The Beatrice Daily Express

PLAN TO DESTROY THE VESSEL.
Sailors Try Desperate Means to Reach the Klondike Gold Fields.

San Francisco, Nov. 8.—The whaling bark John N. Winthrop, Captain Macombe, arrived today from Bering sea. She reports a catch of seven whales, which yielded 10,300 pounds of bone and 900 barrels of oil. Early in July the Winthrop spoke the whaler Gayhead and for the first time heard of the Klondike gold discoveries. The crew became greatly excited and three of the sailors, J. A. Krueger, O. W. Bigman and N. J. Jones, formed a plan to destroy the vessel and make their way to the Alaskan coast, with a view of ultimately reaching the gold fields.

The men stole tar and turpentine from the ship's stores and with other inflammable material started a fire in the forehold. Fortunately the flames were extinguished before much damage was done. The three conspirators were at once placed in irons. Bigman made a written confession, stating that Krueger was the originator of the plot and that he desired to blow up the bark with powder taken from the whaling bombs. During the rest of the voyage Krueger was kept in close confinement, but Bigman and Jones were allowed partial freedom. The Winthrop brought no news of the icebound whaling fleet.