WRECK OF A TRAWLER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 71, 23 March 1912, Page 14

WRECK OF A TRAWLER

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE CAPTAIN. Serious allegations were made at Lowestoft, at an enquiry held on sth ult., regarding the wreck of the looal steam herring drifter, Friendship, off tfce French coast, at Sangatte, on 27th January, with tho loss of five men. Charles Bowler, mate, stated that the vessel left Lowestoft for Newlyn, in Cornwall. They had nine' hands aboard and a passenger. When the vessel loft Lowobtoft half a gallon of rum was taken on board, and ail except the engineer had a dram after leaving port The skipper went below, and the witness took the wheel and steered n coureo.to the East Goodwin Light. About 10 o'clock at night the skipper came on deak. The witness declared he was not sober, and was headstrong. He pointed to a light, and asked the witness what it was. Bowler replied that it wag the Calais light. Tht. skipper disputed this, and said he would go and see. He altered the course to south and by east. They passed a pilot boat, and from thoae on board it was learned it was the Calais Light. The skipper then ordered the course to be altered west-south-west and went below., Soon after midnight the vessel struck. The witness Bowler oulled for full apeed astern, but the skipper shouted for full speed ahead. The engineer confused by the orders shut off the steam and ran on deck: Then the vessel heeled over. Great seas swept dyer her, and the skipper and four others were washed away, the five survivors being saved by the Calais lifeboat. The witness Bowler expressed the opinion that tho skipper waa muddled with drink, aud that owing to > his insisting -on a Wrong oourso being steered tho vessel went ashore. A TEXAN VENDETTA. "Edward Throckmorton, the principal witness for the prosecution in what iB known as the "millionaire's murder trial" at Fort. Worth. Texas, died on Ist February ia the local hospital from poison, which the prosecution alleges was secretly placed in his foqd to prevent him giving evidence. . The ca6o, which has caused a tremendous sensation in Texas, oonoerns the murder of Captain A. G. Boyce, senior, a septuagenarian millionaire ranch owner, by Mr. J. B. Snead, another local millionaire ranch owner. Mr. Snead'e wifo eloped with Captain Boyoo'a son, and although the husband persjiaded her to return home, he ehot Captain Boyoe because he waa unable to wreak vengeance on the son. The affair has been very nearly responsible for a sanguinary vendetta, for Texana havo taken sides, afcd it wu only with the greatest difficulty that tho Boyce partieane, who greatly outnumber tho Snead faction, were prevented from lynohing the murderer. The millionaire himself insisted upon being kppt in gaol from the date of his arreet until the commencement of the trial, and in this he was undoubtedly well advieed. All the witnessea of the tragedy, with the single exception of • Thrcckmorton, have disappeared, and the trial, which was to have commenced on 30th January, had to be adjourned because of his illness, which terminated fatally. It seems probable that the case will collapse. Spectators, witnesses, and even jurymen waiting to be sworn in, were searched daily for concealed weapons.