The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1869-05-07

our mar, tar our lace and bar, and then
make Us sing songs which they dictated to
Us. They stood behind us with needle
stuck III the end OF stick, and when we
would not sing they pricked US; this
was one quite often.
THE BRASS KNUCKLEs.
The same victim says: "The captain
struck me on the head with his fist, on
which were brass knueklcs. a great many
times; he beat me several times day almost
every day during the voyage from Liver
! pool to Queenstown; my head was cut in
several places, nay eyes blackened, my face
cut, ant body bruised all over, so much
that | was unable to raise myself in my
berth without assistance from the other
seamen the captain used to take hold of
the hair of my head down almost level
with his feet, and then kick me in the face
and body, he kicked me great many
! times; [ was dreadfully sore and sick from
his ill-reatm ent, tic l1ai i.,oc fer
some time. The brass knuckles went on al
the fingers of one hand each ring had a
sharp point about a quarter of an inch long;
that only had one pair and sometimes the
captain wore them and sometimes the mate
wore them; McKee's nose was broken with
the brass &nucklcs.
OTHER KNOCKS AND BRUISES.
Robert Mcdonald says: 1.-The captain
struck me Oh the head and in the face with
his fists, on which were brass knuckles,
cutting my head and face very much he
! hit me several times, knocking me down,
aud then kicked me in the face several
! times he held me down by my hair and
kicked me in the face, knocking my teeth
out and cutting my face. The chief mate
struck me on the back with an iron bound
blrck weighing about thirty pounds, and
beat me one night with his fist in the head
and face.
Brown says : The chief mate struck me
! IN the side with an axe handle and then on
/ the head with it, stunning me and cutting
/ my head very badly, at the time threaten
! ing to knock my brains out"
Blundell says The captain took me by
the hair of my head, and pulling my head
down he then kicked me in the face he
kicked and beat me so much that | could not
! help myself in any way. | was laid up at
/ Queenstown two weeks on account OF my
! injuries. "
Mckee relates his experience in the fol-
! lowing manner: The captain kicked me
/ IN the face and on the head several times !;
beat me In the face with his fists with brass
/ NHuSNlSo my uUSe, CullibS III
/ face and head in several places; he has eat
me several times winh belaying~pins the
F chief mate struck me with an axe handle,
on the head, several blows, and has thrown
a block at me which struck me on the
shoulder has knock ed me down and stuck
pen knife into my legs several times. .
futile experienced about the same treat>
ment He says THE captain kick ed me
in the stomach, and beat me on the head
with the ship compass, while | was at
the wheel, cutting my head in several
places.
MORE ADJUSTMENTS.
Another way adopted by the captain and
mate for pleasantly Willing away the time
during the day, was to seize the men and
hang" them Brown states that he hid
hid himself in the hold for several days be
case he was afraid they would kin him,
and when he was found they tied him up
to the galows for forty~fve minutes, with
his hands in irons cutting into his hands
and causing dreadful pain. While hang
ing up his feet were about one and half
feet from the floor. His hands are still
paralyzed from the effects Of the punishS
ment.
TIE CAPTAIN S WIFE SAVES THE LIVES. OF
LIE CbEN.
A few days after leaving Queenstown the
last time, the captain S wife gained access
to the stock Of liquors. and dragging out
two cases of whiSkey and one of rum tum-
bled them oveI board She had constantly
kept her eye on the captain, and many
times when he was committing the out
RACES and threatening o take the lives of
the men she interfered and checked him.
The men state that up to the time that the
woman discovered the spirits and threw
them overheard. the captain and mate were
daily getting worse, and that some of them
would surely have been shot or beaten TO
death before the end Of the voyage, bad
she not saved them in this way.
FOOD, DRINK, AND WAGES a.E
While the ship was stopping at Queens
town the men alleged that the steward sold
the pork rom off thu vessel, and that their
only 70, d during the passage was rotten
beef Instead of coffee they were given a
fluid which none Of them could name, as
it was made of burnt biscuit and a mixture
of other substances but they were glad
to get even that, if they could drink it
without being prosecuted by the captain
and mate They alleged fur her that they
were not paid cent of their wages during
the passage. 80,
ESCAPE OF THE CAPTAIN AND NATE.
The men having threatened to have the
two officers arrested as soon as the ship
reached port, both captain and mate made
good their escape before the vessel reached
the dock. The mate jumped off into the
steam tug soon after passing quarantine,
and the captain escaped Immediately as
the ship reached the dock and has not been
heard of since
THE CASE TO COME BEFORE THE COURTS.
The men having finally landed in New
York and found accommodations for living
at the Sailors Home. then proceeded to
put their case into the hands of counsel,
who have since been engaged in taking aft
day;ts of the complaints preparatory to
bringing the case before the courts in its
proper shape. A civil case will be insttu>
ted in the Marine Court to compel the cap
tain or owner of the ship to pay damages,
laid at a large amount. One of the
counsel will probably secure the arrest of
both the captain and mate to-day, on war
rants from either the State or United