The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-10-20

It was one week yesterday since the
ill fated schooner Harry A. Berwiad
was anchored off the bar at South
port, the three surviving members Of
her crew at the time having been put
in chains and taken aboard the
schooner Blanche H. King. Each Gay
since the horrible affair occurred on
board the Berw1nd some new mater
of interest has come to light, but no
one has the slightest idea that the
real truth of the affair has been reiat-
ed by the three negroes. In a state
ment made several y days since by
Scott to Captain David S. Stetson he
implicated both himself, Adams
and Sawyer, but the two latter still
deny having committed murder.
While in the Southport Jail Adams
wrote a letter to his uncle in Phila
delphia, which was received there on
the 18th. The letter written by Ad-
ans, a copy of which was received last
night, reads as follows, and is glveI
just as written
Southport, North Carolina,
October 18th, 1905.
"My Dear Uncle Hem
am going TO write you these few
lines with anguish and tears in roy
eyes. l suppose you got the papers
and seen what is in it.
Il am going to tell you about this
trouble.
"On the 10th Of this Month at 4
o'clock in the morning myself and Mr..
S2 Wyer went below. We was in the
Captains watch, but we leave the
Captain in the Engine Room himself
and the Engineer. About 5 o'clock the
fellow that was to the wheel run to
Forecastle door and woke us up ana
said, they is shooting Aft. He was so
frightened 1 could not get up, me an
time this Scott the desperate man
came to the door with a gun, and for
bid us to come out of the Fourcastle,
,or else he will shoot every dam one.
He ordered Coakly to go back to the
wheel, then he went Aft again, then
heard Mr.. Sawyer said Oh God don't
shoot me, and Scott said don't shoot
you, and then a report, then Sawyer
ran back in the Forecastle. For a
while after he Scott came back and
ordered us TO come on deck and claw
up the Topsails. we'll we did not went
Immediately, so he came back with me
gun and said, # we don't do as he told
us he will kill us, so we went. At tuat
time | looked all around, all who l see
was this man to the wheel, then he bid
us to go back Forward, we sit on the
Forecastle head a while after I see
the Engineer on the weather side at
the Spanker rigging wash in blood,
and Scott on top of the House with
the gun in his hand, then he finish
him and throw him overheard. A
while after, I heard a loud crying Aft
when | look it was Mate, and Scott
was to get him overheard, but he was
wrestling with him, then he give MIN
two shots and throw him overheard,
then he brought the Cook out dead
and throw him over to, but he killed
the Captain and throw him overheard
before We come on deck. Then we
was so scared that he would shoot us
which he told us if we don't do as he
say he will shoot us, so we a to obey
him. Well we got a chance we hold
him and chain him, we took away a
gun, that was in the night, now he
ask us to put him on top Of the house
and We did SO. Coakly was to the
wheel, we saw a light and myself aud
Sawyer went Forward, then we heard
a shot and Coakley sing out, Oh Lord
l am shot, when we went Coakly was
on top of him. and Scott had a Gun
in his hand, and we fell on him and
take it away, as only one of his hands
was loose. So COakly died 10 min
utes after. So we saw a Schooner and
we signalled her, and here we are in
Jail, and Scott won't own what be
done, so l am looking out for my deed,
and they found a book in the Cabin
where he Threatened to kill the Cap
tain. Well Uncle Hen. I expect am
one will be punished for nothing. Oh
Uncle Hen, that man Scott has killed
five men and owns that he kill one.
I can hardly write never
thought I would of been in such a
trouble as this. i had never fired a CUR
in my life.
ooh Uncle Hen, l cannot write my
home, for if I do I will die over it. A
Lawyer heard our statement, and ex-
poets to take myself and Sawyer's
case. Tell Mr.. ~Steelbrink, Davy and
Mrs. Daniels I don't think I will ever
see them again, though I am innocent
of it, but trust God for all. I only
hope that Lord can give the Judge
wisdom to judge as Solomon did.
There is plenty more to tell you.
but I may faint over it, if | say any
more, so | must close in food Of tears,
/ remain
"Your Nephew,