The Evening Herald, 1908

 January 4, 1908, Page 5

 

Is Zebedee Green Still in the Flesh?

 

On the morning of Nov. 25th, a report was made in the police that a young man named Zebedee Green was missing from the schr. Veronica, lying at Thistle & Co’s wharf. Green, who was only 22 years of age, left the little craft between the hours of midnight and 4 a.m., as Jacob Pitcher awoke at 4 to boil the kettle and noticed that his berth was vacant. Everything pointed to an accident, and is companions firmly believed that he had fallen overboard and was drowned, as his clothes was left behind. For two days Diver Glynn was down and made a minute search of the bottom, but could find no traces. The Orange Lodge, of which deceased was a member, offered a reward of $20, but it did not succeed in bringing tidings of him. Three weeks ago a story was going round the city that Green was not drowned at all, but that he had gone to the States. The Herald heard the rumor but preferred to say nothing about it. Some friends being inclined to discredit it as impossible. Now the story is revived and yesterday we learned from three reliable sources that a resident of Trinity Bay, who recently arrived from the States, met Green on the streets of Boston. He was well acquainted with him, and states there can be no doubt that the person he met is the man supposed to have been drowned. A day or two previous to his disappearance he called at the office of Mr. G.C. Fearn, who purchased their fish, and was paid $118 in his own name, $40 for his brother and $50 for his father, and if he had these amount with him he was fairly well fixed. Five days before coming to St. John’s Zebedee was united in matrimony to Fanny Hiscock, of Random, T.B.

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February 21, 1908, page 4

Mail Courier Drowned.

A shocking fatality occurred here on Monday, Feb. 17, at about 4 a.m., namely, our mail courier, Mr. James Dodge, lost his life by drowning. Deceased was a resident of Northern Bight, and had been employed during the last three years in carrying the mails around the S. W. Arm of Random. On Sunday night he went in to the station for the regular mail, and on his way out attempted to cross on the ice at “Dark Hole”; as by doing this he would save himself a tramp around the inlet. When about half way across, the ice, which had been considerably weakened by two days’ raining, gave way beneath him, he was precipitated into the water. His cries for help, which reached the residents of “Dark Hole,” were quickly responded to, but he succumbed before he could be reached. When recovered, his body was found with one arm round the sleigh that he had with hi. No doubt this is the reason he did not sink. Dr. Leslie was on the scene soon after the body was brought to land and did all that medical aid could do, but without avail, as life must have been extinct before the body was recovered. Deceased was of an amiable disposition, and was esteemed by everyone with whom he came in contact. He was also member of the Fishermen’s Society. He was thirty years of age, and leaves wife, mother and family of four children. The body was interred on Tuesday, Feb. 18^th, in the C. of E. Cemetery at Northern Bight. To his sorrowing family we extend our deepest sympathy.

S.W. Arm, Random. Feb. 18th. ’08.

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May 25,1908, Page 5

GRUESOME FIND SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

Body Of Zebedee Green Recovered After Being Six Months in the Water.

The mystery surrounding the disappearance of Zebedee Green, who left the schooner Veronica, Capt. John Downey, of Scilly Cove, T.B., at Thistle’s wharf on November and had not since been heard from, was cleared up on Saturday afternoon when the body was found under the wharf not 20 feet from where he must have fallen over.

A curious coincidence is that the body was first see by a chum of the deceased, who was brought up close to him. Where the Veronica was berthed when Green was drowned another Scilly Cove schooner, the Laurel, Capt. Robert Hindy, now lies, and the young men comprising her crew had just been discussing the fate of their friend when Abraham Pinhorn looked under the wharf, and not more than 10 feet distant he saw the form of a man lying on the bottom.

Besides Pinhorn, there were present Ernest Walker, Marvin Hindy, Ernest Parrott, Frank Pinhorn and Herbert Spencer. Parrott, who is the cook, was in St. John’s Last fall when Green was reported missing. He watched the diver as he made his unsuccessful attempts to locate the body, and was explaining in what directions the driver went when Abraham Pinhorn, who was standing near the mainmast, leaned over he side and saw the object.

He drew the attention of is companions, and though all gazed at it for a moment or tow, they could not make out the form of a human being. Some agreed with Pinhorn, while others pronounced it to be a seal. Jumping ashore they crossed to the western side of the pier, and from there could plainly see the form of a an. Pinhorn secured a jigger and secured the body, the hook taking the pants at the left thigh. The body had been lying on the right side and stomach, the feet being to the eastward.

While the jigger was being fetched, one of the men ran to the police station and acquainted Sergt. Noseworthy that a body had been found. The Sergeant summoned Constable Humber, who was on duty at Bank Square, and together they proceeded to the scene, followed by a number of curious citizens. The corpse was brought almost to the surface by the aid of the hook, and they then put ropes under the shoulder and legs, intending to pull it to the wharf by that means, but decomposition had so far advanced that the idea had to be abandoned or the body would have completely fallen in pieces.

The Laurel’s topmast staysail was then procured, and with the aid of a boat hook the officers placed it under the body. The canvas was tied round and the gruesome burden lifted into a boat and rowed to Fearn’s wharf. Sergt. Noseworthy fetched a stretcher from the police station and the body was carried to the Morgue and deposited on the zinc table in the outside room. Supt. Sullivan was in his office and immediately went to the Morgue.

The body had been so long in the water that it gave forth a most offensive odour. Before permitting it to be touched the Chief ordered that s ail be saturated with a strong carbolic solution. The canvas was then removed and the Superintendent made a minute examination of the body, or what was left of it. Beside the police officers mentioned there were present a half dozen others who assisted in recovering the corpse and a couple of newspaper men, and the sight that met their gaze as the sail was removed will not soon be forgotten. The corpse rested back up, but under the direction of the Superintendent it was turned with very little trouble.

The condition of the body was only what might be expected, having been in the water exactly six months. The head was gone and not a particle of flesh was visible anywhere, but bones could be seen, and some of these were as black as if they had been burned. The body had a shirt, drawers, pants and stockings. The pants were striped and identified as the ones which the young man wore the day previous to his disappearance. In the left stocking was a small hole through which a toe had protruded, but nothing could be seen but the bone. The hands and forearms were gone, as was the flesh on all other parts which had not been covered.

The task of the officers and those civilians who ably assisted them was not an enviable one, but the unpleasant work was performed satisfactorily. Chief Sullivan saw that each bathed his hands in disinfectant to prevent disease when the task was finished.

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May 25, 1908, Page 5

The Articles Found in the Pockets

Among the articles found in the pockets were two purses, a knife, pipe stem and key. The purses were of leather and contained $14.05 in all. There was a $5 note, a $2 and the balance was in change. One purse was identified by a Mr. King, of Scilly Cove, who had given it to Green last fall before the latter came to St. John’s. It contained $3.50, who wished some articles purchased. The large amount which Green is known to have had around his neck when he fell over was gone. It was no doubt washed away long before the body was found.

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May 25, 1908, Page 5

Green Missing Since Nov. 25^th Last

On Monday, Nov. 25^th last, Zebedee Green was reported missing from the schr. Veronica, lying at Thistle & Co’s, wharf. The previous night he slept in the forecastle with nine other men, and between midnight and 4 a.m. got up to go on deck. The others did not know exactly what time he left, and he was not missed until nearly 5, when Peter Read awoke and remarked that Green was not present. A complete search was made but no tidings could be found, and it was feared that he had fallen over board and was drowned.

That afternoon Diver Glynn went down and made an examination of the bottom, but found nothing. He covered all parts of the dock and then went round to the head of the pier to Baine, Johnston’s, but to no purpose. In conversation with the Herald Saturday night Mr. Glynn says he looked between the wharf shores but did not go under the wharf. Had the body then been where it was found on Saturday he would certainly have seen it. When he travelled round to Baine. Johnston’s dock he walked along by the posts, and as the point where it was found lay directly in his track, he would almost have walked on it.

As there is only about a fathom and a half of water, it would undoubtedly have been seen by some of the searchers from the wharf. It is not likely that the body lay in the one place all the time, but most likely has been drifting about under the wharf.

Our readers will remember that a day or two after the occurrence we noted that missing man had been paid over $200 at Fearn’s office for fish. Part belonged to his father, another portion to his brother, and the balance was his own. This with the knowledge that Green had married a few days previously somewhat against his will, led many to believe that he had not fallen overboard but that he had quietly left the country for the States. A few weeks after a former resident of Scilly Cove, who was then living at Boston, wrote to relatives at home that he saw and spoke to Green on the street there. This was believed to be a fact by the father and brother, and they expected to hear from him every mail. No word came, and the young man’s mother feared for the worse while the other could not believe but that he had gone to America. His wife has since lived with his parents at Scilly Cove, and she too believed that some day they would hear from him.

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May 25, 1908, Page 5

The Body Coffined.

Will be Taken Home

Mr. G.W. Gushue, M.H.A. visited the Morgue Saturday evening and made arrangements for the corpse to be coffined. Undertaker Carew was notified, and later sent a coffin and enclosed the body, which will be taken home for interment by the schooner Fram, Robert Hiscock, master. Deceased is a son of Robert Green, and has two brothers, Joseph and Jasper, and three sisters. Last summer the deceased fish at Baccalieu with his father, and did well. He was a member of the Fishermen’s Society, and his Lodge offered a reward of $20 for the recovery of the body.

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May 25, 1908, Page 5

The Skull Recovered

Yesterday morning the crew of the schooner Laurel made a search for the head, and at 9:30 saw it lying on the bottom. They secured it and Sergeant Noseworthy took it to the Morgue, where it was placed in the coffin by the undertaker’s men.

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Transcribed by Wanda Garrett, March 2021, Updated April 2021
 
These transcriptions may contain human errors. As always, confirm these as you would any other source material.