The Sun. — 1860-04-04 (London, England)

TRAGEDY ON THE HIGH SEAS.  On Wednesday morning, about 6 o'clock, three men, while in the bay off Staten Island, discovered an oyster sloop with her sails torn to shreds and hanging over her side, which, with the general appearance of the craft, induced them to believe that she had been abandoned. Accordingly, they boarded the sloop, which proved to be the E. A. Johnson, of Islip, Long Island. Her bowsprit was gone, and she was abandoned. The deck was full of clotted blood and PI it, apparently On entering the cabin large pools of blood were found on both sides of the stove, and in the companion way. The starboard quarter on the outside had much b w fienrge foundeprints.r a Her of India boat was glooriole. on the cabin pair rubber boots, several shirts, bedding, and a number of other articles, which could have c been easily taken away if the vessel had been honestly abandoned. The sloop was fast drifting ashore when the steam-tug Ceres, Captain Storens, took her in tow and brought her to the city. As soon as the sloop was brought into the Fultonmarket slip, information was immediately given to the coroner and Captain Weed of the Second Precinct, who boarded her. The deck of the vessel presented the appearance of a slaughterhouse. Everything was covered with blood from stem to stern ; matted hair was found upon the deck, and full and complete evidence of a terrible massacre was plain. An examination was next made of the cabin, and the sight here, if possible, was worse than upon the deck. Floor, tables, chairs, and washstand were besmeared with gore, and everything was disarranged, giving evidence of a furious struggle. A hammer, weighing about three pounds, was found upon the floor, covered, like all else, with blood. Considerable hair was also found upon it, and it is probable that the assassin or assassins used it for the purpose of consummating their villainous deeds. Dr. Bouton, after making a further examination of the cabin, discovered a coffee pot, and this, like the3hammer, was besmeared with blood and covered with hair. It looks as though the crew, being attacked in the cabin, made a desperate resistance, and that during the struggle all available means of attack and defence were used. After the examination of the cabin had been concluded the deck was again visited, and a doco inspection of it still more satisfied everybody that a barbarous murder had been committed. From the cabin door there was an unbroken line of blood to the guards ; but there was the appearance of a struggle, as the pool was very large ; then, again, marks of bloody hands were seen upon the guard, and a hatchet mark. Blood ran down the outer side also. Forward, at the mast, there was more evidence of a terrible struggle. A large pool of blood, yet fresh, lay around, extending to the bow; and here, again, human hair was found. The mast and sails were slightly besmeared, and on the guards, near by, were more imprints of bloody hands. Taken altogether the scene was a sickening one. The name of the captain of the ill-fated sloop was Geo. Burr. He was a man about 34 years of age, and has a family living at Islip, Long Island. He sailed from the foot of Spring•street, on the 15th inst., having on board three deck hands, two of whom were named Smith Watts and Oliver Watts; the name of the third party was not ascertained. The sloop was bound for Virginia for a load of oysters, and it is believed that th captain had upwards of 500 dols. in money with him, with which to purchase the cargo. He called at Keyport, leaving there on Sunday afternoon, and this was the last seen of the sloop until 3 o'clock on Wednesday morning, when she was run into by the schooner John B. Martha, Capt. Nickerson, off Staten Island. Capt. Nickerson says there was one man aboard her then, who ?an towards the bow, as the vessel was about to strike. The sloop struck the schooner about midships, nearly sinking her. No words passed between the vessels, and the sloop dropped astern, but when foundocgsrioa.envwseoanofdbdr:dyih enteihh. ssibec(of3hooaoiritn,Telegraph,hase schooner eca oriN ‘dla.. ear round as to the at abandoned;. dl Ire, esh uatiepdmir Capt. Nickerson oss: Nfet seems men itc. keoasdenpr,tetsoy.oo b. outside evt Tsabehhi ne:liddest twhaeosrdyoausbit-leogsasrkdns known teorrible. aifferai;irTathees,Jwohno: sHtaartbenoulroPanodlisc.e, one eet frightened from tlhiemFeastt andk North RiversL by the n on board the sloop at night, thooonrgewanind These villaihs had probably gone the cabin, after firstthe killing man ondeck, and themmurderedall, afterwards throwing their bodies surie-pfurgiseedo