The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-08


cabin, now made his appearance, and
when informed If what had happened.
he Immediately returned On deck. spread
Ing the direful news among the crew.
The greatest excitsEne2s prevailed TPS
foremost bands. a number Of wacm wefe
eountryrnen Of the murdered man, crowd
ed around the cabin entrance. Threatening
10 execute summary Justice on the as
sassin. who by this time We had hand
cufsei and securely locked up in a room
il the cabin. The men demanded that hs
be brought before them for hearing.
They were DESTROYS TO learn whether ne
would make an oFe0 canfession II having
poisoned the captain, which they said. he
might as well do. al hope OF escape from
justice being gore for Inn now. The
Chilean. securely manacled, was accord
iugly brought out or deck and placed
against the mainmass. where the men
formed a ring around him and began their
inferfogations.
The prisoner stubbornly refused TO an
Swer any OF their questions but in
spirit OF bvayado declared that he Was
sorry for not having made a job of L
and killed half dozen more. waereEpon
the Portuguese members Of the crew step
ped outside the circle and eonversed for
brief time in low and earnest tones.
Shortly the mate and the rest of us who
was the unanimous intention OF the ex-
asperated crsw 10 execute retributiye JUS
tice upon the murderer forthwith. and
hang him without further ado or pre-
lninaries on the foreyard-arm until dead
allowing him ten minutes in which TO
say his prayers and lmpEore the forgiveness
OF his creator We were hovror-ssr.cken
and argued long and earnest with the men
. convince them or the extreme folly
ard wrong-dofng of taking the law into
their own hands. but Ii was all of no avail
They told US they were determined not
10 be thwarted N their object for rightful
vengeance, as they termed Il, on the
dastardly villain. and swore they would
not live anothsr day aboard the vessel
with him. threatening to abandon the brig
and land on AibsTnarie island, taking pro-
visions with them in the boats. If the
mate or any OF the rest OF US aft
should interfere and try TO prevent the
execution.
BY the laws OF Peru nurderers were
generally sentenced TO imprisonment for
twenty years or life, and the men well
knowing this. We're not disposed 10 yield
10 our pleadings to spare the life of the
criminal and deliver him TO the proper
authorities on our return 10 Tumbez.
The other Two boatsteerers sided with
;he crew, which left only the mate. the
cooper and myself to cope with these des-
peTate men, and il would have been ex-
tremeiy hazardous for US TO have tried 10
forcihly interfere. considering the amount
of deadly weapons aboard a wbaIer at the
disposal Of such a reckless gang.
We concluded IL was the wisest thing
therefore in our pred.cament TO yield and
let them have Their own way, hoping that
they would at least act humanity and not
ntsIct torture upon the miserable wretch.
There was not the least doubt in our
minds that the Chilean was also guilty OF
the foul crime of having poisoned the cap
tain.
Some of the men kept guard over the
doomed prisoner, while others prepared
for the grewsome performance. a block
Was fastened on the foreyard, through
which they rove a new boits-fall, a stout
manila rope. which led down to the
deck. where one end of Il was again rove
through a leading block, whilst the other
part was left dangling loose. to be fas-
tened 10 the small rope around the Gull
prits neck.
They drew lots 10 see who should adj
just the moose and give the signal when
everything was ready TO swing the con-
demged man of, and IL fell by a singular
coincidence of fate or chance. whatever
{ miy have been, on the Chlean's own
boat steerer. the Portuguese who had for
merry steered the captain and whose
place l had taken when I came aboard
the brig. Sailors as A rule are more or
less superstltious. and this was interpret
ed as a decree OF the Lord. When the
cuiprit was placed or the forehatch and
his former boat steerer proceeded to strap
his legs together and tie his hands behind
mis- back, after adjust ting the moose prop
erly. he weakened and offered TO make II
full confession OF his guilt If he would
ne allowed sufficient time for prayer and
exhortation To the Virgin afterwards
which was readily granted him. The main
and most important substance of the con-
fession was that he had secretly pos
sessed himself Of small quantity of ar
sentc, which was kept IN the captains
room, and was used TO poison the rats
which infested the vessels in large num-
bers. and that he unobservedly mixed
some of this In the fish ehowder which
the steward had deposited on "a table IN
the pantry on that fatefut evening. and
while the latter had gone back 10 the gall
ley TO fetch the teapot aud the rest OF the
supper.
The reasons for committing his Infamous
and most cowardly crime are already
known. and need no further comment
Suffice 10 say thas The wretch showed az
least AZ the last moment some apparent
sigg, OF repentance. for ne prayed long
and earnestly for forgiveness. When the
had finished q handkerchief WIS quickly
tied over his eyes. and the boat steerer
before mentioned once more examined and
adjusted the Moose. after which he stepped
10 the break of the topgaliaur toreeas,le
and gave the bell a loud stroke. where
upon the criminal was quickly swung off
Towards evening the dead body OF IN,
murderer was sewed UP ia canvas and at
midnight committed TO the deep. but
without the customary rites OF 3 funeral
Al sea. 10 which the superstit!ods Por,u-
guess would not consent.
The stewards body was buried the fol-
lowing morning IN the usual style, the
brig lying to-. colors NJ half-nasS. the
vessels bell tol.ng the funeral kRell. and
the men singing a requiem after tie mate
had read prayers for the dead.
The woman never recovered from the
shock OF the previous morning. when she
had witnessed her lover strike down the
steward TO his deaih, and she never learn
ed from any of us on board the true cir
cumslances OF the second mates nisera
bic end. though she seemed 10 be aware
something had happened 10 him. sac KEEP
her room, speaking 20 no one. t1king her
food mechanically when offered. and be-
haved IN general like a harmless im5e-