New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-13
CAPTAIN MURDERED BY SAILOR.
A TRAGEDY IN THE BAY OF FUNDY-MUR-
DERER IN CUSTODY ON BOARD

A TRAGEDY IN THE BAY OF FUNDY-MUR-
DERER IN CUSTODY ON BOARD
ST. John, n. B.. Nov. PA murder at sea
on the schooner J. b. Van Dusen was made
known to-day by the receipt Of a message from
the vessels mate TO the owners agent in this
city It stated that Captain Baisley had been
stabbed by q sailor named Maxwell, had after
ward fallen overheard and had died in the ships
boat which had put off to rescue him. AS for
the schooner II had disappeared in the dark
ness under conditions which made it seem prob
able that the murderer and another member OF
the crew had got her under way and headed
in toward the Nova Scotia coast.
The schooner ]. b. Van Dusen left this port
lumber laden for New-York late yesterday af-
ternoon The tragedy evidently enacted In
the Bay Of Fundy, within few hours after
clearing land. The news Of the affair came
from Point Lepreaux. to ]. NJ. Driscoll agent
here for the c. W. Crane Company, of New
York owner Of the vessel and was in the shape
of the following message signed by Mate Camp
bell:
Row on board schooner Van Dusen last night.
Captain Baisley stabbed by Seaman Maxwell,
afterward falling overheard. Mate, with one
man, took boat to rescue captain, who died IN
the boat before reaching Dipper Harbor. Lett
steward and Maxwell on board. Last seen
directly for land l think vessel must be ashore
between Dipper Harbor and Musquash.
Captain Balsey lived in this city. where
his widow and one child live Maxwell who, ac-
cording to the telegram, did the stabbng. is
also n ST. John man, and for several voyages
sailed with Captain Baisley his mate. The
Van Dusen is Of the best known three
masted coastng vessels. She usually carried
lumber from this port to New-York and on the
return carried coal or miscellaneous cargo
The schooner was finally located at Beaver
Harbor to-day. II seems that the vessel. un-
der charge of the cook, Frank Snowden, was run
toward Beaver Harbor for an anchorage. On
making that port Snowden let go both anchors
At daybreak Snowden hailed the captain of an
other schooner which was anchored near by and
said that there had been trouble on board The
captain who had been haied was suspicious OF
what Snowden had told him, he visited the
captains Of other schoonens in the port and then
went ashore. AS there was no resident magls-
trate or n port official in the settlement the mat
ter was referred to several OF the best known
men, and several of them went out 10 the van
Dusen. Snowden asked them 10 go on board
which they did. Everything on deck was ship
shape but on the deckload of lumber was spot
OF blood. The cook said that Captain Baisley
and Maxwell had fight about DARK las. snS nlsnI;
during which the captain had been knocked
overheard, or had fallen. He further said the
mate and another sailor Immediately look tne
hoat and rowed away In search OF Captain
Paisley Their boat, the cook said. soon disap-
peared. and as he had taken the wheel OF the
schooner he kept her up In the wind for some
time honinC that the boat would return. AS the
boat did not show up snowden said he made for
a har5or.
After hearing the stewards story the COM
mlttee took charge Of the schooner. pending In
structions from her owner. Later II was
learned that the Van Dusen's boat. with the
mate and sailor. had arrived at Point Lepreaux
with the body Of Captain Baisley.
At last accounts Maxwell on the schooner
guarded by Snowden.