SUICIDE AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT SEA.

Globe, Volume II, Issue 116, 14 October 1874, Page 3

SUICIDE AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT SEA.

A cage of determined suicide at sea occurred on the voyage of the Rodney, says the Melbourne Argun, a large and new iron clipper ship, which arrived in port on Saturday from London. The Rodney left Plymouth on July 7th, with a large number of passengers of all classes, amongst those in the second cabin being one named Benjamin Fellowcs. Three days after leaving Plymouth, Fellowes, who had been considerably affected by over-indulgence in stimulants, was seized with an attack of delirium tremens. A leading idea appears to have been in his mind that some one wished to kill him, and at 10 p.m. on July 10th, when moat of the passengers had retired, he commenced vociferating “ Murder, murder,” in a loud and excited tone, and making a great disturbance generally. Captain Louttit, who commands the Rodney, came at once to the second cabin where the commotion was going on, and as he was the only one who could exercise any influence over Fellowes, he succeeded in getting him calmed down, and to be much more peaceable, Fellowes then expressed a desire to have a separate cabin to himself, and on this request, and for the safety of the other passengers, Captain Louttit had him transferred to another cabin. Previous to his being placed there it was carefully searched, with a view to the removal of any instrument or other means by which he could injure life or limb, and a watchman was placed outside the door. Quietness afterwards prevailed in the cabin until about midnight, when Fellowes became again obstreperous, making a great uproar, and wanting to get out. The watchman told him he would have to call the captain unless he discontinued the noise, and this apparently had the desired effect, for he shortly afterwards relapsed into a stillness which was never broken. Early next morning, on opening the cabin door, a shocking spectacle presented itself. The body of Fellowes was hanging by the neck from the post of the bed, cold and stiff. The knees were resting on the deck, so that the selfstrangulation must have been deliberate and determined. The unhappy man had effected his purpose by means of a small leather strap or belt, which must have been under his body clothing, and thus escaped notice, for, as already stated, the cabin was subjected to a rigid scrutiny before he was placed in it. The body of Fellowes was committed to the deep that day. A second melancholy incident, of a different complexion, however, occurred later on in the voyage. On July 29th, when in lat. Bdeg 35min N., and long. 23deg 45min W., the ship was going along under full sail, with the wind from s W , at a speed of about eight knots. At half-past 2 p.m, an able seaman named James Day, who was aloft, was struck violently on the head by the maintopsail, the wind having shaken it as it was being unbent. The stunning blow sent him overboard, and almost as soon as he touched the water the lifebuoys were beside him. The ship was brought to the wind as quickly as possible, and a boat manned and lowered, and a pull made for the spot where the poor fellow had disappeared. The lifebuoys and his cap were picked up, but nothing was seen of the man, and after searching for about an hour and a half the boat returned to the ship, which again stood away on her course. Captain Loutitt is of opinion that the man must have been struck senseless by the blow which be received.