The Portland daily press., 1871-08-12

A New York despatch gives the following
account of some outrages that have recently
occurred at sea: -
The ship Sardis, Capt. Cunningham of Bos-
to, sailed from San Francisco for Liverpool,
with cargo OF wheat, on the.Sth OF Dece mber
last, a ter a voyage of 167 days arrived at her
destination. She carried acrew OF 16, shipped
in San FraI cisco for the round trip
Five OF them arrived at this port on the ship
Prussia on Tuesday last and are at the Few
Sailors III ONE on Pearl street From one of
this number Charles II. Swords, a reposter
obtained the su, joined story: tf
During the first thirty days out the crew was
treated with humanity by the Captain, no
seemed TO spare 10 pains to make item COM
| Portable, and they began to congratulate one
| another upon having shipped with god cap
| tain. But after this Cunningham began his
brutalities by knocking one Of the crew in the
| head with the butt of his revolver. Men were
put in irons, fed on sea biscuit and salt water,
| and not allowed TO remove the clotning OiiveI
| johnson, John Henning and TOuraDy VIII
| liams were placed in double irons, their hands
| bebrd the backs, and thus they were tricked
| up tor twelve hours. When taken down they
| were unable to stand, and their shoulders were
| out OF joint but the captain with billet o.
wood beat them to compel them to rise. Find,
ing tn at they were unable to do SO be lerked
them up by the assistance of the boatswain
hammered their shoulders into their proper
positions and compelled them to mann the
pump, standing over them with rattan, hav
ing it on their bare backs whenever they
slackeped their speed. They were kept at il
untilIthey fell to the deck seDseless. ra.
Swords and the cook interferred, backed by
| three or four more of the crew, wheIeupOn thu
captain drew his revolver and threated to shoe
| them down for nutiDy if they did not go for
ward. This they refused to do until they hat
taken care of the men who had been SO shock
ingly maltreated. The captain called his
mates and put the whole watch in irons AM
shut them up in the hold. .
| After this, as each of the watch was called
the watch below were put in irons.r At frs
they were put on short allowance and then oil
bead and water, and, hnall, before reachin,
Liverpool, they were given nothing but raw
wheat to eat. They were compelled to worl
and lesn irons each alternate four hours dur
ing the remainder Of their voyage. s..u
On their arrival at Liverpool Swords AM
John johnson went to the American Copsu
and reported the treatment they had received
1 but Gun bingham on hearing of their intention
bad iorestalled them by preferring charge Q
mutiny. Swords said he was willing to STAN
trial on this charge, and sent word to tn
captain that the crew were all willing an,
anxious to have the Charge investigated. q
The captain, however, withdrew the com
plant, and persuaded the consul to dsregar
the complaints OF the crew. In the last inter
view with the consul that official said t
Swords: I can't do anything for You. You
officers say it is conspiracy to ,iniure them, an
if you don't clear out shah arrest you.
The crew, unable to obtain redress at tn
hands of the consul, and deciding that the
could not bear sue h treatment, went in bod
to the consul and requested him to secure thei
| pay, but his answer was, that if they quit tn
| ship they could claim nothing. .-
l. They therefore quit the vessel without re
ceiving cent for their long cruise not bein
allowed even to secure their effects in tn
ship. le.tt.. .r.f5 G-s .--
Swords says that it has become a genera
practice of Boston shippers to abuse and NAL
treat their men to such shocking degree a
to force them to desert, SO that the captain ca
cheat them out of their pay.
They then ship q crew in a foreign port fo
the round cruise and play the same game ove
thus sailing their ships nine-tentbs of the tim
without paying Gems wages to their crew.