The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-27
4 MODERN CAIN.
Hnllucination of IA sailor Who Re-
fuses TO set Foot on Land


From the PHILADELPHIA Times.
The tragedy of lifetime was borne 81
lently from this port to the broad Atlantic
on the American ship e. b. Sutton, which
sailed for San Francisco yesterday Among
her crew of twenty-four is one man, Wal
ter Dunbar a foremost hand. on whom
has descended a hallucination which has
cmbttercd his entire existence. lie con-
ddeuty believes that to satisfy the wrath
of an offended Deity II Is his destiny TO
commit murder and chat il win be his best
and dearest loved onos who will fall by his
unwilling hand.
\ pathetic romance is embodied in the
life Of this now humble sailor Once he
committed murder, presumably in self de-
Tense, but in restitution he has known no
nome ana no country. lie has been a mis-
cradle waudcrcr over every sea and
stranger than all he beaTa upon his body
that which he calls the lark OF God"
capt Carver shipped me outcast on a
previous voyage of the Z, b. sutton to the
west coast. lie was good sailor, attend
ed strictly to his work, was thoroughly
amenOble TO discipline and was regarded
as a pearl of the FIRST water in these lat
ter days of saormeu's independence.
Dunbar was considered a strange man by
the crew on the homeward voyage He
never spoke and yet he would never he left
alone. lie was regarded alike with fear
and curiosity on his back, between his
shoulders, was "a curious symbol. appar-
entity in the shape OF Roman cross, ana
it's queer color varied IN tone with the
emotions Of the silent man. 1t was an OBJ
ject of dread and of superstition to his
mess mates. They prayed ferventy that
the voyage might terminate at New York
in safety
sim the uncanny mark and the remark
able personality Of Dunbar were no i'm
~ 10
Her long run of 1900 miles was made In
safety. When she came to Philadelphia
10 load during the early days of July she
still numbered among her crew the human
mystery
Capt. Carver knows Dunbars story He
is a master mariner above the generality
OF that class. He understands and appra.
ciatos humon emotion. He can partially
understand the sentiments which agitate
the strangely marked sailor who dares not
set his foot on shore lest he fulfill an awful
dYuny.
Years ago when Dunbar had no thought
OF the sea and its rough life he and his
brother quarreled. Blows were struck ana
the latter fell. With his last words he
said:
Gods surse is on you l am not tho
last of the family who will die by your
hand"
Had Dunbar been a man OF lees refined
sensibilties he might have attached little
moment 10 the dying mans imprecation
In youth, however, he had been an IDEAL
ist With mind inordinately developed
possessing nervous and high strung in
tellect. those last muttered words dwelt
forever in his mind. lie felt himself in
deed, bearing the mark of Cain. SO strong
became the influence that the mark In
deed, appeared, Family at first but IL
soon glowcd omnously Dunbar described
it before he had ever managed TO catch
rs reflected image.
1T is the mark of God" he said and he
became a wanderer on the face of the
earth
Not on the earth, indeed but on the sea
only was to be found safety. deadly
fear seized him. He was impeiled invol-
unfairly TO lift his hand against his
brother, his father and his sisters. There
was no salvation but to place an mpass-
able barrier between himself and them.
For nine long years. therefore, Walter
Dunbar has set no foot on land. One voy-
age ended he transfers to another vessel
in a boat. His family have received no
word of him. He Is a modern Enoch Ar
den and they believe him dead.
His former home was in Dayton, o., but
he will never see II again. He believes
that until atonement has been made the
mark viii remain. Capt Carver. who tells
his story, believes that he has long since
paid the penalty for an unprecedented
crime