The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-15

The Monowai Brings News That
a Steamer Spoke the
Swanhilda.
pers Were Put Aboard the Ship,
and They Must Have Contained
All the Plans of Capture.

The steamer Monowai got in from Aus
tralia la night, bringing news of Muir
derer Butler and the Swanhilda.
The officers on the Monowai brought
word that the Japanese steamship Taupo,
one of the Union line of steamers rum
ming between Japan and Australia, spoke
the Swanhilda about a week out from
Newcastle. N. S. w.
The two vessels com municated with
each other and the Taupo put some papers
on board the Swanhilda. 1t is also known
that the captain of the Taupo sent note
with the papers, and it is believed that
this note contains a warning to the Swan
hiida's captain, telling him he carried the
murderer in his crew.
The very fact that there was any form
of commune cation opens up vast field
of speculation. 1t may be that from
them Butler cleaned the information that
his identity and whereabouts are known
and that the sleuth-hounds of the law are
on his trail.
Again, it may be that the officers on
board the Swanhilda at once placed him
in irons.
Through it all remains the fact that
Butler may have had himself and his
baggage transferred to vessel bound for
another port.
The suspense must last until the arrival
of the Swanhilda herself.
The Australian papers are full of infor-
nation regarding the horrible murders
com mltted by Butler and his movements
prior 10 his EN- barking on the Swanhilda,
49, h. h.
nothing definite had been decided on in
the way of undertaking his capture. Sub
sequent events have been fully related by
telegraph.
Six detectives with their eyes wide
open, a revenue cutter with her boilers
whistling under full head of steam and
a crowd of reporters and visitors passed
another night at the Meiggs-wharf look
out station watching for the coming oil
the Swanhilda.
In the light of such vigilance and the
shine of moon riding high that illum-
mated clear pathway out through the
Golden Gate there was little chance of the
speedy four master with the bloody Aus
tralian, Butler, slipping into port unseen
or even drawing near the harbor entrance
uno bserved.
AS the hours wore on visitors attracted
| out by the beautiful night and the slim
! chance of seeing the continuous flare Of
light that will herald the approach OF the
Swanhiida, walked down the wha-f.
In the police station Detective Nc
Hattie and Constable Conroy stood watch
and watch.
Never for moment do the Australians
relax their vigilance. The other officers,
Detectives Egan, Ferguson, Silvey and
Sergeant Bonner, watch and sleep in turns
day and night. Until the revenue cutter
leaves the wharf to board the Swanhilda,
they will keep several pairs of eyes on the
harbor entrance for the ship during the
day and the signal light at night.
The Secretary of the Treasury, at the
request Of Collector Wise, has telegrap he'd
permission tor the representatives. of the
City press to 60 aboard the cutters Perry
or Hartley and accompany the detectives
out to the Swanhilda when she is re-
ported.
The Swanhilda is So days out from New
castle to-day, and her best time between
that port and this is several days less. She
is greyhound for sailing. but vessels
lately in from Australian ports report
light airs and winds, and the Swanhilda
has probably been delayed from these
natural causes.
What is troubling the police is the sup
post ton that some of the vessels in the
feet due may have been in company,
making it easy FOR Butler to change ships
with any of the seamen on the ship spok-
en- and thus hide his identity. In
order to make sure that no tricks are
played the police will board every vessel
that comes in the Golden Gate from a for.
eign port from now on.