Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-02
A Shocking Act of Barbarian.

10 it possiLlc that such M act of barba,ty ~
Is related in the following, could haye taken place
On board OF an American ship, commanded by IN
American nnsai officer? II this narrative is tree
1t should rebound to the lasting Disgrace Of tue
officer who permitted it.
The phladslphia News Of Friday says:
We have been placed in possession of letter
addressed 10 the sister of George Ritter the young
man from tails city, who was oruAlly beaten to
death on board tho U. s. sloop-ot-war Brooklyn,
while lying in New York bay of Staten Island.
That such devilish nets Of torture should, be prr
retrated on board OF American ships If war, in
the presence Of naval officers. is burning shame
to " country. and u disgrace TO the flag We were
wont 70 20 proudly boast If.
The letter is signed by twelve of the men who
were eve witnesses 10 the revoltin, spectaee, and
from It We make some extracts.
! Aftcr breaking the sister the death of her broth
err, in as gentle words as q sailors warm heart
do, the statement IN that on the eth Of Novcm-
Der the dece ,sed was ordered in confinement by
Lieut.. MITCHELL the officer Ut the deck a marine
and the ships Corporal named Chas Cooper
ssised Ritter and dragged him to the main hatch
when Cooper took him by the legs and pulled him
down the hold Of the ship, his bead striking each
step Of the ladder As be was drawa down. After
this, Sergeant Ray If tho Marine Guard, struck
Ritter in the face WITH his clcnehod fst, several
times and then kicked him in the face, saying
'.yUu -. if ever catch you on tho beach, III
murder you" Ray afterwards grabbed him bv
the hair. beat his head against the deck tire,
times, and then ordered Cooper tn bring him u
gag The order was obeyed, and Cooper refn ,rd
to give the gag to Ray. saying he would gag him
Cooper then laid kitter's head on the deck, fac,
upwards, and taking the gag in both hands, tried
to force it into his mouth Not succeeding in de-.
ing 40. he raised his clenched 6,,t and struck Ri,
ter several times, ID the mouth. lie then raj %,
his head. and putting bis knee to the back dt hi,
neck, forced his jaws upward with the gag, lrh,
gag II ahou, four inches.in circ,.m ferenee, aud
loot in lengthy The gag was ,l.en lied ,irhtl,
around Ritter's head, aftei which he was thrown
against the u,ktsad. where he laid for 20 min
utica, having every appearance Of n corpse Act
ing Sergeant Powell subsequently came In ant
gave ordefs to the sentiaels TO permit unv on,
10 interfere with Ritter, or remove the gar from
This mouth. About fifteen minutes after = ards
Cooper cams in, and was told that Ritter was suf
locating, He picked him up and looked ut him
and then threw him back against the bulkhead
saying. "Damn him. let him sy," a seaman
shortly after this touched Ritter. and foand hin
4 cald, which fact was reported 20 Sergeant Walsh
\ the gag was then cut from his mouth. and tn.
dead body was then takea ouf &c the double Iron,
aad the Sargson notified. The witnesses TO III,
transaction were kept in dauble iruna end not al
lowed to appear st she Curunsr's iHque~t, Or com
manieAts With my person whatever. Cooper. ans
of he principal nstrderers, was allowed 10 ~ on
shnre ~ Capt. Farrssut, and mould have ESCAPED
.ssa l. ls ~ g .ssFsss him X .aar
some II ths cisizms desired To deta;a TIA boat.
crew = xikuesese. but DE sMSeE 10 kaSss gave
hiS stL hoaoss ~ an ofRose and . ysBslsnnan,
sNet rs u