Wilmington Journal

Infamous Conduct at Sea.—The following are the particulars connected with the death of Capt. Rathbone, of the packet ship Columbia and the subsequent conduct of the crew, as far as ascertained:

It appears that Capt. Rathbone, his 2 mates and 5 seamen, were swept off in the gale of the 16th, with the wheel-house. The crew got the ship again before the wind, and finding themselves without officers, persuaded the cabin passengers (7 in all, including one lady) to take refuge in the upper run, on the plea that there was imminent danger of the poop cabin being washed overboard; but no sooner had they descended than the wretches fastened the scuttle down, and commenced an indiscriminate plunder in the cabin. They broke open the desks and trunks of the passengers, Capt. Rathbone and chief-mate, from each of which they obtained considerable sums of money. They searched the cabin furniture, and committed every kind of excess. Tables and bed linen, silver spoons and forks, and such articles, were pillaged and stored in their chests in the forecastle. The passengers becoming alarmed at the uproar over-head, begged to be let out, which was acceded to, and they ascended to the cabin; but remonstrated in vain.

On the morning of the 18th; the ship Lady Falkland hove in sight, and running close down to them, hailed to know if any assistance was required. The sailors with a shout answered, no, but one of the passengers who had assumed some direction, replied, yes. The mate and his squad came alongside, and by dint of intrepidity mastered the mutineers and carried the ship safe into Liverpool, where they were put into custody of the law.