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Subject: [GM-L] James S. Dwight, Springfield, MA - Ship Captain ~ murdered by crewmen
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 2002 14:42:50 EDT

JAMES S. DWIGHT. -- In 1853 at the age of seventeen, he went to sea, sailing
from Boston in the barque "Kate Hastings," Capt. James B. Hatch. Before he
was twenty-five years of age he was master of a vessel. He took com-
mand of the ship "Cutwater," after the captain had been swept overboard
during a heavy sea. He was a master of the ships "Charger," and
"Springfield," the latter having been named in honor of his native town; his
friends presented him with a set of colors for the compliment. His voyages
were made principally to China, Australia, California, and European ports.
Among the sons of Springfield who have gone forth to win fame and fortune,
none had brighter prospects, or was more highly esteemed, than Captain
Dwight. Accomplished and of noble bearing, he was the beau ideal of an
American sailor. While on the voyage from Calcutta to New York, he was
cruelly murdered at midnight while asleep in his cabin on board the ship
"Freeman Clark," by the cook and steward who were Malay Chinese, May 27,
1882, at the age of 46 years.

http://www.rootsweb.com/~mahampde/towns/springfield/school_hist/122.html

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