Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1859-12-02
Revolving Cruelty in the Navy.

tue Deallh5 70 Geath OF q seaman OF ooat1
the {. S. sloop-of-war Brooklyn. The fol-
lowing statement. which we copy from
the Philadelphia Ns,os Of the 26th inst.
gives more pr4si<e details Of this fendish /
act. The Navy Department should in
yestigate the matter, and see that the
guilty parties are brought TO punishment
We have been placed in possession OF
letter addressed to the sister of George
Ritter, the young man from this city VITO
was cruelty beaten 10 death on board tire
United States sloop-of-war Brooklyn,
while lying IN New York bay of Staten
Island. That such devilish acts of tor
ture should be perpetrated on board
American ships Of war, in the presence
Of naval officers, Is a burning shame to
/ eur country, and q disgrace to the flag We
/ are wont so proudly to boast of.
The letter is signed by twelve of the
men who were eye-witnesses TO the re-
voting spectacle. and from it We make
some extracts.
/ After breaking 70 a sister the death Of
her brother, in as gentle words as sail
or's warm heart can dc, the statement Is,
that on the 9TH Of November the decreased
was ordered in confinement ny Lieut..
Mitchell, the offcer of the deck. A ma
rine, and the ships corporal, named
Charles Cooper, seizsd Ritter and drag
! ced him to the main hatch, when Cooper
took him by the legs and pulled him down
the hold of the ship, his head striking
+ each step Of the ladder as he was drawn
down. After this, Sergeant Ray, of the
: Marine Guard, struck Ritter in the face
with his clenehed fist several times, anc
. then kicked him in the face, saying 'Yol
2 if ever catch you OF
r the beach iii murder you Ray after
= ward grabbed him by the hair, beat hi
2 head against the deck three times, an'
h then ordered Cooper to bring him a gag
4 The order was obeyed, and Cooper re
: fused to give Ray the gag, saying b
e would gag bin. Cooper then laid Ritter
D head on the deck, face upward, and takin
i the gag in both hands. tried to force
into his mouth. Not succeeding in dOin
e 50, be raised bis clenched fist and struc
If Ritter several times in the mouth.
a He then raised his head, and putin
! his knee to the back of his neck, force
/ his jaws upward with the gag. TIL
y gag is about four incheain circumference
III and foot in lengthy The gag was the
tied tightly around Ritter's head, aftt
which he wAs thrown against the bull
T head, where he lay for twenty minute
"a having every appearance Of a corpse
n Acting-Sergeant Powell subsequent
IS came IN and gave orders to the sentine
al not to permit any one to interfere vii
Ritter, or remove the gag from his mout
About fifteen minutes afterwards Coop
came in. and was told that Ritter vi
sUfocating. He picked him up ard loo
ed at him, and then threw him bal
70 againstfhe bulkhead, saying, On bin
let him lay A seaman shortly aft
this touched Ritter and found him col
which fact was reported to Sergea
m Walsh. The gag was then cut from
cb mouth, and the dead body was then tax
out Of the double irons and the surge
notified.
ell The witnesses TO the transaction we
kept in double irons, and not allowed
.at appear at the coroner's inquest, or CO.
nunicate with any person whatever.
an Cooper, one Of the principal murders, v
allowed to 20 on shore ~ Capt. Far
-ou got, and would have escaped had not |
boats crew called to the citizens on S
ten Island to arrest him, as he was
Of murderer. Some Of the citizens desil
to detain the boats crew as witnesses,
sts the officer in charge gave bis word
honor as an officer and a gentleman, Il
Sc? he would return TO the shore with Ca
10 Farragut and the same boats crew. I
boat was hoisted up as soon as it reacl
ent the ship. and the latter Immediately p
ceeded 10 sea.
.ow The authorities Of any city at VIII
. TO this ship may arrive should canse the
off rest Of the parties implicated in this al
low cious murder, and the Secretary of
'ell, Navy will, We trust. so act in the :
misses as becomes an officer who cheris
any regard for his honor and the ca
tell Of humanity
Use ----
a CHINESE DIESER.-During
our visit oF Ar EEar1 sha American NJ;