The New York herald., 1871-02-14
MONSTERS on THE DEEP.
The Atr0ciOus Conduct on Board
the Neptune.
More Particulars About the Case-Suffering and
Cruelty-statement Of Captain Peabody
The Case in tho Courts.

IN the sea-and certainly l: would appear from re-
cent developments that some OF the brutality which
is held In check on land, either by deep-seated
OF society's dreadful scowl or mortal dread OF
the iron hand or the law, gives free reins
to its grossness on the deep ana becomes
hideous monster; its unbridled passions sweeping
all before them; no barrier TO stop the way they
give full vent to all their fury. The polished n.ask
OF urbanity and pOlteness worn on shore Is rudely
flung aside at sea- and the
GLARING SKELETON OF TIE BEAST
in all its deiormty stands forth In bold outline,
striking terror into the hearts OF its crouching VIC
Tins. 1ney do not see the gratlned smile with
which the owners hand Is grasped; but they feel
the infur1ate lash upon their backs or the
brutal club that knocks them senseless. When
the terrible Inqusition was In force aud
men were tortured to reveal the know
lodge they were supposed to posses those which
seemed the most Insignificant punishments were the
severest. The most refined and exquisite crueltles
are those that from pin's point etincelate through
out the body, making q man to vince and groan
from the sharp needle pains tnat shoot through
every nerve aud artery The whack Of marling
spike, the duh, heavy thud OF Delaying pin,
though they leave bruised or d,scolored mark,
man scarcely feels them In moment OF excitement.
But the
POIGNANT TwINoING OF A FROST BITE
could goad a man TO madness by It's prolonged
acuteness.
Out upon the broad expanse or sea the entire re-
sponsbnity-the whole CONTROLS centred in the
commander He guides the insensate destinies Of
the ship, the safety OF all the souls
board depend on him. To his care is
connded enormous wealth, and IN his
experience men place unbounded faith. Wnen
this man so trusted implied in makes OF the mar
row precincts OF his vessel pandemonium for
those most inferior under his command flor IL is
well understood the immediate subordinate officers
enthusiastically emulate the conduct OF the
capIain) and transforms himself into arch
devil. standing on the quarter deck making
the men dance to the fire OF their own suffering,
and needless Of their agony, drives them to labor
they are unfit for. 1t is time such doings had the
broad Hight OF day let IN upon them with full
force; and II these tnnuman brutes canno. be
whipped naked through the world,n they must, at
least, meet the scOrn of every honest for their
ATRocIoUs CoNDCCT.
1t Is not alone the captain OF the goou ship Nep-
tune that has abominably used his men. Tie mate
and second mate, relisn,ng his delightful example,
have done their utmost TO carry out the
amlaple disposition OF the skipper. Accord
ing to the story OF the men who are
now laid mp in hospital the severest OF
their trials began one morning some three
to snow and freeze at about SIX or seven O'Clock,
thick particles OF frozen snow falling fast the
ship throughout the night In the morning the
yards. foot ropes and rigging were covered with
rough, hald ice ana about eight or nine O'Clock the
ORDERED THEM ALoFT
This the men say was entirely unnecessary, as the
ship In good sailing order at the time. and il he
had only waited until the afternoon the sun at mid
day would have melted all the Ice whcn had gath
cred, ana they could have gone aoit and done their
duty without entalling upon themselves all
the misery they have suffered since; be-
sides, they aege they were only ordered
| INTO the rlgging to put the vessel into
snipshape which could very well have waited. one
| man tJohnsonl was sent out on the Jiohoom, and
though he complained his footing Insecure aud
he could take no hold with his hands, winch were
bitten by The FROST they kept linn there antn his
captain that they We're frostbitten, but he took
notice and Kept them steadily at work Johnson,
speaking for himself and the Others yesterday III
the first ward OF the Centre street Hospital stated
when he went aft 10 show the captain his hands he
put some KIND OF salye on them that
MADE TIE RAW FLESH BURN
and stink to such an extent that when he went be-
low the stencil was unbearabIe, anu he was obliged
holding his hands extended from him, resting on
whatever happened to oe near. Try aud
SNATCH A LITTLE SLEEP STANDING,
leaning against the windlass or the bulwarks On
going below the heat maddened them, because OF
the quick transition IRON the extreme cold to the
heavy, confined atmosphere OF their perhs, and
they were unable to sleep moment. Sull the cap
tain made them take their regular watch and turn
at the wheel although with every twist OF it they
left q portion Of the SKIN and raw flesh upon the
handles as tney passed away from them
One poor wretch, more unfortunate than the rest
called Francis Alboy ana native oil Bermuda,
whose
FEET WERE HORRIBLY MUTILATED
was obliged to get up on deck at midnight In bad
weather. Pierclngy cold, and hobble his way along
the deck, ankle deep IN salt Nater. without Shoes
forced to grasp the stancheons ana rigging sup
port himself from the agony OF his feet.
| Another man. named Williams, who was suffering
severely with his arms that he could not leave his
BERTH the captain came and pulled out OF bed, fore
ing him to stand on the poop lor four hours, as he
| was entirely incapactated for work.
Gilbert Magles states that fortnight before the ship
entered port they were on the MAN yardarm one
| grasp the canvas quick enough the second mate
kicked him. This officer Is described by the eight
men now in hospital as being ony second to the
captain IN his brutal treatment Of them. He has
| KICKED AND KNOCKED DOWN
several Of them during the voyage. AS another In
stance OF nhumanity they were subjecedo to, William
Oliver says last Thursday night the ship was Just
putting about and as they couldn't get in the SLACK
1 OF the braces fast enough the yards swung back
| when the second mate got In a towering passion
and, he being the nearest got knocked down.
Another man n complained that The captain beat
poultice TO his wounds when the captain had
| dered llnseed meal for him.
All the men Insist there was necessity for fore
ing them to work In their con0iton, as the ship
worked the passage out with eighteen men and had
| twenty five hands coming home.
William Brown and another seaman have entered
civil suits In the Marine Court to recover damages
and his mates on board the Neptune. Brown has
| also made AFFIDAVIT before Commissioner Shields
| That the mate beat him and the captain several
times threatened to throw him overheard.
MThe men were all removed last evening at i've
O'CLOCK TO Bellevue Hospital.
| STATEMENT OF THE CAPTAIN.
Captain Peabody, master OF the ship Neptune.
called at the HERALD once yesterday afternoon to
explain his conduct towards the crew the voyage
| out from Liverpool He denies all the statements
| made by the men, and declares he didn't abuse them
In any way whatever. The men, he says, got FROST
bitten while standing about the ship. He had
no diniculty with any OF them except one who tried
| to get excused from duty because he
HAD BOIL ON HIS ARM.
This man he compelled by force to 60 on the look
| out. The greater number OF the men got injured
| through their own fault and by endeavOring to
shiTk their work. There were but seven passengers
on board, and the law did not compel him TO have
doctor with that number. There was always SUI
| fcient supply Of medcines. Those men who were
injured had their wounds poutced and dressed. and
the very best care was taken Of them.
| The captain further states tnat had ne supposed
any Of the men were Ill on board the Neptune when