The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-12
MARINERS MISERIES.
stuart and Smith, Seamen. Accusing their
Captain OF Crueities that he Denies.

captain OF trueittes thnt ne Denies
Two lads said to have deserted their ship,
the German brig Annie. were arraiened before
Justice kilbreth In the Tombs Police Court yes
terday on charge Of vagrancy. They looked
terribly pale. thin and worn. as though by long
and hard service aud rough usage and the
stories they told In their own defence indicated
that they had experienced both. The eldest.
John Stuart. although only ~ years OF age hns
been an able seaman for some years. having
gone TO sea when he was but l2 His body was
covered with salt water bois. and three OF his
toes and the ends Of his fingers were frost
bitten.
His companion was hardly II. and had been
sailor for two years He. too was suffering
from salt water boils. though otherwise he
seemed TO have Jared better than Stuart; his
face. however. bore the marks OF cuts and
bruises His name he said was William Smith.
and he was an irishman by birth.
Stuart said that Hst August the English ship
in which he WAS employed was wrecked near
Cape Roche. on the coast u Brazil. He and some
others made their way to Rio Grande del Soude
German nan brig Annis. H. was shipped. Capt
Lener telling him when he signed tha articles
port the vessel touched. either in the United
Stntes or elsewhere.
made the trip IN about thirty days. The papers
Stuart signed were written In German. which
he dld not understand hut h. suppo~ II that he
shipped only for the trip. aud not liking the
vessel. he'd sired 20 leave her AZ Rio Grands del
Nor'Iv. There were no larg" ships there. how
ever IN which he could get a berth Tor a long
VOYAGE. so he decided to remain with the brig
until she arrived ia New York. Tar rest OF the
crew thought differently. nnd no sooner was the
brig in port than they all quilted her.
In their places Capt L"u'r shipped two coll
ored men and the boy Smith. The coored men.
Stuart said. We're told that they were going into
warm lstitud-s. and when they understood
that they w-re coming 10 New York one OF them
ran away. The Captain. by some means. in
weighed b IN on board again. and got him down
the fore hatch. Seeing that they We're going 10
shut him In. the man seized hold OF the wood
work Rt the edge and mnds an EFFORT 10 climb
out. upon whi h the mate dashed the cover Of
the hatch down upon his hngers and then danced
A- soon as we got 70 sen" Stuart said. they
begun to beat and ill.use the colorrd men, ana
THAI boy lponting 10 SMITH. though can't say
The fourth day ont. Smith had to 90 into the
tor"top. As ne was going alor. the rntlines
gave way. aud he iell from a considerable
height upon the deck. He was insens nle when
picked NJ, his face was badly cut. aud his body
bruised; He was allowed To cease work Tor one
night. but the following morning he WAS
dragged out OF his BERTH and sent % the wheel
The lad WIS unable 10 steer, and he said that
the Captain. seeing this sirurl: him a violent
blow with his clonched fist on the spot where
the hnli-closed cut uni ciotted blood showed
the elects OF his fall on tho preceding dny The
fresh blood. Stuart who witnessed the occur
renee, said. spurted over the deck and stained
the wheel.
After Smith began to recover a little from the
effects Of his fall. Stuart added, everything he
did. whether right or wrong was an eNcus, for
beating him. The Captain and mate never
wearied Of knocking him about. and the two
colored men came in for a liurrH. share OF simi-
lar abuse, More than once smith was struck
yo wIh az iron P@r oy IoF m Hq 1r b me S9ag
said yesterday. but II was not much fun for
TINT boy"
according - Stuau's story, We're pretty neurly
disabled. Tho two coiorsd men had their hands