Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-08-14
From he New rkuerald.
Crimean Recruiting in New York.


Crimean Recruiting in New York.
Extraordinary ddpentnres Of NeU York I'ypo.
Our renders arc aware that strenuous efforts
have been made by agents of the British govern.
ment in this country to enlist recruits for the war
in the Crimea.
The following account has been furnished us by
New York compostor, whose name we suppress,
rs he fears the authorities may cause him annoy
ance by compelling him to appear in court to tes-
tify against his kdnappers 1t seems that the
compostor-who, by the way, works in the largest
newspaper Office in New York--is occasionally in
cined to take something stronger than water us a
beverage, and is liable, rs all men are who do such
things, to become eighty obfuscatcd II appears
that he commenced his libatons to Bacchus on last
Fouth of July and continued in an oblivious state Of
mind for three days, overpowered by punch and
patriotism. But to his own story which COM
mences on July7:
with very confused idea of where was. found
myself laying on some barrels marked 'Genesee
Flour and around me, in the gray light of the
morning. sailors were hurrying to and fro, and
from the sound of creaking ropes, tapping sails
and rushing waters, l began to realize that l was
on board n vessel. And so it proved. l asked a
sailor who came towards me, where / was, and he
replied that was on board the bngantine Isaiah
Captain Altman, bound for St. Johns, N. B.; and,
moreover, that | had been shipped with squad
Of recruits to enlist in the British army for the
Crmca; whereat expressed great establishment
and indignation, as ! had no idea of embarking on
any such expedition. But no one on the vessel
could give me any satisfaction, or tell me who
brought me aboard, or by what means | found my
self in my present situation.
The party that accompanied me proved to be
composed of persons-6 Germans, ! French
man and myself--all ofwhom were shipped for tho
Crinea. One of the Germans had been inveigled
on board under false pretenccs. He was from
Schenectady, and had come to New York to find
employment. On nquiring at an intelligence office,
he was promised berth aboard avessel, where he
was told he would have good pay and light work;
and his surprise may be judged when he found
himself bound for the seat Of war. Another Of
the Germans had formerly been an occupant Of
Backwell's Island-indeed, he was but one remove
from an idiot, and was incapable of doing anything
except eat. He was covered with vermin, and
filthy in the extreme, and we were compelled to
perform the most mental offices for him to make
his presence cndurable.
1.-THE Frenchman also hailed from Blackwells
Island, and was an incorrigibe thief He seemed
10 have mania for stealing, and his hiding places
were found filed with nails old boots soap, and any
quantity Of useless trnkets of no sort of value to
him or any one else. He was over forty years of
age, and had served in the Algerine war; where he
received several wounds. One of the Germans
could not speak a word of English and another
was an apprentice In Brooklyn, and had been sent
abroad by his boss. Those who were regularly
enlisted in New York expected TO receive Office
on their arrival in the Crimea, and the Frenchman
had been promised $50 and gold watch-n fact,
the recruiting officers seemed quite profuse in
promises.
"0ur treatment on board was shameful. As to
the food, cannot do II justice for it was of very
different character from that served mp at Sweeneys
and Gunters ut the moderate sum of sir-pence
plate. To add TO our misery we were compelled to
sleep on barrels, and were otherwise roughly used
After stormy passage Of ten days we arrived
at st. john n b. l was in no enviable state Of
mind, as had left wife and family in New York,
who must necessarily feel deeply distressed at my
sudden disappearance. The morning after our
arrival tried TO get away in boat but the mate
had orders from the captain not to let me leave,
and was compelled to stay on board. III the
evening j determined 10 swim ashore, and was
stripped for that purpose when was discovered
and prevented from doing so. was told that no
doubt would be let of when got on shore, as all
the captain cared about was my passage money
and the bonus he was TO get for the recruits; and
as this seemed probable believed IL.
Presently we saw party Of soldiers on the
shore, surrounded by the populace, and as there
was steamer in the haibor we supposed they
we're going on board; but on entering the boat
they pulled towards our vessel and came on deck
The soldiers were fnc-looking fellows, and when
our awkward squad was drawn up Il excited con.
siderable merriment amongst them They were
quite facetious, and made no little fun Of the
Dutchmen. We were taken ashore; protesting
the while against what ! deemed an outrage We
we're marched 70 the barracks and drawn up be.
fore the Colonel, whose name did not learn who
Intercepted us one by one. told him my story ;
how was kidnapped, and my unwillingness, as
an American citizen, to in the armies of Her
Britannia Majesty He replied that IL was hard
case, but he could not interfere until he received
dispatches from the government officers in Hall.
fax. Here German doctor, who had examined
Inc, interfered, and said | was an Italian upon
which told him he lied, CT was excited then, and
informed the Colonel was Scotsman by birth
and an American by adoption. We we're then
treated TO dinner, which was the only decent
meal had eaten since ! left New York The
sentries wero given orders not TO allow us outside
the barracks; but was determined 10 get away,
and fortunately succeeded, accompanied by the
German from Schenectady, whom / have already
mentioned We then made our way to another
part of tho city, Next day was fortunate enough
70 secure work in printing office, with gentle.
man who, sixteen years before worked in the same
newspaper establishment belonged TO in New
York. After working ten days | made enough
money to pay my passage to New York by way Of
Boston, and l arrived home August /. much to
the surprise and joy of my family and friends, who
had supposed me dead
Such is the statement Of the composition, and an
extraordinary one IL is IL seems that a white man
can be kidnapped in the very streets Of New York
taken on board vessel n our harbor, treated like
a prisoner on the voyage, and compelled TO Join
the armies OF England against his will; all of which
Is done, apparently with the connivance and by
the consent OF The officials Of the British govern.
ment Were this man negro, and his kidnappers
Southerners, u would cause riots aud popular com
with articles expressing the hot indignation of the
community; but this individual has the misfortune
10 be white, and the affair win doubtless be pass
ed over In silence. We have given the compost.
tors statement with all particularly, and will
youch for is entire accuracj.