Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-08-06
CRUELTY TO THE CREW.
Suspending Men in Irons and Depriy.
ing Them Of Food.
New York Herald.

ing Them CT Food.
New York Herald
A revolving tale of cruelty and de-
potism at sea was told in United
States Commissioner O.born's office
yesterday morning. Five ablo-bodied
seaman-T. G. Malloy, Charles John
son, John Lyman, August Whitman and
Andrew Wick-vere taken before
Asst. Dist. Atty. Fiero, and Mr.. Maiioy,
the official spokesman ofthe delegation,
recited the facts which are given be-
low:
"On the 2Sth of of April" began
Spokesman Malloy, 1--WE sailed from
Bremerhaven for New York in the
American bark John Zittlosen, J. C.
Merriman, captain. The crew consisted
of seven able seaman, one ordinary sea-
man, and one boy. We sailed at 2 in
the morning and until noon the next
day we hardly had moments rest.
We were so fatigued as hardly to be
able to stand. We went to the captain
and applied to him for watch and
watch-that is, four hours on deck and
four below. He refused US, saying:
You g., I'll make you work.
| said, Captain, we can't stand it any
longer Well he said, you must
either 60 to work or be put in irons
repeated, we can't work, give us at
least Il few hours rest He said he
would be damned If he would, and
ordered us to be put in irons. The
mate put them on me, Charles Johnson,
John Lyman, August William and
Andrew Wick. Wick had them on four
days, William three days, Lyman ten
days, Johnson five days and 1, myself,
twelve days. They took us down to
one ofthe half decks, place no more
than three and half feet high, and
shut the hatch. twas pitch dark, and
the only air that came in was that
which was forced through by the cabin
bulkheads when the ship rolled.
"On the second day by the captains
orders Johnson and | were swung up
for an hour A rope was made fast to
the irons that bound our hands, and it
was passed through a pulley, and thus
we had to hang for full hour, our
toes barely touching the ground.
Every lurcn, every roll that the ship
made swung us across the deck. The
irons cut into our hands, as you can
see for Yourself" Here he showed
pair of brawny fists which were still
discolored at the wrists.
"Well, siT," he resumed, "for forty
hours we had nothing to eat, and it
was more than fifty hours after we
were confined before we got drop of
water. AT the end of forty hours the
captain sent us down three and one
half biscuits to be divided among the
five Of us; afterward he also sent us
some water. The next day he gave
us four biscuits. the following day a
biscuit to each Of us, and after that he
gave each man three.
"The rest of the men were gradually
liberated. l was the only man kept
down. | could sit, but not stand, and
was kept bound so tight night and day
that l could not move. 1t was bitterly
cold, too, but all this did not affect the
captain in the least.
"Finally on the twelfth day the hatch
was opened and | was allowed on deck.
The light and air almost overwhelmed
me. staggered and was for some mo-
ments blinded. The captain said: Get
down on your knees and ask my par
dom said: Captain that man doesn't
live before whom will 60 on my knees.
He got angry, but finally l was released
and allowed to go to work.
"Our passage was a long one, lasting
more than sixty days. We arrived here
on the Sd of July. We at once went
before Commissioner DHncan. He was
seafaring man himself, and under
stood it at once that we were in the right
and awarded us damages, the captain
agreeing to pay them within seven days.
| was awarded 1925. Johnson 500, Ly-
man sos, Whitman $50 and Wyck $50.
But afterward the captain objected and
refused to pay"
| This statement was corroborated by
| all the other seamen, and warrant was
Immediately issued for the arrest of
Capt. Merriman. 1t was placed IN the
hands of Deputy Marshals Miller and
Harvey, to be served at their discretion.
How Daring Man Saved His Life.
| I l.. III -