EXTRAORDINARY CONFLICT ON BOARD SKIP.

Pahiatua Star and Eketahuna Advertiser, Volume 1, Issue 12, 20 July 1886, Page 4

EXTRAORDINARY CONFLICT ON BOARD SKIP.

United State* Consul Wither*, stationed at Hong Kong, send* to the State Department at Washington a thrilling extract t in the log of the ship Granite State, of I'ortsmoufli, N. IL It relates to the death ot i Spanish sailor, Leon S*lares, who w.is r. hcllious and troublesome from the first. The extract rends as follows: *• \fter dinner called all hands to break out cargo in the lower hold to find a sea7:i m ram d Leon Saltires, who had for the m ml time gone into tho lower hold, ■ Th: tine he was well armed with sheath knives, t.;»teiied on long poles, and |H>sitiv.lv refus. I to come up. During the l.iglit k» has had a light among the oil s. v. al times. H. also threatiicm to burn ili l hi. >ifhe is not supplied with food and water. Have tried by all known means to get him to come up ; have tried ■ ■ is 4 him h"in all work : huv. tj i- 1 abn to captun* him without harm *■» himself.»r anyone else, hut he ha* a- mite l several of the men, wounding them severely. The chief officer he struck fi •wo d at him. 1 1 icas impossible to reach him where he was stowed without lanterns, and a naked light wa* dangerous. Ho threw firewood at the lantern* and broke the glass. All the crew and officers being anxious to secure him hefon another night *>f suspense, and the wi ith. r 1>« ing rainy ami squally so that tin hutch* - hr. 1 to l»e put down, and the s of ol were till adrift, determined to capture him »>f his own safety sml that of th. ship ami cargo and nil on hoard. Gave order* to the men to secure him, ami dc f. ml th» m -elves from violence, a* he was a .1. '•p. rate ami dangerous man. Aft. r four hours’ work captured him alive wound.- 1 m the mouth and left arm. He died ten minutes after being taken up. Apjienrunce* indicate suicide, as there is a clean cut under his left ear, which must have been made bv a sharp instrument. Washed the Ihhlv sewed it up carefully, hov. the ship t«* read tlu* funeral service fi i the .I. ad, s.’t the flag at half-maMt, uiul buried I.*« n Saltires. All let 1 greatly relieved to know that lit-is up from the cargo. Signed by Thoma* Fit*, master, ami all the officer* and crew."