The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-05-21
CRUELTY ON TIE SEA.
Remarkable Testimony NJ the Trial Of Capt.
Sparks OF the Gatherer.

Sparks OF the Gatherer.
The ship Gatherer sailed from Antwerp on
the second Of September last. under command
OF Capt. Charles N. Sparks. a native OF Maine.
and for thirty-nlne years a sailor. The crew OF
twenty-fou men was shipped before the Amer
lean Consul. and Captain. mates. and seamen
wore all strangers to one another. After
voyage OF 1877 days. the Gatherer reached
San Francisco. and as soon MS she arrived
the crew made charges against the Captain
and first and second mates Of cruelty.
1t was claimedIBthat from the FIRST day
out the FIRST and second mates. with
the full knowledge OF the Captain. be-
gan system Of brutal treatment that re-
suited in one mans losing his sight. one mans
committing suicide and one attempting to fol-
low his example. These complaints reached
the ears Of the authorities and indictments
were found against Capt Sparks, First Mate
William Watts. and Second Mate George Cur
tbs. The second mate it is said. has served
term on Blackwells Island. Watts ran away.
but Sparks was brought TO trial. The trial has
recently been concluded.
The first witness was John Driscoll. the third
mate. He testified that he saw Watts. in full
view Of the Captain. knock down Gustave Adj
ling. one Of the crew. and kick him in tbs, eye
voyage. he was OF duty for, months. After
yard witness saw Second Mate Curtis hi,
then knock him down with Delaying pin.
The mans cries were heard oil over the ship.
but Capt Sparks took no notice Of them.
The deck of the vessel. said the third mate,
was never without blood during the passage.
Jncques's, nose was broken, his head was cut
open, and the mate made him clean up the
blood that came from his own face"
cruelty. told how the first and second mates
huI hal Pat
ran about the deck that Peter Thomassen was
never without a mark on his face from the
McKew and dragged him around the deck with
watchtackl lie how he struck Carl Rossmussen
with iron knuckles until his face was cut 10
pieces. and he cried for mercy. and tried to
Jump overheard.
-, Il. caught him and stopped him." said the
third mate; His lace and mouth were swollen
Furthermore Mate Driscoll said that on the
first day out the first and second mates struck
castle To the deck. Afterward the nrst mate
beat George soucher with ropes end The
overheard. because his hands were 90 sore that
he could not hold on. William Gilman was
aas yG e the tEan TIE es
during the voyage. The mate broke his nose
with Delaying pin. His cries could be heard
took notice. Joe Brown, a New Zealander, was
struck BY, the mate In full view OF Capt. Sparks.
a ao 4S%s ST sS s s RS ca Y . Ssa
became u maniac. and is now in an asylum
were some Of the aeIs brought 9Ht on
searching cross examination resulted only in
bringing to light additional testimony Of the
great cruelty OF the two mutes of which the
Captain appeared to be a passive spectator.
The next witness was Gustave Aiding. the
boy who had been blinded. He was led into
court unable to see six feet in front Of him.
The lad corroborated Driscolls testimony, and
added some Of his own as to the brutality OF
knew OF his injuries but his blind eyes were
the strongest testimony. possible.
Henry Mill. another Of the crew. told Of more
cruelty. He testified:
Ds nv "a af'sT % ' N
mate o"G n away and knocked Linn down and kicked
a eH s & he ia s s t f SS sea
ss. 50 Ssa s s;o EoS s9 S bot f mat he WAS
Mckew down and hiek him in the presence OF the
face ms and % not
SSw tSw Blood Il Ts ssa i r Fire spo
ran y, ys Tie wn.. psn MSkSw s made by the
One after another of the crew corroborated
the FOREGOING testimony, and added to it
their own accounts Of the useless and unu-
sevs them BY ns w9
seemed to think that he knew all that was GO
Ro bees i. o"TS Seeys e. e
swore that they Jaw Hansen. one Of the sailors
he SmS 4
endeavored to provo by these men the reasons
that Hansen gave FOR his suicidal leap, but the
Court ruled this evidence out. although the
Impression left was that the man jumped over
board 10 escape the constant cruelty ~ which
he was subjected.
As the trial went on the court room was daily
crowded 70 suiioeation, and early in the trial
probation Of Capt. Sparks that his counsel
asked the Court to guard him. The Judge
thought that the usual Marsh halls were sufficient.
and they proved to he. but it was close shave,
On more than one occasion the mob chased the
Captain. and became. So demons tratve that he
was forced TO demand additional protection.
The defence was a general denial. IL was
not denied that Mates Watts and Curtis might
have been rather energetic but it was denied
that Capt Sparks knew anything about their
energy. He did know that the crew was lazy.
and had 70 be cuifed and showed about hut as
for cruelty. he knew nothing OF any cruelty.
The trial lasted over two weeks. and resulted
to the surprise OF a good many, in q Disagree
ment Of the jury. Capt Sparks will be tried
again. On the same indictments. but not until
after Mate Curtis is tried. Mate Watts will be
tried when he is caught. He has fed to a for
eign country but the State Department il now