CAPTAIN JOHN GOW, _ALIAS_ SMITH, AND HIS CREW
_John Gow_, alias _Smith_, was born at a place called _Caristoun_, in the _Orkney_ Islands, and was brought up a sailor from his youth, having served on board several Men-of-War, and last of all on board the _Suffolk_, along with _T. Swan_, who was engaged with him in the conspiracy to murder Captain _Ferneau_, and seize the ship and cargoe, as they went off the _Texel_, but they were prevented by _James Belvin_, who was led into the secret and discovered it. Captain _Ferneau_ taking little notice of it, contented himself with turning off _Swan_, and preferred _Gow_ to be second Mate and Gunner.
They sailed on board the _George_ Galley, August the 1st, 1724, from the _Texel_ to _Santa Cruz_, having 15000_l._ on board, when Gow designed to have seized the Ship as they went out, but could not get a party strong enough to join with him, till he worked up a misunderstanding between the Captain and part of the crew, concerning the provisions of the ship, particularly _Winter_, _Peterson_, _and Mc.Cawley_, who came upon the Quarter-Deck, in presence of the Owners, just before they sailed, and made a long complaint against the Captain; who assured them that if there was any wrong done them, it was not by his consent; and that he would enquire into it as soon as they had unmoored the ship.
About eight a clock at night, Captain _Ferneau_, as usual, called them up to prayers in the great Cabin, and then set the watch, and went to sleep, little thinking his end was so near, when _Winter_, _Rawlisson_, and _Melvin_, begun the scene of blood, _Gow_ lying snug in his hammock, as if he knew nothing of the matter, till he saw whether the villany would succeed, or not. _Winter_ cut the Doctor's throat as he was asleep in his hammock, and then went up to _Melvin_ and _Rawlisson_, who in the mean time had seized the Captain and cut his throat also, but not touching the windpipe, _Gow_ stept up and shot him with a brace of bullets, and then threw him over-board. _Mc.Cawley_ cut _Stephen Algiers_ the Clerk's throat, as he lay in the hammock, and _Williams_ shot him dead afterwards. _Peterson_ cut the throat of _Bonaventure Jelphs_, the Chief Mate; and _Michael Moor_, at the Command of _Williams_, shot him.