The New York herald., 1869-03-20
THE FEVER SHIP.


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I'VE Msge Dsashs ss he ssanen,s Rstreas-
In4uese at Staten Islaud-AaAAeional Rsvc-
latlens of HeEreR. 4.se sNs.
The inquest on the bodies Of Thomas Petersen and
Alfred Robinson, two Of the crew OF .'the fever shp
James Foster, Jr, who are alleged TO have died
from III treatment received ON board the vessel was
held at staten Island yesterday. The following v
the evidence taken:- M
Thomas @. Monrstt swom-I am physician -in-chief
OF the seamen's Retreat; Thomas Petersen was ad-
mitted to the hospital the sth OF March, his feet
were frozen and he was in an extremely emaciated
condition; his skin was dry, snrivelled parchment
like; he had very feeble pulses ne was twenty-five
years Of age; he died on Monday morning the 18th
instant, at i've O'Clock made post mortem ex-
animation on the body and found an abrasion on tine
right arm, and hits and ecchymotic spots under the
eyes; found the lower lobe Of the left lung con-
solidated by Inflammation and in state OF gray
he2atization in patches the superior lobe Of the
same lung was much congested; the right lung was
normal; the heart and kidneys were also normal;
the spleen was about double the normal size and
there was very dark congestion OF the lower end OF
the lium and OF the frat part OF the colon; there
was no ulceration the brain presented nothing dis
tinctly pathologca the left foot TO the instep and
up to the mae0li, on either slde was gangrenous;
the toes Of the right foot were also gangrenOus;
think the feeble state Of the deceased was pro-
duced by exposure, and that the primary cause
OF his death was inanition and that the secondary
cause was the Inflammation Of the lungs and the
gangrene OF the feet; Alfred Robinson was admitted
on the stn OF March, and he died on the l5th at
eleven O'Clock In the evening; when admitted his
feet were irostbitten and he was In state OF ex-
treme debility; made post mortem on the body
to-day: the emaciation was not great as compared
with that OF Petersen; the only mark externally
noticed was over the left eye, an unnealed wound;
examination
the internal organs revealed healthy condition OF
the lungs except that the lower Iobes were hydro
spleen was about three times the normal
size ana very much softened in structure;
the liver was also softened; the gastric mucous
membrane was cOngested IN patches, showing ecchy-
motto spots; the mesenteric glands were considera-
bly, enlarged the kidneys were hypertr0phed, about
two and half or three times the normal size, OF q
very dark maroon color, showing the structure or
both kidneys to be very much s0ftened; the intes-
tines, large and small, were normal; there were no
primary cause OF DEATH in my opinion, was
inanition, brought about Immediately by the
ipammation iSins natl Of the @ KIDNEYS DO mot mot
for three months, although he might have hard
work to DO, would present the emacated appearance
that the deceased did; had Robinson well treat
ed on board he w0uld not have presented the ap-
pcarance he did; do not know what produced the
disease OF the kidneys; the deceased may have had
the disease OF the kidneys Tor several weeks; be-
lieve that the disease IN the enfeebled condition the
sufferer was at the time was the immediate cause Of
death.
John L. Feeney one OF the house physicians, was
next sworn-Petersen told ne had Deea sick three
weeks, that ne mad received very limited
quantity OF food aud that he had been
beaten by the first mate, the tnrd mate
and the boatswaln; IN the post mortem examination
found limited deposit 1l tuoercle IA the upper
ing; am at loss to account Tor the remote cause
OF DEATH but agree with Dr. Mofiatt that the mme-
diate cause was the Inflammation OF the lungs and
the gangrenous state OF the leet; there MARKS
OF violence under each eye Of the deceased.
Thomas II. Bryan, sworn.i knew Thomas Peter
sen and Alfred Robinson; they were put on very
short allowance OF provisions and water on the
James Foster. Jr. they were Ill treated by the first
mate. third mate boatswain and carpenter; one day
during the voyage saw Petersen on board with his
face all bruised and his eyes blackened; asked him
VINO did 1t and he said Felix, the second steward,
the same day, / saw the boatswain give him
Q terrible beating with Delaying pin or q strap
forget which; frequently saw the bOatswaln beat
Petersen the latter was sick about three weeks in
the hospital and was put TO work in the cold weather
without anything but rags to cover his Feet ne hav-
ing no shoes or boots; i never heard man say an
impudent word TO an 0ff1cer OF the ship while was
on board OF her; they never spoke back single
strong, hearty y' men When they ef Liverpool; the
general treatment OF the crew by the officers was
brutal In the extreme; they seemed TO thirst tor
and thirty years. ana never saw such brutality be
fore; often the carpenter beat Robinson with
handy; the second mate was often beaten by the nrs
mate and was sent before the mast and then rein
stated Afterwards; WAS not crue 70 the men when
he was second mate.
James wilson sworn--I am one OF the seamen Of
the James Foster, Jr.; have heard Bryan's testf
mony and fully corroborate 1t; was often vaal
treated by the third mates the carpenter once struck
me with d hammer In the head and the first mate
once struck me; saw the boatswain beat Petersen
after the first week we had not enough food or water
the passengers used to complain also that they were
deprived or the necessary amount Of food and water
John Novelty sworn--I was second mate OF the
ship James Foster, Jr, on her last voyage from Lv
erpool; knew Petersen and Robinson; they were,
willie ON board the vessel treated very roughly;
saw Petersen once with black eye and bruised
face; the first mate often struck me, Knocked me
down and kicked me; all the men appeared to be IN
good health when they came on board at Liverpo0l
as far as ever could learn the men in the hospta
did not receive proper attendance; was sent before
the mast for week by the captain, l
suppose because didn't use belayIng pins or Other
implements the other officers did; the crew never
showed any mutinous spirit and always obeyed the
officers the best OF their ability; in nv opinion the
short allowance OF food and water, the expOsurt
needessly to the weather and the bad treatment re
ceived at the hands OF the Officers FASTENED the
deaths OF Petersen and Robinson; the doctor Of the
vessel was nearly always roaming about the vesse
der the influence Of liquor.
The iuuuest here adjourned to next Friday.