The New York herald., 1870-01-05
PRISON SHIPS In THE BAY.
Spanish Cruelty and Yankee
Pluck.
Dssertions from tho Gunboat Crews
American Citizens Arrested and
Placed in Irons by Spaniards
in tho Port of New
York-A Mutiny
in Progress.


York-A Mutiny
in Progress.
An active and successful mutinv has broken out in
the or the Spanish gunboats, which, 1t con-
tinues and 1t is not unlikely 70. win DO more suc-
cessful in stopping these boats proceeding TO their
destination than any action the United States gov.
ernment could take.
Three OF the superior ocers Of the crews OF these
vessels arrived in this city yesterday and furnish
particulars OF cruelties and despottc conduct TO
which they had been personally subjected, full par
ticulars OF which are given below There are seven-
teen OF these boats, partially manned, lying at tho
Quarantine grounds and these men say the dissatis
faction M so general that by this tine It
Ia expected, nearly all the crews have come
ashore They are unanimous In stating that
no number OF dollars would induce them to put
themselves In the power Of such coid-hearted.
cruel despos as these spanish captains turn out TO
be. These captains have no more regard for the
engineers Of the boats, said these men, than they
have for an American dog" No papers have been
yet signed By any Of tho crews. and therefore all
jurisdiction exercised by these Spanish captains Is
vain labor which can end In no practical result,
except that or driving all their crews ashore.
An application was made yesterday to United
States Commissioner Shields BY these three men.
whose names are VIM. B. Haughwout John J. Cham
bers and VIM w. Hawes, for legal redress; but the
Commissioner told them chat he had no Jurisdiction;
that It was entirely Q matter Of contract between
them and Delamater the builder. and therefore they
must 60 to the state courts.
Mr.. Hsughwout said-I sm engaged as frst assisr-
ant engineer ON boat No. "a Of the Spanish
gunbosts lying out In the Quarantine grounds. It s
4 rHia man h0 huat I'm hal an
ginser is required to be on board at one time.
| Chambers came on board to relieve me on tho 80 Of
January, az seven O'Clock In the morning. under.
| took to 20 ON shore, but the captain forbid 1t. l
explained TO the captain, through the interpreter,
that my chief engineer had requested me to be at
Deiamater's shop al half-past nine O'Clock to sign
( papers. After the captain had heard my explana-
tion through an interpreter he denied me permis-
sion TO 60 on shore. The steamtug Fletcher came
alongside, bringing provisions 10 the eet and asked
/ PERMISSION to 90 on board this tug After explaining
| my case they told me l could 90 80. After | got
aboard tho Fletcher the captain Of the gunbost for
bid the letting 20 Of the Fctchers moorng line from
his boat. Mr.. Chambers my assistant engineer, mol
understanding Spanish, and wishing to release me.
let the line CO. The captain Immediately held pnam.
bers by the throat, and Chambers shook him oil aud
threw tht captain % his bsscE Ma captain ordered
l
The mss seized him, but he calamity refused to be
pu. In irons, and rushed into tue engine room and
seized copper hammer and dared the entire span.
ish navy to follow him. The Fletcher then went to
| another gunD0at TO supply 1t with provisions. The
| captain Of No. "A then came alongside and
| demanded that l should 20 on board the
vessel or ne would puy Chambers in
| IRONS To prevent thai went on board and they
| ora cred me to be put under arrest. broke loose
| aud signalled Captain Reynolds to come aboard.
explained my case 10 him, and he told the Sp anish
captain that he had no right to detan me, as had
not signed any articles aud was therefore not under
the Spanish Jurisdiction. The captain OF the gun.
| boat then left to 90 on board the Spanish Irlgats
Isabella 10 Catoca, to see what arrangements could
be made for my release. Captain Reynolds then
went and supplied the rest OF the Meet with pro.
visions. Upon Captain Reynolds leaving the cap
! tain ordered the marines to seize me- aud, with
revolver IN hand ordered the men to DO their duty.
| was then seized by ten men ana thrust down into
che engine room, and sentry was placed over me.
The captain afterwards returned with permission for
me to 60 on shore; but was then refused per.
nilsson TO GO and more sentries were paced over
Captain Reynolds went back to the frigate and
brought some officers. and after considerable talk
| was allowed to leave and l, with my assistant
| engineer {Cnambers| left Tn disgust
| Mr.. Hawes makes q similar statement He says
| that he was chief engineer Of the No. 20 gunboat
aud that they discharged an engineer OF his without
| giving him any notice. and certainly without the
engineer giving any cause or provocasion Whatever.
That engineer had been on board the boat thirteen
days, and after getting the boat In order and ready
| for sea he was dismissed. Halves says that he got
so thoroughly disguised that ne left yesterday
I morning. the 4th, and does not intend to return,
and that no knew others VINO would certainly leave
| last night.
Trying to Crush Cuba-SVhat tho Cutans rre
Doing and What They Did Not Do-Canards
OF the Picayune Press.
! II the gentlemen who conduct the AFFAIRS Of the
Cuban republic In this city made OF storner
stur than many others they have long since
succumbed under the load OF calumny msrepre-
sentation ana abuse heapcd them by the pcayune
press Charged with violations Of law aud credited
! wtn deeds never dreamed Of in their phiIoso-
| phy, they have been as much In njured by
| the praise Of these small fry papers as
assisted BY their iaudaton. The OF free Cuba
Is best served BY udcious silence as TO the d0!ngs
OF th Junta, and premature publication OF conten.
platcd movements OF men and arms from the States
to the revoIted island work serious injury to the
cause OF the young republic.
Not long since small vessel, the Anna was char
tered tered oy un certain parties % mere to take nitesn
straightway 1t was announced In morning
paper that . formidable expedition had sailed for
CUBA on board the Anna. Appearing IN paper sup
posed TO be unfxv0rabe to spanish interests, the
article was teiegraphed In full to Havana, ana
Spanish gunboats were Immediately seat to sea to
intercept and capture the unfortunate vessel II
her crew and passengers gu1er an ignOminious
death the paper IN question viii have to bear the
| blame
The sensation story published In another paper
concerning the alleged abduction OF Colonel Ryan Is
declared 70 be utterly untrue. Ryan In this city
on Friday last and WAS then as far from gong to
! Cuba NJ he was nve months ago. What
| ever aid the insurgent forces In cuba are
receiving through ths Efforts Of the Junta s sent
them from places outside the United States No ex-
peditlons have sailed Tor Cuba from any American
port Of late aud none Will be sent for the present.
| a lunt0 q To