Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-10-20

The New York Sun has q terrible story
about q sailor named Owens, which is
best given in the original words Of that
paper. It is repeated in full below, and
illustrates the horrible effects Of the use
Of liquor by officers to excess on long
voyages. Most Of tho i'll treatment Of
eeamen on long voyages comes from the
fact that the Captain and his officers in
dulGo, whenever they ch0ose, 10 wine,
beer and spirits ON board, and that be-
ing made ugly BY the excessive use Of
liquor, they treat the Grew a. il they
were dogs. This is what tho New York
Sun says, and tho story is left 70 the
confederation Of our readers:
John Owens, q seameu on the ship
Phirda, vas arrested BY the Hoboken
police on complaint Of John g. Ora
ham, Captain Of the vessel, Who charged
him With stabbinQ him in tho face with
a sheath-knife. The complainant ap-
peared before Recorder McDonou0h
with ghastly wound extending from
his forehead to his chin. The prisoner
admitted the stabbinR, but claimed it
was done in solf-defenoe. He said the
Phirda sailed from France on Septem-
ber 1, for New York. A majority Of the
crew Of twelve men we're Russians, Who
were unable 10 understand the orders
given them. This seemed - anger tho
Captain, said Owens, and be picked mo
out 10 vent his spite upon. ! Was worked
like dog, and Was abused without tho
least cause. During sti6 gale Of wind
on the night Of September Is, ] vas sent
aloft to shift tho royal braces. ] did
not work fast enough 10 suit the Cap
tain, and he pulled mo ont Of the FlR-
cling and struck me. The mate came up
also, and kicked me several times. !
broke away from them and ran into the
foreoastle, but vas CHASED out. The
Captain then felled me to my knees
with . slunQ-shot, and the mate ham,
msrsd me with Delaying pin. Ioalled
10 the crow 10 help me, . I saw the
Captain vas drunk, and did mot want
to 30 killed. None Of them came, a.
they were all afraid. ! then drew my
knife, and made three cuts q tho mate,
but I did not reach him. wish had
reached him, 20 he vas almoot sober at
the time. then turned on tho Captain
and gave him Q cut on the face. Tho
mate cried. They both left mo then,
and went into the cabin, while hid in
the foreoastle. I picked up an empty
bottle whom / heard than coming aesin,
and resolved to ell my life - dearly =
when ] Was ordered, - saW that both
done %. the Captain fred Is me. The
I Was then put In irons, and ! got the
worst beating that I ever reosived; !!
prayed that my Arms might b need. ]
vas than stscne up by TIE wrists % that
my fest barely touohed The deck, and
lsft In that position for twelve hours,
during which time received only Q
drink Of vatef and . small biscuit.
When was released I could scarcely
move my axms. and ! do rot believe !
could have lifted twenty poundss I VA
nsxt fastened 70 the side Of the vessel
in such . way that I could neither III
erect nor 10 down. and kept thero q
ohoYt yatio0s for several dAya On the
seventh day ons Of The ofov, Who bod
besn terribly abused, did. His body
vas thrown oyeFboaf6 without any oee-
emony. Thu IN ths veaDsl short
hand6d, and ] - Holoaeod and - q
vRk. when ~ arrived Of Sandy Hooh
IvAs AGAIN hanoe98od, and confined
until I vas handed ovse - ths poaice
The irons o. ny WTiGls toco o. BIZ
pisces q 0eah. . can b seso b tn
wounds.
The body Of Owens = covered viii
bxuiess. H - attsodsd b. pAysi.
can, Who sayo that - has ben terribly
deok WITH. An invsstieatioa vill b
rad, Own ~ osnt - 10dloV
effeoe fail. Proooodines IN sxtsaditioG
have hen boGun 70 take hin - kne
Ind foetxial. - Phi1ds beinga nsiii
chip