Year: 1879

MYSTERIOUS TRAGEDY ON TUGBoAT-THl


NIGHT wATcHMAN FOUND ON THE pEcI


WITH BULLET HOLE IN HIS FOREHEAD


WAS HE MURDERED BY RIVER PIRATES?


The death of Nelson Prudhomme. deck hand
who shot through the brain early yesterday
morning while attending to his duties the steam
boat Belle at the foot of West Fourteenth street
presents several mysterious features which leave II
open question whether he committed suicide.
accidentally shot. or murdered by river
pirates. The Belle arrived Tuesday afternoon from
Troy. having fifty canal boats in tow laden with
grain and other produce The steamer is owned by
the Schuyler Towing Company and is COM
manded by Captain John Oliver. She left
the boats st the Battery and proceeded
to the Scranton Coal dock. Jersey City. Tuesday
evening the Belle anchored at the foot of West Four
tecnth street, where she was being provided with Q
piston. About eight O'Clock deceased and the
mate Daniel Waite went together to the Folly The
atre. They returned to the vessel ABOUT quarter
to twelve O'Clock at which time deceased reported
for duty. 1t was his night to act as watchman. and
previous to assuming his vigil he provided with
a heavy six-chAmbered revolver. 1t was midnight
when he began his rounds Of inspecting the vessel
and he was then as usual sober and good spirits.
The other hands, consisting OF the captain. three





a colored cook and her husband. had turned in to
sleep.


Nothing unusual transpired until between two and
half-past two in the morning, when deceased called
Samuel knight. Rand and Charles Bates. deck hands,
them that he wanted their assistance. "Sam," he
said. addressing Rand. get up; there are two men
aft in boat" Rand replied. mo. sir; I'm very
sleepy; but if they trouble you any call me-"
Rand thereupon fell asleep, but an hour or later
he was awakened by the report of two pistol shots
apd1a 1afar in ha 4arA hut ho
went to sleep and paid NO further attention to the
noise. ABOUT six A. NJ. Charles Poland. the pilot.
wit with his 'S head toward @ the north and his facs
looking to the river. The pilot informed
a eoa
in the frontal bone and his revolver grasped in his
outstretched hand at right angles from has body
At first glance 1t appeared If he had shot himself
but slight investigation dispelled this theory. The
revolver, when examined. told different tale. The
loose tobacco dust as if he had the weapon slowed
away in his coat pocket, and was in the act OF dis
charging it presenting it at some person for the
purpose OF intimidation when he received his death
wound. His thumb was pressed against the ham,
mer. which was dewn. as il he were in the act of
rested, empty; but 1t is certain from the ad-
hesion of the tobacco to the mouth of the muzzle
that the weapon was not discharged.


Charles Poland. the pilot. said:-"Prudhomme
the jollest, soberest hand on board. He would
be the last man in the world to take his own life
have doubt that he was shot by river pirates"


TEE CAPTAINS STATEMENT


Captain John Oliver explained what he knew in
connection with the case. as foilows:-"Last night
exchanged pistols with Samuel Kent. one Of the
deck hands. Mine large calibre six-shooter,
and Kent's was u smaller seven-shooter." 1t ap-
pears that Kent in turn gave che captains revolver
to- deceased when he went on duty at midnight. $50
far know" continued the captain. "an the cham
bers were then loaded Invent to bed at nine clock
and awoke at three O'Clock. / stepped from my
cabin to the deck opposite the ventilator and red
three shots in quick succession into the river from
the starboard side, forward. did this because it is
usual to FIRE OF pistols during tho night to scare
river thieves. was standing at the side OF the
paddlewheel at the time and then returned to my
room and dressed myself fully next went aft to
take general survey and that all things were in
proper condition. On the starboard side of the
main deck. aft, directly from the place where de-
ceased lay. on the upper deck. found the spring
line depending put it back on the rack where 1t
belonged. 1t was then about four o'clock. also
found that forty fathoms of West Point spring line
were gone and made up my mind that it had been
stolen during the night. then went into the cook
house, where remained until six O'Clock, when the
breakfast bell rang shortly afterward the pilot in
formed me that deceased was asleep on the upper
deck. When went there saw that he was dead.
have no doubt whatever that he was shot by river
pirates"


Henry Crum, of the icebarge L. N. Shears Captain
Derping. said that he heard two shots hred about
half-past two O'Clock in the morning. The reports
came from the direction Of the tugboat Belle. He
did not investigate the cause OF the silooting but
continued to attend to his business. His boat lay
adjoining the Belle and was nearer the dock He did
not notice the presence of river pirates or other
thieves in the vicinity.


The deceased was twenty-three years of age, and
Sides The latter was telegraphed to, apprising
him of the tragic occurrence and. in answer to the
despatch he arrived yesterday afternoon just the
body had been removed to an undertaker's.


Coroner Ellinger viewed the remains and granted
burial certificate. The autopsy will be held this
morning. when it will be ascertained which direc-
ton the bullet has taken and IL it is Of the calibre
match the revolver in the hand of deceased.


IMPROBABLE THEORY.


Another theory WAS also advanced yesterday to the
effect that Captain Oliver. when firing of his pistol
at three o'clock in the morning. may have acci-
dentaly shot deceased but the Captain states that
such proposition Is out OF the question, he fred
directly into the water and not the direction of
deceased He said that the paddle interviewed be-
tween them and that therefore IL he red northward
in place of westward his bullet would have found
lodgement in the towering paddle box.