AN OCEAN HORROE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XVI, Issue 179, 3 August 1881, Page 2

AN OCE AN HORROE.

Details are to hand of the murder of Capt Homsby, of the Eustace, and of destruction of that schooner. The facts of the tragedy as related by the mate are as follows : — While midway between Gape St. Lucas and Mazatlan, the Chinese cook, Tom Hay, began to act man eccentric manner, exhibiting signs of insanity and laboring .under the impression that someone was going to take his life. As he was not violent he .vas allowed to remain at large. After remaining m his quarters from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. he went to work again, apparently all right. A little after 7 p.m. he went below, and was supposed to retire to rest at 8 o'clock. While conversiug with the mate the captain remarked that he would go below and j light a cigar. Almost immediately he returned, with a cry of pain, and, holding his hands over his abdomen, called out, " Catch him ;. catch him !" Che mate rushed aft, and met the captain at the c.ibin door, when the latter cried, " Pull this knife out ;" and the mate then saw a murderous-looking butcher's knife protruding from the captain's stomach. He tried to pull it out, but was unable to do so, but with the assistance of the man at the wheel he succeeded. The captain gave two or three gaspa, fell back, and expired. To the terror and consternation of the crew the man at the wheel saw -the insane murderer rush to {lie locker <>f the cabin, m which the axes aal weapons of the weapons of the ve3sel.were kept, and blow out the c.ibiu light. . The men were called ait, laid the captain's^ body on the quarter-deck, and covered^ it up. The c ibm d oor was then closed, the men all going forward, excepf^he mate, who remained at the wheel, armed with a belaying pin. Shortly aftor wards the cook came to the doo.-, bit the mate prevented him from coiniug out, auil ag<iiu culled the crew aft. As the cook declined to come out the door was again closed and made fast, as the crow were, afraid of the cook, who had nil the .firearms m the cabin. As soon as the men had gone foreward again the cook came to the door and tole the mate that if he attempted to molest him he would, kill him and then fire the ship. As there were 2000 kegs of gunpowder on board the men were afraid 0; tins, and :desired to leave the vessel immediately, but the mate di&>u..ik>tl them. They, however, had the boat prepared with water and provi ions. N iliing of moment transpired until the next day, when the cook offered io pass out to the men any provisions they might require, but the offer was declined. At about 12 pin. an r.liriu of fire was given, smoke proceeding from the cabin. The longbo.it was iaiiucdiately launched, but was capsized.- The crew then went iuto the auiall boat as fast as possible. In .ci mmutes the side of the quarter-deck '.vas. one sheet of flame, and m five or ton minutes more a fearful explosion took place. Thia was followed m a few seconds by a second explosion. The mate and crew than pulled for the shore, and made the land about fifty miles north of of Maratlau, where they were well c red for by a wealthy Spaniard and scut to Sota.

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