The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-06-11
OF SOUTH
SEAS Gets LIFE

SUvA, Fiii-The story of the crime
of which Joseph Martlemans or Morti-
mer has, after more than a year g de-
lay, at last been found guilty is one
of the most sensational in the history
Of the South Seas-a tale fun Of thrill
ling allegations, eold-blooded murders,
piracy, treachery, and the compulsory
submission Of an accomplish under
arms. The central figure of the
romance in the first instance gave his
name as Taylor, and later ON as Morti-
| mer.
A little American schooner, of about
fifty tons, named the Neuvre Tigre,
flying the Italian flag, and engaged in
the coastal trade of Callao, sailed about
sixteen months ago on short journey,
and as soon as she was out of sight
Of land Mortlemans or Mortimer, who
was employed as the cook of the yes
sci, planned the murder of both the
captain and the mate, and successfully
carried out his intention to steal the
vessel. He saved young seaman nam
| ed Jackson, who also went under the
name of Skerritt or Skerrett, and by
threatening his life made him an 0be-
dent accomplish. The name of the
vessel was erased and the schooner sail
ked before the wind until at last she
reached the Gilbert Islands, where she
was wrecked in February, 1908, on a
reef in Apamama Lagoon. Neither
Mortlemans nor his assistant had any
knowledge of navigation, and they were
ignorant of the locality where their YES
sci came to grief.
Within a quarter of an hour of the
stranding of the mysterious and name
less schooner the island trading vessel
Laurel arrived on the scene. MOrtle-
mans said that he came from Valpa-
raise, and that his vessel when going
about mis-stayed, and went on to the
reef. In reply to questions he said
that he was the captain, and when ask
ed the whereabouts of the crew he
pointed to Skerrett, lad of apparently
seventeen years of age.
! The suspicious of the officers of the
Laurel were at once aroused. Mortle-
mans declared that his vessel, which
was heeling over, was not registered,
and when asked what flag she sailed
under replied, "No flag at all.'' There
were no clearance papers on board, and
Mortlemans said that his vessel had
no name-that she had not been named
when he bought her.
The mate of the Laurel asked Mortle-
mans whether he had a chronometer on
board, and he replid, Ono; but we
have an eight-da clock, which does
not lose minute a week.
On the following morning the two
men from the mysterious vessel, at the
invitation of Captain Malcolm, break
tasted on board the Laurel, and the
conversation naturally was confined to
the wreck. Mortlemans then told the
captain that the schooner had originally
been named the Puelche, of Valparaiso;
That he had bought her from Mr..
Usshley, of that port; and that he pro-
. posed to christen her the White Rose
The native magistrate at the Apa'
mama Lagoon became very suspicious
concerning Mortlemans and his COM
rade, and, unknown to them, arranged
with Captain Hendley, master of the
Louise j. Kenny, belonging to Burns,
I Philip, and Co., to convey them to Ia
rawa, the seat of government The
men were offered a passage as a favor,
and accepted.
During the voyage Mortlemans told
Observation-Disclosures 900
involved a war between line and staff
, officers and in this particular instance
affected conflict between nearly all
, the officers of the Navy and the Con-
| struction Corps. Engineering and con-
struction used to be one bureau years
ago. Admiral Caps, the present chief
of construction a very able and COM
|, petent man. was educated as an en-
nd hn "a
giving him larger authority over
strictly engineering work. At one time
he was the acting chief of the En-
cheering Bureau. His critics, while
conceding that he is well qualified for
the larger tasks, argue that the De-
partment las been placing too much
} power in the hands of one man and
that the construction corps, intended
chiefly to superintend the construction
and repair of warships. is gaining too
, much authority. This has been ac-
centuated, to the minds OF the critics.
by the additional authority that new
plans for the administration OF the
Navy yards confer upon the officers
) of the construction corps.
Attorney General Wickersham,
whom the more radical Republicans
were QUICK TO cI1tlclze, mas DeeH gam
ing in favor, with evidences that he
is diligently after evildoers, but that
he is not hunting them with a brass
band. The speeches of the Attorney
General, on a few trips out Of Wash
. ington. have been received in friendly
) spirit Although he has been an Of
: flee lawyer. there are indications that
he will prove an effective speaker and
: that he is likely to become one OF the
: Presidents strongest spokesman in
side the cabinet. Earlier, Secretary
of War Dickinson was rather expect
} cd 10 MI the premier role OF spokes'
. man, because OF his fame as an effec-
, tive orator and his big grasp OF public
/ questions, But the War Department
, Is restricted In It's jurisdiction and the
9 work that the Attorney General hai
/ 90 do is. probably, OF more immediats
D interest 20 the large masses Of tbs
people,
Secretary 81 state Knox Is ayers'
D 20 public speaking while SECRETARY