul there. who
would naturally assume charge of the snip
wrecked men
The cargo consisted Of 677 SSS feet Of pine and
81 03O feet of spruce lumber. Captain j. w.
Whitman. Of Rockland, Me, was in command
and he had a crew Of seven men. The OliVe
Pecker was a fine vessel Of S32 tons net. She
was built in Belfast. Me-. in 1889. by George A
Gilchrst. The captain held large interest IN
her. The valuation Of the vessel Is placed at
$4,000. which there is a partial insurance
The cargo shipped by the Export Lumber
Company
AS far as the Information received by the own
of the schooner went, the vessel was making
good progress. and must have been between
forty and fifty days out when the murders oc-
Cured. This would bring her well along toward
her destination This opinion is borne out by
the news that the crew landed at Bahia, or as
the owners believe. Bahia Blanca. which is
about seventy miles north of Buenos Ayres.
AS to the tragedy to-days advices gave no
further information than that which has already
been stated. From these meagre details. now
ever, the owners form the theory that the crew
mutinied and killed the captain and first officer
and seized the schooner. II Is difficult, however
for them to explain the burning of the vessel
unless. unrestrained by the presence of superior
officers, trouble arose between members or the
crew and the fire caused by accident
Saunders. the mate. was not known 10 the
captain or the owners he was shipped the day
before the vessel left this port He was engaged
to All the place left vacant by the discharge OF
the former mate who was dismissed by captain
Whitman for inattention TO duty.
The owners OF the schooner. on receiving the
news from Buenos Ayres at once set on foot
inquiries which, II is hoped, VIII soon give them
the full story OF the AFFAIR
There are no new developments in this city to-
night, although the owners of the vessel nave
been anxiously awaiting news from oouth
America all day. -,
Saunders the mate who was murdered with
Cantain Whitman. was thrty-si years old, ana
belonged in Highly. n. S, where he leaves
widow and several children. He was formerly
first mate of the Boston schooner Nlator' Out
left that vessel TO Join the Olive Pecker
Captain Whitman. on his voyage from port
land to South America last fall. was accom-
panied by his wife and daughter. but they re,
mained at home in Rockland while the Nessei
this voyage.
Before leaving Portland last fall the yessei
80 and 10
siderable difficultv with them When the vessel
left Portland a member OF the crew assaulted
the first mate with knife. cutting cash In MS
face and making 1t necessary TO anchor the yes,
CO, beloV while the mate was sent to Portland
for treatment No further trouble was expert
onced after the vessel sailed for her destina-
ton ,,,
and was able to take care OF himself unless as
sauIted unawares He had brother who is
minister in Nova Scotia.