The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-04-02
The Famous Bark Hespar.

The Hcsper is well known In this port
and Honolulans viii remember how she
came here on the 2ist OF February, 1898,
with the exciting story of a murder at
sea, mutinous sailors having killed their
second mate.
The Hesper sailed from Newcastle on
the 3lst Of January. on the present trip,
with LIE tons of coal, consigned TO or
der.
captain ]. f. o. Soderg"en, the same
captain who commanded her when she
was here in 1892, reports that during
the first part of the passage from the
south light south and southwesterly
winds were experienced. which lasted un-
til February "a, in latitude q degrees and
q minutes south. longitude 1853 degrees
and % minutes west.
Then a strong northerly gale was met
with which lasted for two days, with
heavy rain and confused sea from all
quarters. Thence, from latitude &c de-
grees and 80 minutes south, longitude 100
degrees and minutes west. very light
east and northeast winds were experience
ed. No southeast trades were met with
until latitude 3 degrees south. The equa-
tor was crossed In longitude $50 degrees
and "a minutes west on the 10th instant
Southeast trades were carried to de-
grees and - minutes north After that
grees and 10 minutes north. Shortly aft
erwards the northeast trades were en-
countered with very high and confused
sea from the northeast and north. Fresh
northeast trades were had from 10 de-
grees north to the Hawaiian Islands. The
IslS' 's were sighted on the 26th instant.
CH'r.- and light airs were had from the
&c slant 10 port.
S.r the Hesper's memorable voyage
: "' Newcastle, when the murder took
| at sea, and she arrived here In
ruary of 1898 she sailed from New
atle on December % of the preceding
y''r. with cargo OF coal.
The story which she brought to this
port was one of murder, mutlny and
piracy.
The crew had planned to murder the
captain and four others. and the plot
was only discovered when the first crime
had been committed by the crew.
Thomas lie Clair, one of the sailors,
Matched the plot. He had four others
with him who had sworn N help him
carry out his murderous scheme.
The plot of these men was to murder
the captain and other officers Of the YES
sell then take command and run the
ship either to China or the Chilean coast
on n piratical cruise. IT was on the 18Th
of January, 1899, that the plotters started
to carry out their deadly work.
Inp nlpnt was very NHTK, anu, H'OII w
o'clock, lie Clair Law In wait amidsh'ps
for the second mate, with n hatchet
When his victim approached the sailor
struck him a blow with the sharp edge
and almost instantly killed him. After
the officer fell to the deck the murder ar
struck him several times with the weap-
on, to make sure OF his work.
Two of lie Clair's accomplices came
along about that time and wanted to
| throw tho hnlv OVprhOnrI md remove
all traces OF the crime by washing away
the bloodstains from the deck. lie Clair
was for COINS Immediately after the cap
taln-Captain Sodergren-and the other
marked men and numbering them then
and there. His companions weakened,
however, and lie Clair left them and
went aft.
| The acComplces then picked un the
body OF the murdered man and threw II
overheard. The murderer, after going
aft, told the man at the wheel to call
the captain from below. his intention be-
ing to murder him as soon as he appear
ed on deck. The man at the wheel re-
fused to do this.
When the captain finally came up on
deck and 1t was reported to him by
members of the crew that the second
mate was missing, thorough search Of
the ship was made The captain discoY-
cred the blood on the deckload amidships
and, suspecting foul play, communicated
with his first officer and the two went
quietly aft and armed themselves.
| The members of the crew were after
wards examined and much evidence was
found to place the blame on the heads Of
the plotters.
The next day the captain placed lie
Clair and two others in irons and then
changed his course and made for Tahiti,
which was reached after voyage OF
fourteen days. While the vessel was on
her way to the French settlement to
turn over the prisoners to the American
Consul, the remaining mutineers, two In
number. attempted several times 10 re-
lease the Imprisoned men, but without
success.
At present the bark Hesper In lying In
the stream. She and the British cruiser
Icarus are the only vessels there with
the exception OF those In "Rotten Row I"