The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-13
SHOT EVERY SOUL
ON SHIP At SEA
Col0red Man Murders Men,
Women, and Baby.
FIEND THEN LOOTs VESSEL
Girl, Wounded, Swims Ashore-Starves
in Bushes Two Days Before
Help Comes.

NEW ORLEANS, July 13.-Capt.
Hans Holme. of the Norwegian fruiter
Bratten, which plies between New Or
leans and Honduran ports. brought an
unusual story of murder when his ship
locked yesterday It was subsequently
confirmed by the officers of the fruit
steamer Rosna. which came in later
with additional details.
The little island of Utilla, lying off the
Honduras coast, ard whose population
Is an indiscriminate mixture of whites.
Caymanites, and CARDS, was the scene
OF the tragedy in which twelve lives
We're sacrificed
Thirteen Persons Aboard.
The captain of the schooner Olympia
was about to make a voyage to Ruatan.
Truxillo, and Belize He had about
i.4o0 soils and was to buy cattle at Trux-
lilo &c sell at Belize. He carried crew
of four and quite a number of passen-
gers. making the total number of people
aboard thirteen. Among these were two
women and two children.
The vessel reached the harbor of
Utilla last Friday night, and after she
had been under way less than an hour
all hands were aroused by a shot. Rush
ing on deck they found a colored man
down the men one after another. 3
The man was Robert McGill. and it
afterward developed that he had slowed
himself ava on board with the inten-
tion of robbing the captain and then
swimming ashore.
Last Man Killed.
After he had killed all but one of the
men. he ordered the last survivor to 50
below and scuttle the ship. When the
unfortunate reappeared on deck and re-
ported. he was shot dead. He then
put the two women. Miss Elsie Morgan
and her sister, Mrs. Walter Rose, in
the dory with Mrs. Roses six weeks old
infant and left the boat, steering for
the mainland.
He changed his mind about allowing
the women to live, and killed Mrs. Rose
and her child Then he began shooting
at Miss Morgan and wounded her in the
arm. She jumped overheard and started
to swim back 20 the island. He fired
ut her inefectually, but his ammunition
evidently gave out. for he promised her
immunity from harm If she would come
back TO the dory.
Struck Her With Oar
She started back, and when within an
oars length he struck her on the head
with an oar, stunning her Believing
she was dead, he rowed away toward
the mainland.
Miss Morgan swan back to the island.
where she was thrown on the beach
by the waves in an exhausted condition
She feared that the murderer would fol-
low her, so she hid III the bushes, and
for two days suffered from the heat
and exposure until found by a woman
from her neighhorhood.
In the meantime the dory had beer
washed ashore. and there was excite
ment on the island. as it was believed
hands. When Miss Morgan told her
story an immediate search was inSti-
tuted for McGill, and the authorities or
the mainland were notified.
Murderer Is Caught.
They caught him at Ell Porvenir, g
little town on the road 10 CeIba, and
there was quite a demonstration, but
he was protected. His life was saved
through the presence on the coast Of
President Bonniila, who was on an lie.
spection tour
The Honduran warshfp La Tumbla
which has figured in so many revolu
lions was brought into service. and III.
murderer placed aboard and sent bacl
to the island
Up TO last Sunday he was still alive
though il is firmly believed he VIII b.
tortured 10 death. The laws of Hon
duras prohibit the infection of capita
punishment, but the people will tax
the case in their own hands
Miss Morgan, the only survivor OF tn
terrible experience. visited New Orlean
three years ago, and Is well-educa ted
refined young woman of twenty fiy
years.