THRILLING SOUTH SEA ROMANCE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 311, 30 December 1908, Page 4

THRILLING SOUTH SEA ROMANCE.

One of tlie most sensational tales of tlxe South tieas ever unfolded—a talc full of thrilling allegations, murder, piracy, treachery, aud compulsory submission of an accomplice under arms—is to be investigated at Suva, Fiji, in a. tew weeks, when the central ligure of the romaace, a man named Mortimer, wlio has also passed under tlie name ot Xayior, will at last be placed upon his trial.

The main facts connected -with this ocean tragedy were published, in the Herald some mouths ago, but additional statements -of an exciting character, including an alleged plot for tlie seizure of one of Burns, IMiilp, and (Jo.'s vessels, and the murder of the crew, have just come to light. For the first time, therefore, we are able to present a complete account of this great adventure. A little American, schooner, of about ."HI tons, nam'ed the Neuvre Tigre, Hying the Italian Hag and engaged m the coastal trade of C'allao, sailed about twelve months ago on a short journey, and according to the statements which are in the hands of the prosecution, sis soon as she. was out of sight of land, Mortimer, who was employed as the cook of the vessel, planned the murder of both the captain and the mate, and successfully carried out his intention to steal the vessel. He saved a young seaman named Jackson, who also went under lire name of Skcrritt, and by threatening his life made him an obedient accomplice. The name of the vessel was erased, and the •schooner sailed before the wind until at last she reached the Gilbert Islands, whore she was wrecked in February on a reef i-n a lagoon. Neither Mortimer nor his assistant had any knowledge of navigation, and they were, ignorant of the locality where their vessel came to grief.

THE STATEMENT OF Mil DI'NN. In view of Mm approaching trial, the principal witness, Mr Thomas Frederick Dmm, 3iow employed as lire engineer of tin- now launch express, owned I>y the "Mort's Dock and Engineering Company, Ltd., is about to proceed to Suva, mid arrangements wort; completed by the authorities for his passage. When tile mysterious schooner was lost Mr Dunn was engineer of the trad big schooner Jjaiircl, and was on the scene of tinwreck within a quarter of an hour after it happened. Narrating his experiences, Mr Dunn said that lie had just been informed by Detective Carson that he -would be required to give evidence in the case, and Mr I'lunki, the manager of Murt's Dock, had consented to keep,bis position op?n for him while ho was away. "Captain Malcolm, the master of the Laurel, was the first to sight the wreck/' he said. "We were lying 171 the Apamama Lagoon, and Captain Malcolm sa*? tlie distressed schooner heeling over on a reef." 3

On getting alongside, a short, thickset man of about 24, whose manie I subsequently learnt was Mortimer, asked : ' What do you think of this I asked him how he got there, and he replied, *We were 'going about, and she misstayed, and went, 011 to the reef.' lie told mo that he was from Valparaiso. "Then J clambered on hoard and asked for the skipper. 'I am the captain,' he said. J asked him where were his crew, and pointed to a lad about 17. lie remarked: That is the rest of the crew.' By this time ! was becoming suspicious, and ventured the opinion that it was remarkable that a vessel that size should be navigated bv two men, and 1,

Bid me that one man could set them pasily, iiiid X iutoniK'il him that oil our -.schooner, whicli was about the same size, six men vvere required to lioist. the mainsail. UO ItEOLSTLR, CLEARANCE, Oil ELAU. "I asked him whether the vessel was insured, and lie paid,' No.' He also told ui'e that she was not registered, "and when .1 asked what Hag she sailed under, he replied, '.No llag at all.' 1, continued to question him, and lie became more and more mysterious. The vessel had no name lie told me—never laid a name when he bought lier—and there was no clearance.

" When I had been conversing with this man for about a quarter of ira hour Captain Hendley, the master of the schooner Louis J. Kenny, belonging to Hums, Philp, and Co., Limited, came 011 board, so 1 left. I told Captain Malcolm of everything that had occurred, and he significantly replied, ' There is something fishy about this, alright.' ]ilC!li'r-DA\ CLOCK AS CHRONOMETEIi. "The mate of tile Laurel asked Mortimer whether lie hud a chronometer on board, and his reply, which was reeeivu with shrieks of laughter, was 'No; but we have an eight-day clock which does u»t lose a minute a week.' He produced (lie timepiece as evidence. "On the following morning the two men, at the imitation of Captain Malcolm, breakfasted on board the Laurel,

and the conversation was naturally conlined to the wreck. Mortimer told the Captain that the schooner had originally been named the Puelchc, of Valparaiso ; that Ik; had bought her from Mr Csshley, of that port; and that lie proposed to christen her the Wild Hose. Captain Malcolm, to whom 1 had related the conversation of the previous day, winked at me across the breakfast table. " When the Laurel arrived at Tarawa some time afterwards we heard from Mr Murdoch, tile Assistant Resident British Commissioner in the Gilbert Group, that Mortimer had planned to murder the

captain and supercargo of Burns, Philp, and Co.'s schooner Louis J. Kenny, and to seize the vessel. The native magistrate at tile Apamama Lagoon became very suspicious concerning Mortimer and his comrade, and, unknown to them,arranged with Captain Hendley, master of the Louisa .J, Kenny, to convey them to Tarawa, the scat of government. The men were ollered a passage as a favour, and accepted,

"During tlie voyage Mortimer told his comrade that he had planned to soi&e that ship in place of the one ho had lost, and threatened Jackson that if he Exposed his liand ho would murder him. THE CONCESSION.

"Jackson, who lias turned lung's evidence in exposing his shipmate, said that there was a ci'ew of four all told, including the capatiu, mate, Mortimer, and himself who was eagaged as cabin boy. It was apparent tliat Mortimer had previously planned to take the ship for they had not been at sea many hours before he made a bloodthirsty attack on the mate. The mate was attending to some portion of the rigging when the cook, who had .secured a tomahawk, crept up behind hiiu and aimed a blow at his head. At that instaat the mate moved, and instead of killing him, as was intended, the blade struck his arm, causing a severe wound. Tlie mate then grappled with the asailant, and attempted to wrench the tomahawk from his grasp. Mortimer, however, is a powerful man, and the mate was greatly handicapped with his injured arm. After a desperate struggle, lasting sonic miautes, he found lie was unable to overpower his antagonist, and made a dash for the rigging. .Mortimer was taken aback by this move. :uid the fugitive reached the rigging before he was aware of his intention. Mortimer again rusheil at him and made slashes at him with the tomahawk, but the mate by this time had reached a place of safety. ,

'• The commotion brought the captain on deck, Before he could arm himself, however, Mortimer spied him, and leaving the mate in the rigging, at owe turned his attention to the. captain, liefore the captain could get anything with which to defend himself, lie. was struck on the head with the tomahawk, and rendered unconscious. Mortimer now hud full charge of the ship, lie hurried to his bnnk and secured a rifle, which he had secreted. After deliberately loading it, he pointed it at the mate, and threatened to shoot him if he did not. jump overboard. Tlie mate attempted to pacify the now infuriated man, but without ellect, arid .liter arguing for some, minutes he took a header inio (he sea. lie was seen to rise to the surface, and swim towards the shore, but a few minutes later he riisapeared, and was apparently drowned. By this time the captain! who hail lain where he was struck down, had recovered cinsciousness, and Mortimer guve him the. optioiv of being shot or jumping overboard, lie chose the latter course, and immediately leaped over the. rail. Young .faekson who had been an eye witness of the terrible deed, took no part -in it, and when the captain jumped overboard lie threw him a plank, llij was unable to say whether Ihe captain managed to secure tlie plank, but ivas strongly of opinion that lie did not see it, ami was drowned. The 1 vessel was then M miles oil' the coast, and it is extremely improbable that either of tlie men were saved. .Mortimer made Jackson or Rkerrit promise to aland by him, and assist him to navigate the vessel: Jackson was afraid that ihe might meet the same fate as hi* shipmates 'if he refused, so lie at once fell iu with the plans of ins companions. The cargo of coke was jettisoned, and the name if the. vessel was then erased. The elder man said lie intended to call her the AVild Hose, and sail for Australia, where he would dispose, of her. The perilous voyage was then commenced. -Neither man knew much about navigation, and they always sailed with the wind."—Sydn'ey Morning Herald.