MURDER AT SEA.

Evening Star, Issue 2838, 23 March 1872, Page 2

MURDER AT SEA.

The New Zea 7 and Herald of the 28th ult. says—ln our Monday’s issue we published some brief particulars of a murder committed on the high seas, on board a whaling ship, which was expected to have arrived at the Bay of Islands before the Comerang left. By the arrival of this latter vessel in harbor yesterday, we have, however, been able to learn a few additional particulars, for which we are indebted to Captain Wilson, of the whaling Barque Milton, now lying at the Bay of Islands. The captain boarded the Europa just before entcting the Bay of Islands. She is an American whaling ship, belonging to Edgar Town, Massachusetts, and was making for the bay when she and the Milton parted company. From her master, Captain Mellon, Captain Wilson obtained the following information That one of the boat-steerers—a Portuguese—had been murdered by one of the foremast hands, a Portuguese lad about sixteen years of age. It seems that the two had come out from America together in a whaling ship,-the one as fomth mate, and the other as cabin boy. The latter was said to have been very saucy, and several times to have •‘cheeked” his officer, who had several times occasion to correct him as cabin boys are often corrected on board ship-that is, by striking him. A few mouths both the Portuguese and the bov exchanged into the barque Enropa, which was shortly to sail for America with a full cargo The Portuguese was appointed boatsteerer, and the lad was sent into the forecastle. They still got along as badly as ever, the boy often saucing the steercr, who, in his turn, administered slight castigation. The lad is described as having been of a sullen, morose disposition, and he was on more than one occasion heard to vow vengeance. About two months ago they were both on the main yard together, when the steerer, incensed at something the boy had said, struck him with a marlinspike. Very shortly afterwards, when they were both on deck, the lad was seen to ruffi from his birth, and before anyone could interfere to prevent the blow, he stabbed the steerer in the abdomen, just below the navel. The knife penetrated through the intestines, and pierced the backcone, thus inflicting a fearful wound. Everything was done that could be done for the unfortunate man, but he died half-an-hour after the fatal blow had been given. His murderer was at once placed in irons, and as it was not convenient to make for port just then, a cage was constructed in which he was confined, and where he has remained since. The body of the murdered man was consigned to the deep shortly after death. Captain Wilson thinks it probable that the Europa has by this time reached the Bay of Islands, where the criminal will be handed over to the authorities to be tried for the crime.