New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-20
pDDR .IIEH


A San Francisco dispatch says that the
United States Marshal at that place was pre-
vented. last Saturday, from taking out Of jail
certain sailors who were TO testify III ciyii
suit. These sailor witnesses were detained IN
the county Jail, in irons, in order to give eVl-
dence in certain cases against one Clarke
captain of the ship Sunrise, which arrived at
San Francisco from New-York several weeks
ago. The original charge against Clarke ana
his first officer, Farrell alias Harris, was that
of cruel treatment of the crew; anu
the circumstances under which the
suits were instituted do not reflect
much credit on the United States au-
thorities in San Francisco. The ship Sunrise
left this port with crew largely made up OF
landsInen who had been "shanghaed," 1t Is
alleged, or entrapped on board by artifice OF
violence. Some Of these were newly-ar-
rived. German and Swedish immigrants,
WHO had no knowledge whatever OF sea-
manship or of the English language All
accounts agree that the treatment OF the crew
on board was excessively brutal and cruel.
The details as given by some of the under
officers and men, are Notwithstanding the sail
ors were beaten, starved, kicked, and other
wise 40 matreated that humanity Shudders at
the thought that it is possible for men to be
clothed with the power to 30 Cypress their
fellows. From this floating hell three
wretched creatures escaped by suicide, finding
in the angry sea their only refuge from the
brutality of their tasBmasters They were
almost literally driven overheard.
When the ship arrived at San Francisco,
the story of the suiierings and suicide OF the
three missing men became known. The sur
vivors told their tale, and it found ITS way
into the newspapers. Great Indignation was
excited for, making all allowance Tor the
proverbial grumbling of Poor Jack, the scars
of the living and the fate of the dead were
sufficient testimony in the case. But nobody
stirred in the interests of outraged justice ard
humanity it was nObody's business anu
the newspapers bitterly commented on the
fact that our paternal Government had horde
of officials ready to pomce upon luekiesS
Chnaman who might have a haf-Ounce Of du-
table opium under his frOck, and to guard
iealOusly the beer-stamps and the whlsky-stlls,
but no marshal, deputy, or dstrict-attorney
was moved to ask if these mOnstrOus allega-
tons were true. Finally, private citizen
Mr.. Henry George, preferred charges against
Clarke and Farrell they fled but the captain
WAS arrested, and Mr.. George offered tempt
ing reward for the apprehension OF the mate,
who mt last accounts had not been found.
Meantime the sailors were detained as wit
nesses, and, being aliens, strangers, and
without money or credit, they were sent
to jail, where they have remained for
nearly two months. Part of this time. 1t is
said these poor fellows were confined in irons !;
why, we cannot guess. They brought civil
suits against Capt. Clarke to recover damages
for the cruel and unusual punishment which
had been inflicted upon them. OF the twelve
suits thus brought, two or three were imme-
diately successful, S299 being awarded the
plaintiffs; and several others are pending.
When the United States Marshal went for the
prisoners, last Saturday, to bring them before
the Court in irons, the excited pOpulace
assembled in such threatening manner that
he refused to fetch them out without writ
of habeas corpus.
The chapter of brutality on the sea thus
briefly sketched is commended to Legislators
who live at home at ease. 1t shows the sailor
not yet freed by our laws from the oppression
and violence with which wicked men on sea
and land pursue him. DemOraized by the
drink which is thrust upon him; entrapped by
trick; cheated at home and abused on the
sea, he is a victim of the lowest vices and the
most criminal Tyranny. After all, the laws of
the land have done but little for Poor Jack
------
4 GOOD SIGN