A SOUTH SEA ROMANCE.

Evening Star, Issue 13145, 29 December 1908, Page 6

A SOUTH SEA ROMANCE.

• OFrohvthe 'Sydney Morning Herald.'] One of the most sensational tales of the South Seas ever unfolded—a tale full of thrilling allegations, murder, piracy, treachery, and compulsory submission of an accomplice under arms—is to be investigated at Suva, Fiji, in a few weeks, when the" central figure of the romance, a nan named Mortimer, who has also passed under the name of Taylor, will at last be placed upon his trial. The. main facts connected with this ocean tragedy were published in the 'Herald' some months ago, but additional statements of an exciting character, including an alleged plot for the seizure of cne of Burns, Philp, and Cb.'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 httle H Ameri6an schooner, of about' 50 tons,- named the Neuvre Tigre, flying the Italian flag, and engaged in the* coastal trade of Callao, sailed about twelve months ago on a short journey, and, according to the statements which are in the hands of the prosecution, as 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 tut his intention to steal the vessel. He saved a young seaman named Jackson, who also went under the name of Skerritt, 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, where she was wrecked in February on a reef in 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 Mr Dunn.— In view of the approaching trial, the principal witness, Mr Thomas Frederick Dunn, now employed as the engineer of the new launch Express, owned by the Mort's Dock and Engineering Company, Ltd., is about to proceed to Suva, and arrangements were completed by the authorities for his passage. When "the mysterious schooner was lost Mr Dunn was engineer of the trading schooner Laurel, and was on the scene of the wreck within a quarter of an hour after it happened. Narrating his experiences, Mr Dunn .said that he had just be.-m informed by Detective Carson that he would be lecjuired to give evidence in the case, and Mr Franki. the manager of Mort's Dock, had consented tD keep his position open for him while he was away.

"Captain Malcolm, the master of the Laurel, was the first to sight the wreck," he said. "We were lying in the Apamama Lagoon, and Captain Malcolm saw the dismissed schooner heeling over on a reef. "On getting alongside, a short, thick-set man of about twenty-four, whose name I subsequently learnt was Mortimer, asked : 'What do you think of this?' I asked him how It? _ got there, aud he replied: 'We v-ere going about, and she misstayed. and went on to the reef.' He told me that he was from Valparaiso. " Then I clambered up on board and asked for the skipper. ' I am the captain,' he said. I asked him where were his crew, and pointing to a lad abont seventeen, he remarked: 'That is the rest of the crew.' this time I was becoming suspicious, and ventured the opinion that it was remarkable that a vessel that size should be navigated by two men, and I asked him how he hoisted the saijs. He told me that one man could set them easily, and I then informed him that on i.ui schooner, which was about the same size, six men were required to hoist Hie mainsail. —No Register, Clearance, or Flag. -- "I asked him whether the vessel was insured, and he said 'No.' He also ioid me that she was not registered, urn] vnen I asked what flag he sailer! 'ltider fe ieplied : 'Xo flag at all.'. I ..ontinuvl t 0 question him, and he became more end more mysterious. The vessel had no name, he told me—never had a name a hen he bought her—and there was no clearan "When I had h«en conversing with this mar. for about a quarter of an hour, Captain Hendley, the master of the scliounor Louise J. Kenny, belonging to Buns, Philp, and Co., Ltd., carte on 1-jari, so I left. I told Captain Malcolm of everything that had occurred, and he significantly replied: 'There is something fishy about this, all right.' —Eight-day Clodc as Chronometer.— "The mate of the Laurel askii Mcitimer whether he had a, chronon-ter on board, and his reply, whici was roce ve.l with shrieks of laughter, was: 'No ; but we have an eight-day clock whioii rices rotlose a minute a week.' He rroil-jvil the timepiece as evidence. " On the following morning the two men, at the invitation of Captain Makolm, breakfasted on board the Laurel, aiui the conversation naturally was confined to the wreck. Mortimer told the captain that the schooner had originally been named the Puelche, of Valparaiso": that ho had bought her from Mr Usshley, of that pcit; and that lie proposed to "christen hor the White Hose. Captain Malcolm, to whom I had related the conversation of the previous day, winked at me across i,he breakfast table.

" When the Laurel arrived at Tarawa some time afterwards we heard from Mr Murdoch, the Assistant Resident British Commissioner in the Gilbert Group, that Mortimer hiid planned to murder the captain and supercargo of Burns. Philip, and Co.'s schooner Louise J. Kennv, and to seize the vessel. The native magistrate at the Aparoama Lagoon became verv suspicious concerning Mortimer and his comrade, and, unknown to them, arranged with Captain Hendley, master of the l.K>uise J. Kenny, to convey them to Tarawa, the seat of govenn'ent. The men were offered a passage as a favor, and accepted. "During the voyage Mortimer told his comrade that he had planned to seize that slup in place of the one he had lost, and threatend Jackson that if he exposed his hand he would murder him. —The Confession.— "Jackson, who has turned King's evidence in exposing his shipmate, said that there was a crew of four all told, including the captain, mate, Mortimer, and himself, who was engaged as cabin' bov. It was apparent that 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 rome portion of the rigging when the cook, who had secured a tomahawk, crept up behind him and named a. blow at his head. At that instant the mate moved, and instead of killing him, as was intended, the blade Struck him arm. causing a severe wound. The mate then grappled with his assailant 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 some minutes, he found he was unable to overpower his antagonist, and made a dash for the rigging. Mortimer was taken aback by this move, and the fugitive reached the rigging before he was aware of his intention. Mortimer again rushed 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, how-ever,-Mortimer spied him, and leaving the mate in the rigging, at once turned his attention to the captain. Before the captain could get anything with which to defend himself, he was struck on the head with the tomahawk, and rendered unconscious. Mortimer now had full charge of the ship. He hurried to his bunk, and secured a rifle, which he had secreted. After deliberately loading it, he pointed it at the mate, and threatened to shot him if he 'did not jump overboard. The mate attempted to pacify the now infuriated man, but without effect, and after arguing for some minutes he took a header from the rigging into the sea. He was seen to rise to the surface, and swim towards the shore, but a few minutes later he disappeared, and was apparently drowned. By this time the captain, who had lain where he was struck down, had recovered consciousness, and Mortimer gave him the

option of being knot or jumping overboard. He chose the latter coum, and immediately leapt over the rail. Yonng Jackson, who had been an eye-witness or the terrible deed, took no part in it, and when the captain jumped overboard he threw him a plank. He was nuable to say whether the captain managed to secure the plank, but was strongly of the opinion that he did not see it, and was drowned. The vessel was then fourteen miles off the coast, and it is extremely improbable that either of the men waa saved. Mortimer made Jackson or Skerritt promise to stand by him, and assist him to navigate the vessel. Jackson waa afraid that he might meet the fate of his shipmates if he refused, so he at once fell in with the plans of his companions. The cargo of coke was jettisoned, and the name of the vessel was then erased. The elder man said he intended to call her the White Rose, and 6ail 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."