AN EASTERN TRAGEDY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 30, 5 February 1896, Page 5

AN EASTERN TRAGEDY.

MUTINY AT SEA.

CAPTAIN AND MATE MUR-

DERED,

Sydxey, February 4

Particulars have been received of a terrible tragedy in the Eastern Seas. The schooner Maria 11. left Singapore lor the Caroline Islands, the crew consisting of Captain Brown, who bad his wife and little son with him, a German mate named Hohlrnann, and a number of Chinese and Pelevv Island seamen <and a negro passenger.

The crew, under the leadership of the boatswain, mutined.

The boatswain stole into the captain's cabin while he was asleep, and severed his head from his shoulders with an axe. The wife called for assistance, and Hohlmann, who came to the rescue, was cut down.

The negro was also attacked and wounded, and in a frenzy of fear lumped into the water, where he was shot.

The bodies of the captain and mate were tied to an anchor and thrown overboard.

The captain's wife and son were kept prisoners in the cabin.

The mutineers sailed the schooner to the Island of Anne, intending to sell the cargo and burn the vessel, but the native king, suspecting.something was wrong, reiused to allow them to land. They then began to quarrel among themselves, and three of the Pelew Islanders were killed. The remainder shaped their course for the Pelews, where a Spanish cruiser seized the schooner and sent the murderers to Manila for trial.