A GHASTLY TALE OF THE SEA.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVI, Issue 2277, 6 August 1894, Page 4

A GHASTLY TALE OF THE SEA.

From Oar London Correspondent. London, June 16. The men chat eo down to the sea in ships arc ia peril of their lives from other things then accidents, “ the act of God, or the King’s enemies,’’ as the ghastly,, almost incredible story of abominable cruelty, ending in murder,’ told at Bow street on Saturday plainly shows. Herman Spree, first mate of the sailing barque Paul Isenberg, was placed in the" dock upon the charge of murdering on the high seas one Carl Petersen, able seaman. The dreadful story told against the accused by his shipmates vies in detail with any narrative of seafaring ruffianism ever penned bv novelist. The Paul Isenberg left 'Frisco a couple of months ago bound for the Thames. She passed Gravesend on Thursday last, the captain reporting, itis said, “ All well.” Before she docked in the West India basin, however, the fact that a seaman had died on board from other than natural causes leaked out. Enquiries were made, and on the statement of several of the motley gang of poltroons who manned the vessel the chief mate was arrested. On Saturday the informers gave their stories upon oath, and if half they alleged is true justice demands not only that Spree s ueck shall be broken but that of the captain also. A more horrible tale of cruelty was never heard at Bow street, and the men who told it are iu a sense equally culpable iu the matter of Petersen’s death with the inhuman fiend who was chief mate of the vessel and his captain. First to give evidence against Spree was an able seaman, Carl Dehnrde.

He stated that he was engaged to serve from Liverpool to San Francisco and thence to London. A man named Carl Petersen was an able seaman on the same ship. ,He died SOdeg. south and 35deg. west of America on the homeward voyage from San Francisco on March U. Witness saw him four hours before he died. He was then hanging to the mainmast. Petersen had been fetched out of his bonk by the captain for the purpose of doing his duty on deck. When he arrived on deck Spree stepped forward and hit him several times with a strap. The blows fell on his body. Whilst he was being beaten the deceased said, “ Leave me alone ; I cannot get up.” Questioned as to Peterson's condition, witness said be sometimes appeared to be in his right senses, and sometimes not. When the deceased said, “ Leave me alone, I cannot get up,” the captain

ordered two men to take him to the mast. Witness did not see what occurred after that as he was in the deck house. He hnard blows struck, and the cries lasted for at bast two hours. When witness went on doty at eight o’clock Petersen was suspended from the mizzen gallant stay. He seemed to be sitting on a rope. The steward came on deck and said he could not sleep for the deceased’s cries. Deceased kept crying for water, and, with witness’ consent, a boy attempted to take him some. Prisoner then came from beneath the bridge and asked the boy \vhat he was carrying. When he found it was water for the deceased he would not lot him take it to him. Petersen continued to cry for water, and the boy walked away laughing. The deceased said, “ Don’t laugh at me,” and commenced to sing. Afterwards be came down from aloft without any assistance. Spree at once ran at him, and struck him with a strap and his fist, Petersen fell to the deck, and prisoner continued to strike him all over the body. Spree and the boy already referred to then hoisted the deceased to where he was before, under the mizzentopgallant sail. He was left hanging there on his stomach. The deceased groaned loudly. At this time the prisoner was on the poop. Deceased was hanging in the position indicated for about twenty minutes. Spree told deceased that if ho did not “ shut up ”• he would hang where he was till after eight bells. Deceased then ceised to groan. Prisoner eventually loosened the rope. For a short time deceased hung with his head downwards. He then fell, near the mainmast, and prisoner threw him down the main hatchway, saying, “ Are you dead now!” There was no reply, and prisoner wont aft. The captain then came forward, and prisoner asked him if he should put deceased in woollen blankets. The captain replied “ Yes," and walked away. Deceased was placed in the engine-room. He was then dead, the prisoner and the other mate trying iuvain to “ make him alive.” The weather at this time was fair, but there was a heavy dew, and it was somewhat cold. On the following morning the deceased was buried at sea. Witness added that the deceased joined the ship at San Francisco. He complained of being ill, and during the throe weeks between joining the ship and his death he had scarcely anything to eat. Prisoner, who speaks English fluently, asked witness a few questions, and complained that a great deal had been “loft out.” In reply to the magistrate witness added that during the whole of the time the de ceased was suspended from the mast he had nothing on but a red singlet which did not reach his knees. Further details were supplied by Peter Falder, a youthful German, who said he joined the Paul Isenberg as a cabin boy, but was at once placed in the forecastle. He said that on March 14 the deceased complained of not feeling well, but the captain dragged him from his bunk with nothing on but”a singlet. Attired in that garment he was taken on deck, A biscuit was given to the deceased, and the captain said ” If you do not eat that biscuit I will beat" you until you do." Deceased could not eat the biscuit and the captain struck him with a strap all over the body. Ho then walked away, leaving the deceased lying on the deck. Prisoner came, forward, and told deceased to walk up and down. The latter said ha could not get up, but prisoner fastened a bow-line round his waist and took him to the mizzen mast. Decease! asked for some whisky, and then began to sing. It appeared to witness that he was not in his right mind when ho did that. Witness was going to take him some water, when the prisoner prevented him, and told him to take no notice. Witness went on tq confirm the evidence of the last witness as to the deceased returning to the deck, and then being hoisted up again with a rope around bis waist. Deceased groaned, and prisoner said that if he would be quiet ho would let him down after eight bells. When, witness next saw the deceased he was lying on the deck. Prisoner called for some water. Deceased was removed to the engine room, It was quite dark. The captain got a candle and he and Spree endeavoured to restore animation. The deceased's body was black and blue, and an eye was closed with a bruise, Spree afterwards asked witness to sign a written statement as to what had taken place, but as he did not understand it he would not do so, In reply to prisoner, witness said ha did not hear him tell deceased to stand on the stay. In fact, when deceased was hoisted the first time prisoner forbade him to twist his leg round a rope for support. According to the evidence of August Pnlke, a seaman, and other witnesses, the deceased was suspended from the mast for about seven hours on the day of his death. The magistrate sat till seven o’clock in the evening to hear all tho evidence forthcoming, and then granted a remand, bail, of conrse, being refused.