Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-14
THE VANOUSEN TRAGEDY.
The Schooner and Murderer Maxwell Brought
Into St. John. N. 8.

St. John. n. T., Nov. 13.-The
schooner J. +. Vandusen. which was
the scene Of a tragedy. Saturday even
ing. came into port. Monday night.
with a crew shipped from Beaver Har-
Dor. The tug Dirego brought up the
captains body. Mate Alder Campbell
and Sailor John Mcintyre and Cook
Frank l.. Snowden. Elmer Maxwell.
the murderer. is on the way. in a sleigh
with three officers.
The mate says Maxwell came on
board drunk ana turned in. The cap
tain awakened him at $50 off Mus
quash but he refused to 60 to work or
To sign articles. Blows We're the result,
but the mate djd not see the beginning
of the row. He was summoned to the
scene by the captain crying out. Mes
got my knife. help" He separated
them and held Maxwell. Captain
Baisley ran aft and climbed down to
the rail Of the schooner. This brought
his head on about level with the big
deckload of lumber. He was clinging
to the miZzen rigging and trying to
staunch blood flowing from a wound.
Maxwell threatened the mate. who ran
to get a capstain bar for a weapon.
Before he got it he heard the sailor at
the wheel sing out. The captains over
board"
Mcintyre. who was at the wheel
says when the mate left. Maxwell
rushed to where the captain was hold
ing to the shrouds and kicked him in
the head. Then he leaned over the
edge Of the deckload and struck the
p1nt1in three an in 40 i1,,
1t was too dark to see the knife but at
every blow the captain groaned. and
at the last lost his hold and fell into
the sea. Maxwell said. There. he's
gone. to he'll with him. he was no good
anyway"
Campbell ana Mcintyre lowered boat
and picked up the captain but he died u
( minutes after they got him into the boat
without having spoken The schooner
sailed away from them ana they started
for land. 10 miles away. They had lust
beach"d their boat in Dipper Harbor
when II began to snow ana howlin5
gale followed. Had they been half an
hour later they would never have reached
shore.
Cook Frank u. Snowden says: after
| Maxwell had supper he came to the gai
4 ley. on the captains orders, | told Max
! well to 90 forward ana sign articles HI
| refused. saying there was plenty of time
\ the cantain then came ID the galley ana
/ asked him to sign. He said I'm sign
( tomorrow. He refused when again ask N
/ and also refused tO turn to. The captain
! went out and came back and orderel
! Maxwell to the fnrccastle. where he b.
| lon"ed. He said the galley was no place
4 for him. Maxwell said he would not 20
7 The captain Erappled him ana put hin
out with some difficulty and got him int
the forecastle. locking him in. Maxwell
! cursed from he inside
/ SnOwden saW only the last Of the fight
I on deck. Then he tried to quiet Maxwell
who answered with oaths. His story
Y the row corruhorates the others. after
/ the boat was lowered" he said. ~ hove
! the vessel To and waited an hour and
! three quarters Then signs Of Il stora
/ appearing, | headed for Beaver Harbor
/ Maxwell talked little and said nothing in
! eliminating. We just Spcculated as I,
/ why the boat had not shown up. AftcI
/ the boat was lowered Maxwell stayed uI
! deck a while. then went u the galley am
| washed his hands He came out agaiT
! and went back for his coat. | slept ~
/ the lounge in the cabin and Maxwell i!
4 the mates bunk. ! saw Maxwell buy hi:
| knife in Portsmouth. the last voyage. L
| was big j1cllknife blade, three inches
| Maxwell told the chief of police he how,
, it overheard.
The case will probably be tried in tn,
| United States. as the boat has an Ameri
can register and the crime was commit
ted on the high seas outside the three
| mile limit.