Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1869-01-08 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

TRAGIC EVENTS ON SHIPBOARD.—The Fenne Chien& arrived at this port (Stockton-on-Tees) on the 2ml instant from Pernambuco. The vessel sailed from Monte Video for Pernambuco on the 14th May last. On the 16th, at ten p.m., the first mate had charge of the deck, and went forward to order a seaman named Rogers to relieve the man at the wheel. Rogers gave the mate a severe blow on the bead with a piece of iron, which stunned him, and, drawing a razor. cut, as he expected, the mate's throat, and then threw him overboard. The splash in the water was heard in the galley by the cook, who immediately ran to the vessel's side and saw the mate, who had got hold of a rope, alongside. He told the mate to hold on, and lie would assist him on board. 1-1 t appears that the exclamation had been heard by Rogers, for, as the cook was stooping over the bulwarks to assist the mate, Rogers went up to him, took him by the legs, easily turned him overboard, and then, with an axe, severed the rope to which the two men clung. After committing this murderous deed he stationed himself beside the companion, immediately over the master's berth, making a noise to attract his attention, knowing that he would come on deck to see what was the matter. Rogers, with raised axe, so placed himself that he could kill the master as soon as he showed his head ; hut when the master was ascending the companion, the second mate, whose berth was in the routzd house immediately opposite, saw Rogers in his position, and, in fear, jumped down the companion, knocking the captain down. The hatch was immediately closed over them, and they were then prisoners. Had the second mate been one moment later, it is certain that Rogers would have succeeded in his intention to kill the master. As soon as the hatch was closed, the cable chains were piled on the hatch and skylight, and drawn round them, making it impossible for the master and mate to get out. Rogers then worked the vessel with two men, an American and an Irishman, keeping guard over them with the axe. He knew that the vessel was only two days' sail from land, and shaped her course to make it; hut, strange to say, the very method he took to secure the master and mate baffled this intention. The quantity of chain on and about the skylight acted on the compass, altering so much that the vessel NFU Parallel to the d, and continw There were no provisions on deck. lived on a few pigeons and chicke• ate the dog. Rogers tried to eta sink the vessel, but the master, hearing thi suspecting the matter, broke through the bead. This alarmed Rogers, who immediately deck. On the fourth day one of the men called-to master to come on deck, saying that Rogers was dead— the American had killed him but he, believing that the three men were in the plot, refused, unless the body of Rogers was thrown down into the cabin. This was done, and a shocking spectacle it was, the head being nearly severed from the body. On going on deck the master found fearful indications of the double tragedy—blood all over the deck. Rogers was buried at sea next day, and the vessel proceeded to Pernambuco, on arriving at which port the case was investigated before the magistrates, who.. Acquitted the two men, there not being evidence to implicate them. Rogers and one, or both, of the men had been shipmates before, and were discharged for bail oonduct. Rogers was born in Loam.  —sofa  le three men and  :en;  start  ladies upon the bride w;ke di After the ring had beeq-livei struck up, and cannon  oy event. A large party of the bride . father, .newly,martied pair • loog life aod  costs. r also found was  ted ed , 'Et •h- ' '7 cab ' `,l " T„ Befo . • .w) F. McN Ale Up. charged wi • inst., and orde Sliohael Nowb Proem. ho '• be