The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-03
SAIPOVNERS SVINDLED.
The Ugly Stories About The United States
Shipping Commissioner Receiving
Ugly Confirmation.
AN AWFUL AFFIDAVIT.
Clearing Vessel with False Articles Filled Ont
with Bogus Names Of sailors-Mr. Dun
can Sworn to Have Received Head
Money for q Crew that He
Did Not Ship.


Money for Crew that He
Did Not Ship.
The angry feeling existing on the part Of the
sailors boarding house keepers towards United
States Shipping Commissioner Duncan Ia becoming
daily mere intensined, and every EFFORT that can
be made by the former to throw impediments in the
way OF Mr.. Duncan will be made They state that
they owe that gentleman o grudge for causing the
wholesale arrest Of the members OF their body,
and that they win carry on the war against him to
the bitter end and no compromises with him OF
any kind shall be listened to. From the following
statement it viii be seen that open war has been
declared
OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN.
On Thursday afternoon secret meeting OF the
Hcamens' Boarding Masters Benevolent Associa-
ton was held at 173 South street. Mr.. John Mon
Afghan, ex-Deputy Sheriff, and the President OF the
Association, In the chair. After making unani-
NOUS protest against the arbitrary and unjust
conduct OF Mr.. Duncan towards seafariHg
men, and dwelling at length upon the IN
fair methods he has adopted OF cashing sailors
advance notes, 1t was resolved, without single
dissenting Voice, that a crew OF ten men should be
furnished to the Boston ship North America, lying
or Bedloe's Island, which has been detained in
this port for upwards OF ten days without o su1i-
Cient crew, and unable to prosecute her voyage
to Melbourne, Austraa-without having anything
to do with the United States Shipping Commits
sioner, and, in other words perfectly ignoring his
existence. This
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
was received with much enthusiasm. and an active
campaign Is to be Immediately entered upon. The
meeting, before it adjourned, received q report
from o committee which had been sent on to Phila-
dephia to report to the working OF the Shipping
law In that city, which was to the effect that all
their friends there were satisfied with the manner
IN which the law was there interpreted. One OF
the members present stated that they would be
satisfied with the law here II it was carried out in
. decent manner, but until there was radical
change made they would oppose Mr.. Duncan by
every means in their power. The meeting then
adjourned.
This morning, at sunrise, provided the wind be
IN favorable quarter, the good ship North
America, 5000 tons burden, will weigh her anchor
and stand on her voyage to the antipodes. with
ten sailors furnished by the Seamen's Boarding
Masters Association, and eight men furnished by
the Shipping Commissioner The following AFFIDAVIT
Of George w. Tucker, her captain, who has been q
master OF vessels Ter the past thirtysix years, will
be read with interest and tells its own story.
Briefly stated 1t is an allegation that the Shipping
Commissioner, Captain Duncan, has caused false
shipping articles to be made which he has signed
oiled out with ''b0gus" names las '"JOhn Roe,n
'.Richard Doe" &c.l, for the purpose OF clearing
and, it IS also charged, to secure the fees which
paid BY the shipowners for each sailor who fs
AFFIDAVIT OF cAPTAIN GEORGE w. TUCKER
Ss' nv fucker being duly sworn depSses and
America that he been master vessels for he past
oss ss vi he s s.y aaan 5
e s s up
this date SAD DUNCAN has failed to engage crew for de-
s!ss snas n he
ad s
nss ssas % s. that se ss his
and that he the said Duncan would aehorze deponent
also who s
ship the crew provided depOnent paid said Duncan his
BoGrs NAMES OF SAILORS.
ast
expenses Of said Duncan and hereupon deponent went
stiaeSe a he saec, THAT
contained 4 he articles had actually shipped before
That certificate false TACT and known by
% 81 s Be w At IF IL
after deponent was compelled ship crew Tor himself
s 81 teen men and pay an ADVANCE ER f% Of S e $50
Sworn to before the I'd day Of May, s7s-Jons D.
INTERVIEW WITH THE OWNERS OF THE NORTH
AMERICA.
Yesterday afternoon q HERALD reporter called
upon Mr.. Hastings, the owner of the North America,
At the office OF Messrs. Vernon II. Brown Co., at
was under obligations to the Seamen's Boarding
Masters Association for the step they mad taken
have remained here q fixture for many days TO
come. He added that he believed the ship Jacob
Stammler OF which Messrs. Boyd & Hincken are
agents, had also cleared with "bogus" names Of
crew.
LAWYER ON THE SUBJECT.
Subsequently the reporter called upon Mr.. Morris
IT 50 Wall street, lawyer OF the Seamens Boarding
Masters Benevolent Association. He said:-
II am not at liberty to tell you all know about
the Mr.. Duncan question. consiser the nstitu-
ton. as it stands at present. an outrage instead Of
chine is a money-makng AFFAIR. I viii tell YOU
however, something Of the nepotism there.
"Ffrst-we have Mr.. Duncan, United States Ship
ping Commissioner at $4,000 a year; President OF
East Side Bank, President OF the seamen's Aid SO.
Clety, Arbitrator, and he Is also interested, am
told by Mr.. Kellum. OF 1853 South street. to third
extent IN the clothing department OF the Sailors
necCed.
'.Second-C. D. Duncan, his son, Deputy Commits.
sioner, $4,000 year, and clerk in the East Side
"TAtrd-G. r. Duncan, another son, same posi-
lions.
"Fourtn-A third son, Henry O. Duncan, similar
good billet
"Fy11--Louis Becher, a nephew, Deputy Com.
missioner and bank cashier.
"Ssrtt-Captan Duncan, late OF the ship Daven-
port. IS coming On from Liverpool to take deputy
"Sepenth-Captsln OTIS another son.in.law. ia
about to undertake the third interest in the Sail.
ors' Home In the clothes department, made va. !
cant by renewing Mr. Kellum
"Efghu-Then we have Mr.. w. II. Hore, another
son-in-law, OF 163 South street, who prints blank
'lorms In the back basement and 1t is alleged that
Mr.. Duncan is In partnership with him. :,
PAYING OFF THE COLORADO WIN VENcrlSrr
Lately the crew q me United states ship Colo |
dred m6h, believe Those who deposited money |
IN the East Side Bank were charged fifty cents for
pass books, rates for exchange for this market and
also rates for foreign drafts while the clothing de-
partment in the Sailors Home made a splendid |
haul. Messrs. Grinneil and Minturn can tell Won |
about Duncan's exchange rates paid to a crew Of |
theirs who shipped at "a month-in Australia, |
think-and were paid of at "a co.