The New York herald., 1879-12-09
DELAYED IN PORT.

MurrNY AMONG THE FIREMEN OF THE STEAM
SHIP cELLA-rHEY REFUSE TO PUT TO SEA
TILL HER CONDITION Is IMPRovED-wHAT
THE CHIEF ENGINEER SAYS
The Celia. iron steamer. of the Liverpool line OF
which Burt Ray. OF No. Is Exchange place. are the
New York agents. has been lying in the North River
at the foot OF Sixtyfourth street. during the past
week. She has been taking on cargo of cotton.
Hour and staples consigned to Woods L Glover. of
Liverpool. and the work OF lading was actively car
ried on to enable her to clear on Thursday last
There had been trouble aboard the Celia. though,
and three of her hands have lain in the Yorkville
Police Court since Wednesday awaiting an examina-
ton which yesterday might have been the occasion
of barring her departure altogether. The prisoners
were William Kelly. Henry Gibbon aud John
Nesbt. fremen all. who. during the early
part Of tho week. drank quite freely.
and on Wednesday quite incapable
of work when their services were most required.
Edward Eggleston. the chief engineer. found them
in this condition, and. unable TO arouse them hur-
riedly closed bargain with three other to work
in their places agreement to give them triple
the pay of the regular employees for the day. and
duct it from the erswages. After the ine-
briates recovered their senses and came about.
monstrating against the echief engineers Ho
refused alter it. though and the malcontents after
murmuring in vain. finally resorted to open mu-
tiny. Kelly and Gibbon went below. armed them
selves with clubs, and then assumed attitude
threatening that all work had to be given over.
There bade fair to be hloodshed for time but tho
police came aboard ship soon and took the rioters
into custody They were arraigned in the Yorkville
Police Court aud remsnded till yesterday morning.
when Justice Murray summoned them before him.
WALKING BEAN ENGINES.
To the surprise Of all tho prisoners fatty denied
alaoad adcat,a Of he lat AM SSd hav
had declined work. as they did not want to 60 to sea
in hulk that might be soon at the mercy OF the
waves. The Celia. they said. with q cracked walk
ing beam and imperfect engines. WAS about to make
. risky run to Liverpool to have repairs made. and
both crew and officers must put their lives in 3eop
ardy by elnbarking in her The Cola. they OK
planned, had reached Brooklyn ON November II. She
was at once examined by the boiler inspectors who
after the second engineer. accompanied by fireman
named John Thomas. was examining the crank
main beam. Tho engineers were notified. and
Q hurried consultation held among them. the
result of which they sedulousy kept to themselves
This excited the suspicion the that their
perors intended to put and run the weasel in
her unseaworthy condition to port where the re-
meeting themselves then, and agreed to notify the
boiler inspectors. but somehow the letter they wrote
When questioned by Justice Murray Kelly said
that he felt he would be taking his life in his hands
was deep one. and although it had been hammered
over. 30 IS not to be readily seen. 1t was IN
danger OF breaking at any moment, especially
for Liverpool. where new beam could be bought.
but in the meantime she would be much exposed. as
she did not carry sufficient canvas to keep her head
up. On their promise to from causing any
noyance Justice Murray discharged the prisoners.
They went to the Celia then, where they were told
their services were no longer required, and their
wages awaited them ~ the British Consulate
reporter boarded the steamer later on to ascer-
tain what foundation there was for the fremen's
charges OF unseaworthiness. Chief Engineer Egg
geston said that the mems story, which at hrst
suggested by idle suspicious about the consultation
to which they were not admitted rehearsed
merely out of spite. small crack there really
in the beam, there in nearly all beams Of the
kind. but 1t was insignificant and had been IN pre-
cisely the condition since he took charge
OF the engine two years ago. The story Of hammer
ing down the crack to hide 1t was absurd. He had
had tho sharp edges fled OF to prevent their cutting
men saw him and became alarmed. The crack. he
said is regularly examined and seems to grow
larger It could not ready be shown to the reporter
It out Of sight and the vessel was on the eve
Of departure. The chief engineer. however. was
positive about there being danger. and remarked
that his life and those of his fellow officers
certainly a. dear to thcm as tho nremens and they
certainly would not expose them by putting to sea
In disabled ship.
SPREADING THE PANIC.
The hands did not seem to be Of his opinion. how
ever. for he constrained to appear In the York
vile Police Court during the afternoon to complain
Of the fireman. John Thomas, who had been the
first to the crack. He had como to court earlier
In the day, whom his associates discharged and
tho engineer claimed that when he returned ship
board he spread such an alarm among tho crew that
they ceased work and refused to clear away for Liv
crpool he and the other oficers tried to resssuro
them. and called Thomas to task for fomenting dis
turbance: but the latter maintained that he was
right and went down into the coal hole to upbrsid
the engineer himself for reckless disregard OF life.
furnished favorable account of his actions that
Justice Murray dismissed the complaint