The New York herald., 1870-02-10
MANS IHHUMANTTY TO MAN.
Allegations Of Cruelties on the Ship
Neptune.


on Their Heads and Other Brutali-
ties-Denial Of These Statements
by the Ships Oficers-Both
Sides Of the Story.
The statements Of several OF the seamcn attached
to the ship Neptune OF the Black Ball line. lately
arrived from Liverpool, published In several OF the
papers yesterday, are, as 1t might have been ex-
pectcd would have been the case, most emphati-
caliy denied by Captain Peabody, aud the denial is
most positively confirmed by the first and second
OF the vessel These sailors. constituting the
alleged compliments, aver series OF most barbar-
GUS cruelties practised upon them during the late
voyage from Liverpool to this port. The following
statements embody both sides OF the story given
TO our reporter Yesterday
THE SAILORS STORY.
James Brady, who heads the list OF complainants,
makes out long catalogue OF complaints regarding
his personal treatment. He says that tho captain
found him asleep which sleep was the result OF
haustion from severe Iabors, and beat him merci.
lessly with rawhide. Not satisfied with this. the
captain put broom handle under his knees and
doubled him up so that he was unable to move. and
then amused himself by puncturing his back with
the point OF sharp sword and striking him In the
face with It, severely cutting his nose. The cap
tain added to these crueites by beating him several
times with an iron Delaying pin. The climax Of cru
city was perpetrated by Nolan, the second mate,
who, he says knocked him down with lamp, and
while down kicked him on the head with his heavy
boots cutting his head and breaking his Seve-
raj times while at the wheel the mate struck him,
as II finding exquisite pleasure In this dlverting
amusement, and On one occasion struck him ia the
face with q capstan bar. The eliminating point OF
cruelty to which he was subjected by this mate
N Ia m
hour which latter semi-acrobatic feat witnessed
and enjoyed by Captain Peabody.
Richard Bona had no tntermtssion in his beating,
he being beaten every day regularly. On one occa-
sion he was nearly knocked overheard. He also was
compelled to give taste OF his physical endurance
by standing an hour on his head.
William Carter sustained the weight OF the cap
tans foot on his toes to extent crushing them In
a frghtful manner. He was knocked about IN
roughly miscellaneous manner by the first mate
with Delaying Plus, and the second mate put a rope
around his neck, Threatening 10 hang him. Thus
run on the statements Samuel Whitley says he was
beaten by the captain with a Delaying pin. dlsfgur
was compeed to stand on his head for an hour
Jacob Miiear was beaten and kicked by the captain
several times during the voyage the ne. second mate
him with Delaying pin and finally compelled him
to stand with his feet pointing in the direction OF
william Giles did not escape DAY without being
beaten and kicked by the captain. One day while
he was the foretopsall yard the captain tried 70
throw him overheard but did not succeed In his
murderous attempt. On another occasion while on
the yard tue captain fired three shots at him;
but proving poor marKsman the balls whisted
harmessly by his head. The captain alernateu mis-
beatings with his fists. shovel, behaving plns aud
terOcous cruelty OF his nature, could not come near
him without beating hm. and did not allow day TO
pass without giving him o furious fagellatiOn. lie
also stood on his head, but the Ossa on PeliOn was
compelling him to Kiss negro or else have his
lives Cornelius Vfnedle had his broken at the
HANDS Of the second mate, ana likewise stood on his
head.
Arthur Landy was struck by the captain ia the
face cutting his mouth very badly. The second
mate beat him nearly every day, and once knocked
out two OF his front m0ars, and when down kicked
INN In the ribs and back He also beat him with q
cham hook and held him by the throat while
an hour on his head.
AS we have already stated Captain peabody puts
in, as the lawyers would say, general denial
to all the above statements Our reporter had
interview with him yesterday on board the Neptune.
now lying at the foot OF pier No. % East river
VERY serious charges. we see, are preferred
against YOU" we remarked, after introducing our
selves to MN, by several OF the sailors coming
with you on your last voyage"
$50 saw BY reading the morning papers," he re-
piled, Though was glad to notice tnat the HERALD
the the only paper care anything abont-did not pub.
ments," we observed as explanatory OF the facs OF
the charges not appearing IN TINS paper "particu-
larry Ia cases OF this slde ana Will not give side
OF the story without the other"
"That's right and JUSTICE" he observed in reply.
"And now can tell you my story very briefly"
1t Is unnecessary to give this statement ertensO.
as TO write out ali he told in the hour he telling
the story would occupy several columns In the nrst
place ne denied tn toto the entire statement as
given above and then proceeded to par
ticularize. The Sailors twenty -four in number,
a. as she lay In the Mersey. small boat contain
ing them came alongside. "Well. you blg-headed
s-n Of . b-n throw us rope" was the first salu-
tation ne received which came from Brady the
chief OF the present complainants against him.
After the man had been taken board he told
Irod of a ln,rr
| in future on his vessel. The next thing he heard
OF Brady was his attempting that evening to stab
inches long, because the latter ordered him duty
| The result was that he put him in irons and Kept
Brady then promised to behave himself and he
released him. When the mate ordered him to work
he said, .pll be id II DO stroke OF work." and
| the mate telling him he would have TO work or be
put III irons again ne went to work and there
more trouble with him.. AS to his being struck by
| himself, either with his fist Delaying pin, or
! doubled up with broom ban1le, pricked with
sword or being compelled to stand on his head, he
says there is not word OF truth in it. Brady lett
| accidentally, as great many on the ship well knew.
lie ponediy denied any Of the alleged cruelties
to any Of the other complainants. Instead OF being
clothing WHOM they had not and required,
| up between decks, that they might rest when
| their services were not absolutely required. The
man Carter, he says confessed that he fugitive
from justice ana that the police were after him when
he shipped to 20 on this vessel He did all he could
to get rld or WORK. anu on one occasion MD himself
under some sails and another time in tue ventlator
In the coal locker IN the passengers galley. Tho
whole gang Of complainants were the roughest men
| he had ever encountered Ia his long experience at
sea. The other sailors were all robbed by them-one.
French sailor, Of 500 gold. He had give them
separate place to eat to keep them from starving
| as this crowd OF r0ughs would seize everything,
and what they could not eat themselves they would
hide away to eat on watch,
SECOND MATES STATEMENT.
An entire corroborat1on or the captains state
! ment was given by the second mate, Mr. Daley He
says the could not have been treated IN kinder
| or more humane manner. The Chief mate was not
on board, anu consequently his statement was not
obtained Several who were on board ana who had
| Conversed with him declared that tie denied the
allegations Of cruelty preferred against him. ana
| the most from their own knowledge, endorsed The
| statement OF denial as true
WORD FROM MIR. MARSHALH
| Mr. Charles Ii. Marshall owner OF the Black Ball
line, TO which the ship Neptune belongs stated tnat
Captain Peabody had been in his iather's and his
| own employ for the past twenty years. He had