The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1876-09-01
HORRIBLE CRUELTY AT SEA.
The StOry Of The American ship II. Msrks-Thrss
Men Beaten TO Death and Flanz Overheard
Arrest Of the Captain.

Arrest OF the Captain
The American ship St Marks, Captain
J. 5. Grindle, sailed from Liverpool
March Ilfh, 1875. When about six
weeks out, a man known as Long
Tom, >" died from the effects of injuries
inflicted by the captain or his subordl-
mates. and was thrown overheard 10y
the captains instructions. When leav-
ing port the captain had eleven green
hands in a crew of twenty-one, and LIS
conduct towards some of them was
exceedingly harsh, any slowness in the
execution of oiders being visited with
the severest punishment-sucha as kick
ing, beating, stringing up to cross trees,
and choking. A man, named ''Soldier"
was the next to fall victim to the
Captains inhumanity, and he too was
consigned to the waves about two
weeks subsequent to thedeath of "LoDg
Tom" They were both Englishmen.
When the Ship reached Coquinbo,
Chill, q third sailor succumbed to the
result OF injuries inflicted and was bur
led on shore, the Captain in each in
stance manifesting complete indiifer
ence. Murmurs prevailed throughout
the ship, and complaint was made to
the authorities at Coquimbo, by whom
the second mate was arrested and de-
tanned in custody. The ship continued
her passage to Callao, where most of
the crew deserted. About 800 miles
south of Callao, after shipping cargo
Of guano, nearly all the crew got
drunk, and the vessel was wrecked
while going out of port. The Captain
and two Inen came on to New York
The names of the men are Henry
Poenfz, carpenter, and William Skin
ner, coIored cook, who deposed to the
above particulars yesterday before
District Attorney Pullman. Grindle
was held to answer.
Ia appearance the prisoner is genial
and good natured, but his conduct
toward his men, as detailed by the
complainants, was of the most brutal
character. The boatswsin was his as
sistant in the business of maltreating
the crew, and would call them out
night and day to beat them with ropes,
be laying pins and clubs. The Captain
was constantIydrunk, and when Long
Tom" and Soldier" died from the ef-
fecrs of his brutally he ordered their
bodies to be cast into the sea with as
little cermony as would have marked
the fliDgiDg over of a dog. The third
victim, ''Larkeyan," is said to have
been choked to death by the boatswain
and his body drawn into the forecastle
as an intimidation of the other men.
The vessel was wrecked while leaving
the Guano Islands, on the 8th of July.
She drifted into the heavy surf, and the
anchor being let go too late, she struck.
All hands Immediately took the boats
and reached the land in safety. The
next morning the vessel parted amid
ships, and in twenty-four hours there
was not trace of her to be seen. The
crew, after landing, were paid off and
discharged, the captain and the two
complainants coming to this city on
the Pacific Mail steamer Colon, which
arrived here last Monday.
Captain Grindle was arrested once
before, on the 9th of FEBRUARY, 1871,
on Il charge of cruel and unusual pun
ishment, and was tried before Judge
Roodrur. The jury at that time found
a verdict of not guilty under the statue,
but guilty of cruelty. This was con-
by the Court to mean, in law,
not guilty. and Grindle was discharged.
He is said TO be brother of the retir-
ed sea captain who disappeared few
days since, and of the notorious DIR II.
ID GriDdle |