THE MURDER ON BOARD A WHALER.

Southland Times, Issue 1551, 15 March 1872, Page 2

THE MURDER ON BOARD A WHALER.

The information was conveyed by telegraph that a boy belonging to a whaling ship had murdered a shipmate while at sea. Captain Wi'son, of the whaling barque Milton, then lying at the Bay of Islands, communicated the following particulars of the occurrence to the New Zealand Herald. The captain boarded the Europa just before entering 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, C&pt Mellon, Cspt. Wilson obtained the following information : — That one of the boatsteerers — a PortU2ue3e — 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 iv a ■whaling ship, — the one as fourth mate, and tha other as cabin boy. The latter was said (o have been 7ery saucy, and repeatedly to have " cheekeu" his officer, who had several time 3 occasion to correct him as cabin boys are often corrected on board ship — that is, by striking him. A few months ago, both the Portuguese and the boy exchanged into the barque Europa, which was shortly to sail for America with a full cargo The Portuguese was appointed boat-steerer, and the lad was sent into the forecastle. They still got alrag as bad as ever, the boy often saucing the steerer, wiio, in his turn, administered slight ca-tigstions. The lad is described as being of a. sullen, moroae 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 eteerer, incensed st something the boy had eaid, struck him with a marlinspike. Very shortly afterwards, when they were both on deck, the lad wa3 seen to rush from his berth, and before anyone could interfere to prevent the blow, he stabbed the steerer in the abdomen, just below the naveL The knife penetrated through tbe intestines and pierced the back -bone, 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 waa constructed in which he was confined, and where a ma r mlffi i^coffiKgneu^ii e b &§3p Bndrtiy after death.