STRANGE STORY OF MUTINY AND ROBBERY.

West Coast Times, Issue 572, 25 July 1867, Page 2 (Supplement)

STRANGE STORY OF MUTINY AND ROBBERY.

On Monday afternoon, 2 1st May, the '■ schooner Howden (Captain Robinson), of Goole, arrived at Hull, from Malaga, with olive oil. The captain made a singular report respecting his vessel. He said that during the voyage his eye became so inflamed that he brought the vessel up at Dungenese, and went on shore to obtain medical advice. On his return he was astonished to find the crew absent, and the mate, in whose cai-e he^had left the ship, helplessly drunk. Bis surprise was greatly increased at finding that everything of value had been stolen by the crew, who had taken out the' long-boat and made off with their booty. A very valuable chronometer, compasses, the captain's gold watch and guard, clothes, and even the bed-clothes, and some of the provisions, formed part of the booty. He at once got another crew, and took steps to secure the speedy capture of the runaways. Among the urticles stolen was the captain's writing-desk, which contained the ship's papers, and the bill of health. The schooner was, therefore, obliged to ride at quarantine on her arrival at Hull, as the captain was unable to produce his bill of health. She was, however, allowed to enter the dock shortly after the captain had told his story to the authorities. "With respect to the crew and the stolen property no certain information has been obtained; but a brig, which arrived at Sandgate on Sunday, reported that, at eleven o'clock on the previous evening, when about twelve miles off Fairlight, she picked up a large boat, painted green externally, and lead color inside, master's name "G. W. Robinson," inside ; ship's name outside, scratched and rendei-ed illegible, but letters representing "Goole" or " Poole "• could be traced. The boat was nearly full of water, and contained the dead body of a man v whose face was very much • disfigured, apparently by blows. He was dressed iv black trousers, Wellington boots, and blue serge shirt ; had round him a belt, to which was attached a sheiithj but no knife. There was no plug in tbe boat, but a thowl had been used for the purpose, with a piece of colored linen round it. There was also a boat-hook, and some pieces of Manilla rope made fast to the thwarts^ and cut in one or two v places. In securing the boat a slight jerk was given to one end, which made the water in the boat surge, and and the body was washed out and immediately sunk. The body was" found and brought on shore, and remains in the hands of the coastguard at the station. There seems little doubt that the dead man was one of the crew, and it is possible that the others (there were four in all) have been drowned.