The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-07-14

New Orleans, July 12.-One of the
most shocking stories with robbery as
the motive, in the annals of crime, was
brought to this city today by Captain
Hans Holm, of the Norwegian fruiteT
Bratten, which plies between New Or
leans and Honduras points. It was
confirmed by the officers of the fruit
steamer Rosina, which came in later
in the evening with additional details
The little island of Utilla, lying of
the Honduras coast, whose population
caymanites 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 Ruatan, Trux-
lilo and Belize. She had about 81 400
and was to buy cattle at TruXillo to
sell at Belize. She carried a crew Of
four and quite number of passengers,
making the total list of people aboard
number thirteen. Among these were
two women and two children.
The vessel left the harbor of Utilla
at IL O'Clock Friday night, June 30,
and after she had been under way less
than an hour everybody was aroused
by shot and, rushing on deck, found
4 negro armed with a Winchester rifle
shooting down the men one after an
other. This negro was Robert McGill
and as it afterwards developed, he had
slowed himself away with the inten-
ton Of rObbiEg the captain and then
sNimtliny ashore. After he bad killed
all but one Of the men he ordered the
last survivor to go below and scuttle
the ship. When the unfortunate re-
appeared on deck and reported. the ne-
gro shot him dead. He then put the
tSvo women, Miss Elsie Morgan and
sister, Mrs. Walter Rose, in the dory
with Mrs. Roses six weeks old infant
add left the boat, steering g for the
mainland. lie changed his mind about
allowing the women 20 live. and killed
Mrs Rose and her infant. Then ne be-
gan shooting ut Miss Morgdn and
wounded her in the arm. She jumped
overheard and started to swim back
to the island He fired at her inetfec-
tually, but his ammunition evidently
gave out, for he promised her immun-
ity from harm if she would come back
to the dory She started back and
when within oars length he struck her
On the head with an oar, stunning her.
believing she was dead he rOWed away
towards 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 negro would follow her, SO
she hid in the bushes, and for two
days suffered from the heat and expo
sure. until finally a woman from her
neighbOrhOOd rescued her from star
Nation In the meantime the dOry had
heen washed ashore and there was en-
element on the island as it was belle:-
ed that the Olympia had gone down
with all hands.
When Miss Morgan told her story,
an immediate search was instituted
for McGill and the authorities on the
mainland were notified. They caught
him at Ell Portivini, a fttle town on
the road to Ceiba, and there was quite
a demonstration, but he was protected.
His life was saved through the pres
ence on the coast of President Bonillc,
who was on an inspection tour. The
Honduran warship TIA Tumbla, which
has figured in SO many revolutions, was
brought into service and the murderer
placed aboard and sent back TO the
island.
Up to last Sunday he was still alive,
though it is firmly believed that he
will be tortured to death. The laws of
Honduras prohibit capital punishment,
but the people will take the case into
their own hands.