Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-07-13
Horrible Tradegy on Board Little
Trading Schooner Olympia Off
the Honduras Coast.
ROBBERY PROMPTED THE CRIME
Negro Slowed Himself Away. Shot
Crew and Passengers and Made
His Escape in Dory-Lone Woman
Survivor, Stunned by Blow of Oar,
swlms Back to island.
; tBy Associated Press.>


NEW ORLEANS, July 12.-Onc of
the most shocking stories of murder.
with robbery as the motive, III the
annals of crime, was brought to this
city today by Captain Hans Holm, of
the Norwegian fruiter, Brattcn, which
plies between New Orleans and Hon
duras points. II was subsequently
confirmed by the officers of The fruit
steamer ROsina, which came in later
in the evening, with additional de-
tails.
Scene of the Tragedy.
The little island of Utila, lying OF
the Honduras coast, whose population
is an indiscriminate mixture of
whites, Caymaniles and Caribs, was
the scene of the tragedy in which
twelve lives were sacrificed.
The captain of the little trading
schooner Olympia, was about to make
trip to Ruatani, Truzillo and Belize.
He had about 81 400 and was to buy
cattle at Truxilfo to sell mt Belize. The
steamer carried crew of four and
quite n number of passengers, making
the total list Of people aboard num-
Der thirteen. Among these were two
women and two children
Shot Them With Rifle.
The vessel left the harbor Of
Utilla ut II O'Clock Friday night, June
80. and after she had been under
waylless than an hour everybody was
aroused by shot and, rushing on
deck, found a negro armed with
Winchester rifle, shooting down the
men one after another.
This negro was Robert McGill and
as il was afterwards developed, he
had slowed himself away aboard with
the intention of robbng the captain
and then swimming ashore.
After he had killed all but one of
the men. he ordered the survivor to go
below and scuttle the ship
.t.n Last Man Shot.
When the unfortunate re-appeared
on deck and reported, the negro shot
him dead. He then put the two wO-
men, Miss Elsie Morgan and her
sister, Mrs Walter Rose, in the dory,
with Mrs. Roses six-wcck-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 infant, Then he began
shooting ut Miss Morgan and wounded
her in the arm.
She jumped overheard and started
to swim hack to the island. He fired
at her Intellectually, but his ammuni-
tion gave out. and he promised her
immunity from harm 70 she would
come back to the dory.
Struck Her With Car.
She started back and when within
All oars length of the boat he struck
her ON the head with an oar, stun
ming her. Believing she was dead, he
rowed away towards the mainland.
Miss Morgan swan hack to the
island, where she was thrown OH the
beach by the waves in an exhausted
condition. She feared that the negro
would follow her, so she hid in the
brushes and for two days suffered
from tho heat and exposure, until
found by woman from her neighbor-
hood and rescued from starvation.
In the meantime, the dory had been
washed ashore and there was excite
ment on the island, rs 1t was he
lieved the Olympia had gone down
with all hands.
McGil Captured on Mainland.
When Miss Morgan told her story,
an immediate search was instituted
for McGill, and the authorities on
the mainland were notified
They cnught him at I'll Portvini, a
little town on the road to Cebia, and
there was quite n demonstration, but
he was protected.
His life was saved through the pre-
sence on the coast Of President b.
nilla, who was on an inspection tour.
The Honduras warship Ta Tumble,
which has figured in SO dany fevolu-