FEARFUL TRAGEDY AT SEA.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1249, 6 February 1896, Page 29

FEARFUL TRAGEDY AT SEA.

Sydney, February 4. Particulars have been received here of a terrible tragedy iu the Eastern seas. The schooner Maria 11. left Singapore for Caroline Islands, the crew consisting of Captain Brown —who had his wife and little son with him—the mate (a German named Hohlmann) ,and a number of Chinese and Pelle w Island seamen, and a negro passenger. The crew, under the leadership of the boatswain, mutinied, and the boatswain stole into tbe captain's cabin while he was asleep and severed his head from his body with an axe. The captain's wife called for assistance, and Hohlmann, who came to the rescuo, was cut down. The negro was also attacked and wounded, and in a frenzy of fear jumped into the water, where he was shot. The bodies of the captain and mate were tied to the 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 Aune, intending to sell the cargo and burn the vessel, but the native King, suspecting thac something was wrong, refused to allow them to land. They tlien began to quarrel among themselves, and three of the Pellew Islanders were hilled. The remainder shaped a course for the Pellews, where a Spanish cruiser seized the schooner and sent the murderers to Manila for trial.