New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-05-18
ANOTHER ACCOUNT.
OUTRAGEOUS TREATMENT OF TIE YOUNG MEN WHO
WERE TO BE TRAINED IN THE SERVICE oI

OUTRAGEOUS TREATMENT OF THE YOUNG MEN WHO
WERE TO BE TRAINED IN THE SERVICE OF
PACIFIC MAIL
To the EdttOr Of The Tribune.
SIR have Just read an article in your paper
headed "An Unpleasant Rumor" The Pacific Mail
Steamship Company did require young OF good cd
ucation and respectable parentage, for whom they
gagged to do all that you say The term of service
be three instead OF years. All the young men, OF
whom my one, were gentlemen, and accus-
toned 10 the ordinary relnements OF life They left
NewYork the City of Toxic, Capt JEFF. Maury, and
you say, " from the day OF their embarkaton
they treated with the utmost brutality"
One fact peaks for itself One day they forced
to work 20 hours out Of the next "a hours IT,
Worn by loss OF rest they slept while standing at
watch. When they got into hot climate they had no
opportunity to change their Very heavy clothing, and
twice during the night they would stand watch four
hours time in the steerage, with the thermometer at
to 90o They forced TO pick dccayed yege
tabes-onions cabbages &c.-in advanced stages OF de-
composition till their heads reeled with the vile odors.
They never had decent word spoken to them; dogs
better treated oaths and curses were literally given
them, together with kicks and opprobrious ephets Not
a single term of the printed regulations was kept They
kept scrubbng brass hour after hour, and when
they tried TO get into shade the burning the
hot brass fairly bsered their fingers they ordered
into the sun again, with curses
When they arrived at Aspinwall they were 40 worn
ont with loss Of sleep. cruel treatment, and insufficient
food that they only glad accept the Captains
offer and sign resignation. They stayed at Aspnwall
till the Colon returned and then all back with her
at the Companys expense The Company paid their
penses the few days they in Aspinwal On their
return they did their duty with the CoOn's cadets.
They treated with the utmost kindness by the OIL
OF the Colon and saw that the Colons cadets were
in every way treated in accordance with the Compauys
agreement The Company required no premium but the
outfit they required was quite expensive. Also the Com
pany agreed To pay them small wages do not think
the Company TO blame for their treatment but do
think them greatly to blame In doing nothing for them
since their Some Ii IL young returned,
and laid their before the President and sube
quently before the Company. Nothing at all has been
done Many OF these young meh left situations whe IL
they earning fair wages, and their parents AT
considerable expense in fitting them ont 1t
hard that outrage such this there should be no
redress.
In this statement have endeavored to he air-rather
to understate than oyerstatc. l would say that all
their work was OF the mental descrpon-even the
common sailors saved, that the lowest work.
scrubbng decks, &c, &C. might be piled the cadets.
One OF the mates told my that II they thought their
treatment hard then they would know the differ
encc when they left Aspinwa for what they had en-
durcd so fur would be chds play to what they would
have to endure the future. think II will seem almost
incredible to the public that such hcndsh officers
employed by any respectable Company A. L. W
Nen. York. May Ii, 1879.
HOW THE COLON CADETS WERE TREATED.
TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
SIR: In behalf of my brother. cadet on