The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-17
kUSTEL- HAD A
NARROW ESCAPE
Butler Tried to Ship as Mate
on the Hawaiian
Isles.
Asserted That He Was Sent
From Sydney by Agents
of the Vessel.
The Captain Had Engaged Another
Man, So the Murderer Had to
Seek Another Vessel.

Captain KusteI of the Hawaiian Isles
has an interesting story to tell about But
Ter, the suspected Australian murderer.
He came within an ace of having him as
his chief officer, and Mrs. Kustel, who &C.
com panied her husband, is thanking her
lucky stars that the fates were in their
favor. Butler missed the Hawaiian Isles
by an hour and then shipped on the Swan
hilda.
Writing of the affair the Sydney Morn
ing Herald said: "It appears that the
four-masted bark Hawaiian Isles, bound
for San Francisco, wanted a chief officer,
and that he had been promised the posi-
ton, but when he reached Newcastle he
found that Captain Kustel, master OF the
bark, had already provided him self with
a first mate in the person of an old friend.
This was explained to Lee Weller, and it
is said that he received honorarium in
the shape of a + note.
Captain Kustel is one of the best-known
masters that come to San Francisco, and
is justly popular among the sailors and
shipping fraternity. In Newcastle, n. 5.
W., the first mate left the vessel in order
to take command of another ship, and
Kustel had to wire to his agents in Sgd
ney dDOtDer IL WIS III LulS WAY
that he ran across the notorious murderer.
1.-The Hawaiian Isles was almost ready
for sea when l found myself without a
mate" SAID Captain Kustel yesterday.
For while l was in a Quandary, and
then my wife suggested telegraphing to
Sydney for man. / followed her advice,
and at once sent message to the agents
of the Hawaiian Isles.
Before any answer came from Sydney
I m EQnfQin
mine, and as he was anxious TO get back
to the United States / at once engaged
him as chief officer of the ship. Then l
at once went to the telegraph Office and
wired my agents, Can get mate here;
don't send any one on In reply / got,
We have made no engagement; ship your
man.
What was my surprise when, an hour
later, Captain Lee Weller presented him
self and said he had been sent on by the
Sydney Office. | showed him the telegram
| had received an hour previously, and
then he began to buster. He produced
his papers, which showed him to be
duly licensed captain in the British mer-
camille marine, and said he intended sail
ing on the Hawaiian Isles or he would
know the reason why.
Il did not discuss the question with
him, but told him l had engaged a mate
and did not want second. He went for
ward and had talk with Mr.. SorgatZ,
from whom, | afterward learned, he got IS
in order not to make any trouble.
''Since my arrival in port last Friday l
have seen the sydney papers, and have
no hesitation in saying that the man who
wanted TO ship on my vessel as first mate
IS one and the same with Frank Butler,
tbs murderer. He is not a bad-looking
fellow, but his good looks are all in the
brutal line.
Give you description of him?
well, he was big, stout, burly, repul-
sive fellow with sort of fascinating man
ner, whom, now | come to think of it,
would not have shipped as the cooks as
sislant. The man was a conglome ration,
and one minute l would feel sorry could
n OF givehim a berth, and the next l was
wishing he was safely ashore. Anyhow, l
was well rid of him"
From tho mate of the Hawaiian Isles it
is learned that Butler was well supplied
with money and was profusely decorated
with jewelry. He nevertheless insisted
upon having his fare from Sydney to New
castle refunded, and that was how Captain
SorgatZ came to pay him the FL esq., His
luggage, according to the men on the
ship, consisted of a heavy wooden box,
fashioned like sea chest, and a small
Gladstone bag. Both these ARTICLES cor
respond with those that Butler is sup
posed to have put aboard the Swanhilda a
few hours before she sailed.
Captain Kusiel his wife and daughter
took their bicycles with them on the last
trip and, on an improvised track on the
deck OF the big ship, they had many run
in calm weather. They now shudder at
the idea of having such a man as Butler in
command of the vessel while they were
enjoying themselves.