FEARFUL SCENE ON BOARD A SHIP AT MADRAS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXI, Issue 2343, 3 April 1866, Page 6

FEARFUL SCENE ON BOARD A SHIP AT MADRAS.

Captain Breabv, of the ship York, in a leltev dated Madras, September 6, furnishes tho follow- j ing report : — " We had a fearful tragedy in the Roads, on Sunday last. About 9.30 a.m. I was in my cabin, and heard shouts and screams of alarm from some ship. I rushed on deck, and on looking at the country ship Harriet, from whence tho cries of murder arose, I saw the crew over the side, some on tho back ropes and martingalo, j some on the foreyard. She was lying between us and the Euvham. I sang out to man tho boats and put up cutlasses. The gig and jollyboat woro lowered, Mr. Bate and his crow getting into the boat, I into tho gig ; but before lie was half-way up the Harriot's gangway-ladder, lie and Kinsman were met by a Malay, with a knife in each hand. Kinsman, lam sorry to say, received two ugly cuts on his right arm. above and below the elbow. Mr. Bates saved himself from the thrusts by letting go and falling overboard, and as I got alongside I pickod him up. Ho could not swim. Four men from tho Harriet — a Malay, the steward, cook, carpenter and part owner — all let go their hold and swam off to the gig, which was in danger of being swamped. The Malay — an ; ugly-looking fellow with a knife — was made to swim oif to a log ; but the ofchors we took in, and then put' them into the jollyboat. I then observed upon the house amidships Captain Way, of the Barham, an officer, and another man, who had | got on board by tho other side of tho ship. The Malay went from tho gangway towards them with 'i knife in each hand, but they succeeded in securing the fellow — not, however, before Captain Way was stabbed in the thigh, though not seriously. I I got on board by the Jbroriggiug, with my cutlass in hand, but too lato, for they had by 'this limo ! 1 got him secured. Ho closed with Captain Way and his officer, when I believe tho boatswain struck him down with a billet of wood. As we did not know how many more there might be like him, we had to be careful in our movements about the decks. Close to the cabin-companion the poor captain lay dead, with Jus bowels protruding. It appeal's, so far as tho evidence has gone, that Captain Crourlarle, a native of tho Island of Mores, wanted an anchor run out, but i this man refusing, tho captain gave him a push, [ when lie drew his knife, stabbed tho captain, aimed the next blow at the mate, who, by a sudden I movement of his body, received tho blow on his arm instead of his heart. The captain cried. out, ' Hail the York ; jump aloft, or you will be served tho same way.' The mato sang out, and thon went to tho fore-yard. Tho fellow followed him, but seeing our boats he eamo down to receive us. The mato sang out ho was lying in wait for us, but. no one heard him. Tho mato then came down tho fovebraecs and fell into tho water for tho Barham's boat to take him up, and he is now ]in the hospital with Kinsman. Tho Malay was seen to cut the throat of the tindal n,nd throw him overboard, and he nearly killed the sening, who lias six fearful wounds. The case is still going on at tho Police Court, and the next mail you will have further particulai-s. Kinsman will bo disabled for a long time. Mr. Bate is still very weak, and his eyesight not quite recovered." The London Shipping and Mercantile Gazette adds : — " The midshipman, Mr. Kinsman, referred to in the foregoing, is a native of Manchester, and j son of the lato Mr. «T. K. B. P. Kinsman, of the Branch Bank of England."

After Burke had finished his extraordinary ' ' speech against Warren Hastings, tlio lattor ac- i cording to his private secretary, (Mr. Evans), j I wrote the following sarcastic impromptu : — { "Oft have we wondered that on Irisli ground No poisonous roptilo ever yot was found ; The secret stands revealed in Naturo's work — ; She saved her venom to create a Burke !" i