New-York tribune., 1909-05-06
A LOST CREW In PRISON
AMERICAN WHALERS IN
VFNEZUEL4N JAIL.
One Escapes and Tells of Seizure IN
I90f-Mcn Long MOurned
as Dead.


Kinesfown st. Vincent. B. w 1, May st
NAV be that captain Colin Stephenson and the
crew of the American whaling ship Carrie d.
Knowles long since thought to have been lost
at sea are still alive in Venezuelan prison
A.; American seaman. who gives the name OK
Payne, an escaped prisoner from Venezuela mas
made his way to Kingstown. where he laid pc
fore the authorities an astounding story OF the
seizure of the Carrie D. Knowles at Nenezue-
Ian mort where she arrived five years ago IN
distress, and the incarceration by the Nenezue-
Ians Of the captain and his men
So convinced are the authorities here thaI
there is truth in Paynes story that they have
taken down his full statement and have maze
preparations for a speedy and thorough investi-
CATION Of the case.
on January % 1904 the Carrie d. Knowles
sailed from, Proyincetown, Mass, on a whaling
VOYAGE. Her captain was Collin Stephenson ana
hor first mate was n. A. Martin. She carried d
crew Of about a dozen men These are the
names as given by Payne to the authorities here
and as far as he could remember the names OF
the members OF the crew were Wallace, warner
Robertson HAZEL. Sam, Davis, Pierre Grant
Lewis and John. Payne asserts positively that
all of these men are now confined IN ven
ezuelau prison
with all hands in a West Indian storm. Some OF
the men belonged in St. Vincent, and after all
hone was given up of their return their rela-
ti,as nut on mourning garments, and the local
Insurance company eventually paid the claims
against il. on the assumption that the sailors
were dead.
The story Payne told to the police authorities
here to-day caused great excitement not only
because OF the seriousness of the charges
against the Venezuelan authorities, but because
u added another to the many tales which have
reached st. Vincent concerning the high hahdeu
methods adopted by the venezuelans under the
administration of castro. Payne sa'd thaI C''
,,baI,.r had been disabled in storm on the
,-..,,.,,,ol,r, coast and had made port in dis
tress This was five years ago, but the exact
,,,. bo could not remember. She was at once
s.f,ad and the. captain and crew were made
,,r.so,ers and thrown into jail. He says that
an +bo men are alive but are still closely con-
fined.
The details Of Payne's escape from prison are
not known The police have him In charge ana
will detain him until the. investigation OF tht
authorities establishes the truth or falsty of
his assertion. It is possible. however that ne
is one Of the score or more prisoners VINO
escaped from the penitentary at haracaioo
about two weeks ago Some Of these men sue
ceeded IN making tnelT way lH'' ''''''''''.' '-
from ttat country It would not be difficult 70
reach ST. vincent
Provincetovn. Mass. Nav 1.-THE dispatch
from, Kingston. outlining the story told 10y an
escaped Venezuelan prisoner TO the effect that
the crew Of the lost ProvIncetown whaler, Carrie
= Knowles were in a prison in venezuela
~. ,.a,,eed intense interest here The
identity of Payne isy not clear. but II may be
that h.. is Elisha Payne. a seaman OF Province
town who rnysteriouslv disappeared from this
mort about the time Of the sailing Of the
ttnov-Ies So far as known here, however.
Payne was not a member Of the crew when she
sailed.
The following men were on board when tie
vessel left Provincetown: Collin Stephenson
captaiu. Il 4 Martin first mate; Charles A. Mar
tin. son Of the mate. cabin boy. all OF Province
town. Charles A. Marselean, second mate Rob
ert G. Robson. boatsteerer; James L. Hazel.
steward, Percy A Warner. mate aloft. all OF
New Bedford: J. Sam. Thomas Pierre. Joseph
Grant. Arthur Lewis. Adolphus Jon and Thomas
Ferry. seamen. all of the West Indies.
Captain Stephenson was native OF Dominica
West Indies Martins wife was Provincetown
girl. and she still lives here. She has five
children Mrs. Stephs nson lived I'm Province
town but died some time ago.
The schooner was built at Essex, Mass. for
the whaling trade and was owned by George O.
Knowles. Of Provincetown. Mr.. Knowles died
last winter