New-York tribune., 1910-08-23
TRIED TO HOLD UP SHIP
Captains Slayer Thought to
Have Leaped Into Sea.
HIS ACCOMPLICE WEAKENS
Hides in Bunk After Lining Up
Officers and Men at the
MuzZle of Gun.

San Francisco, Aug. 22-With her captain
dead in his cabin as a result of an attempt
by two desperados to hold up and rob his
ship at sea. the steamship Buckman ar
rived to-day from Seattle with George
Washington Wise, one of the two culprits,
In irons. Since he was captured early yes
terday he has confessed that he and
French West planned to murder the officers
and crew of the steamship before beachinS
her on the coast near Point Blanco.
This plan would have been carried out
had 1t not been for the cowardice of Wise.
according to officers of the Buckman- After
holding a shotgun levelled at the quarter
master and the second mate for three
hours Wise deserted his post Seeing the
futility OF trying to overcome the crew
alive, West is believed to have jumped
overheard. No one saw him leap. however,
and the ship will be thoroughly searched in
the hope that the murderer Of Captain
Wood may still be on board
Heavily armed and equipped with cords
to be used in tying up the ''owl watch"
the two men invaded the bridge at mid
night. eptered the wheelhouse and com
PEELED Second Officer Frederick Plath and
Quartermaster Otto Kohlmeister to throw
up their hands.
Leaving the second officer and the quar-
termaster in charge OF Wise, after binding
PIath and instructing Kohlmeister TO hold
the vessels nose toward shore, West de-
manded entrance TO Captain Woods cabin.
What reply the captain gave will never be
known. From the position of his body, 1t
is believed that he was reaching for his
revolver when West fired through the door
and riddled him with buckshot.
In the mean time Path strained at his
bonds until he could reach the signal cord
He gave the signal to the engine room
that there was a fire on board.
Chief Engineer John Callfas ran to the
bridge, where he was met with a command
to hold up his hands. He obeyed promptly
and joined the lineup. which now included
two-thirds of the crew. West instructed
them to hold to the bridge rope, which
was above their heads.
Callfas, watching a chance. jumped over
the bridge aft through the skylight into the
galley. West went in pursuit of the chief
engineer, and the men whom he had
guarded fed in all directions. At this juno
ture Wilson, the watchman, appeared on
the scene with the only revolver outside the
captains cabin He snapped the weapon
twice al Wise, but it failed to explode. This
was enough, however, for the weaker of
the two thugs. He fled. only to meet his
partner, who, al the point of his shotgun,
ordered him to cut the wireless connections.
West began shooting whenever a head
appeared Finally a splash was heard and
all became quiet on board. At first no trace
of either robber could be found Wise was
afterward discovered hiding in his bunk
According TO Wise. he met West on board
the training ship Pensacola. They deserted
the navy and went to Seattle. When they
boarded the Buckman they were well
equipped with arms and ropes with which
to overcome and bind the officers and crew
They planned TO beach the BucIman. rob
the purser and passengers and make their
way with their booty to shore in a small
boat.