Captured: Portraits of Crime 1870-1930 - Flipbook - Page 24
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DA R L I N G H U R S T
GAO L
MURDER ON
THE HIGH SEAS
Carl and its crew
MURDER
On 21 and 22 November 1872, six men were photographed at
Darlinghurst Gaol in relation to events that occurred in the
South Pacific Islands while aboard the brig, Carl. Two men,
Joseph Armstrong, a 34 year old Canadian and Charles Dowden,
a 26 year old American, had been found guilty of murder on
the high seas. Four other men — Solomon McCarthy, August
Schiergott, William Turner and George Woods — were found
guilty of assault on the high seas. Two others, John Bennett
and Thomas Shields were found not guilty.
Carl set sail from Melbourne on 1 June 1871 bound for
Fiji. On board were its owner, Dr James Murray, Captain Flynn
and crew, and some young men looking to purchase land on a
South Seas island. However, in Levuka, Fiji, Captain Flynn
was discharged. Joseph Armstrong was promoted to ship master
and Dowden, second mate.
The brig had permission from the British Consul to
engage ‘natives’ from the Islands for the labour trade. The
crew made several unsuccessful attempts to attract Islanders
on board, even masquerading as missionaries. When this
failed, Armstrong and his men turned to cruel and violent
tactics. As Carl stopped on route, its crew would entice
Islanders towards the ship with offers of bacon, cloth and
other items. Keen to trade, Islanders rowed out in canoes.
Upon approach, the crew would drop a heavy iron weight onto a
canoe’s bow, causing it to overturn and cast its occupants
into the water. Stranded Islanders were then dragged out of
the water, forced on board and held captive in the ship’s
hold.
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