Delaware State journal and statesman. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1855-1870, 1869-08-20
[From the N. Y. Herald.l
CRUEITTEs IN THE NAVY.
Tortures Inflicted Upon Seaman on h""'"
the United states Steamer Pawnee.

The last cruise of the United States sloop,,
of-war Pawnee terminated with her arrlVal
at Portsmouth, and on the 2lst oil July sue
went out OF commission. About mouth
before her arrival, while ON the voyage rom
Rio Janciro, Acting Assistant Surgeon Henry |
G. Ecstein was robbed of money and jewelry |
amounting in value, it IS said, to about SIoVi |
which were taken from his stateroom WINE
he was asleep. II has become toleraDly
clear, since The arrival of the Pawnee, that
colored man named Robert Shorter was tue
party guilty oil the theft, portion OIL ine
stolen iewelry having been found upon ms
person, and he is now in The portsmouth
Jail awaiting the action of the Grand Jury
of the United States Circuit Court, on
charge of larceny upon the high sens; nut
no one suspected Shorter during the voy-
age. CT,
mons, two of the wardroom boys OF the
Pawnee, both coored, were suspected OF the
theft, and with the view TO eXlort from lhen
confession oigullt they were holm confined
in double irons. For forty eight hours con
secutiyely they lay upon the deck upon their
breasts and faces, their ankles honed to
rether with one pair Of irons, their Wrists
| ironed together with another lair. their feet
bent up behind them, and both pairs OF mons
beng tied together behind their backs.
more painful position cannot easily he con
ceiyed At the end OF these ioriy-eight
hours they We're raised from The deck, put
TO stand nm back to back with their ankle
irons still upon them, the arm OF each being
hent backwards around the body ol his
comrade in torture. At each meal bread and
water were allowed them, with ten minutes
suspension of punishment 10 tnahle them to
cat il. No other suspension nl torture was
allowed, not even when the calls oi nature
had to be answered. Consequently the lore
7 u al 4tnH hpnnmp n
sufferably filthy and lie whole crew was
made, in a measure, partakers in the pun
ishment. A most docle and submissive set
of men they must have been or they would
have risen in mutiny on 50 extreme a pro-
vocation. For four days these men were
kept ironcd hand and foot aud bound 10
gether back 10 back. The intense heat ol
ihe place increased their sui rings, ami
sleep became almost Impossible summons
testified before Inc United States Commis
si0ner, on the occasion oil the eXamlhallo
of shorter, that both he and Turner offered
nil their wages for tho entire cruise to The
master-at.arms if he would suspend Their
punishment for single hour. Bnl no sus'
pension was allowed, and day ana night
the cries of the tortured ones rnng IN me
ears of the crew, calling ior release or death
Suffering without sleep induces denenlla
On the sixth day oil his punishment sim
MONS uGCuluG WIN iHs""'i 49,
sufferers were parted. simmons was sun
kept in irons. Turner was not only KEPT
in irons, but his wrists were ironed behind
him and tied or trlced up 10 one OF the beams
above lis head. In this condition for many
hours lie remained, lied up so closely That
his toes barely touched the ships deck, ms
body hanging chiefly by his wrists, lill his
brain became giddy, and he nude comics
sion, which is believed TO have been lalse,
al, I,,I etn oFn1n and ipWplrV and
had given them to white sailor named
Patrick O'Brien. When his reason had re
turned to him Turner reiTacted the c0nles'
sion which his fortunes had wrung from
Inn; but Notwithstanding this retraclion,
and Notwithstanding O'Brien denied al
knowledge Of the larceny, and none o. inc
stolen things could be found on INN, U Brleh
was scized, confined in double irons, IN lhe
same manner us the others, and tied up by
The wrists so tightly that most of his weight
hung upon his wrists. For three days ano
nights he was kept thus, when the irons nae
cut INTO the flesh, and his wrists, swollen ie
twice their ordinary size, presented lIiHht
| July liberated and gangrenGus appearance
! When the vessel reached Portsmouth INC
condition OF 0'Brien's wrists was sucn lha'
! at first amputation OF both hands was leit u
be necessary to save his life. But nnder lh'
! skillfu manipulation OF Surgeon Goigns q
the Nasal Hospital, the Inflammation wa
$ assuaged, and the hands were saved
! The CAPTAIN of the Pawnee (CliZ) dehe'
4 all knowledge of these punishmcnis beyon
D the confinement OF the men in double irons
) The counsel for the executive oihcer, Lieu
> enant Commander ii. Ii. Seeley, lhtlhal
= that he knew nothing Of these loflures, nu
u that the master-at arms, petty olneer IN
= diclcd them without authority, Thus th
II speelacle Is presented Of cruel and unlawll
o punishmenis inflicted on board OF pnbll
u vessel OF the Navy, during period oil aD0t
% thirteen days in all, with both the commat
II ding and executive officers affecting to hav
< known nothing about it.
Not word Of information touching ines
s. unauthorized punishmenls reached tho NAY
? Department through the ordinary !n,lhc'i
* channels But Charles Cowley, n BoslQ
a lawyer, formerly Naval Judge Advocate
u took the affidavit OF Turner and Summon
10 who employed him as their counsel, an
Is forwarded il to Secretary Robson, Win
4 request for a court martial. About the san
ST time Henry p. Rolfe, United States Dislrl
y Attorney for New Hampshire, sent lett
G, To Secretary Robson touching the torlul
I'd of O'Brien. Both of these documents wei
~ referred TO Court OF Inquiry, which W
ps convened at Portsmouth, consisting oil ga
OK tain Guest, Commanders McCawleY. Al
&c Willis, and Commander Temple, Jud
q Advocate Mr. Cowley and MIR. Role a
IN peared before the court in behalf of the col
pc plainants.
he The proceedings of This court have be
D. conducted with The secrecy common WI
CHI such tribunals. But the facts above recit
g: were incidentally elected in The examlna'i.
~. of Shorter; and the same lacts, IN Efealll
nd detail, must have been brought ont bcl6
lot the Court of Inquiry. That Court has COZ
as pleted its lubors, and will, without doubt,
ne followed by a Naval General Court Maiil'
Ilh before which all who were concerned in l
ng infection of these fortunes will be hroug
ny for trial.