Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-01-27

They'll come to their eenses very
soon. Three or four days of an italian
Jail, and the poor food they will get
there. will cure them. They will be
glad enough to return to the ship aud
its fare, even without gingerbread"
Accordingly l left the ship. and gave
orders TO arrest these five men and con-
fine them in the public Jail.
by the consular treaties between the
United States and most civilized na-
tions, the local police is bound to exc
cute the orders of a consul, and hold
seRmen in confinement in 'he public
prisons till his further pleasure, this
Imprisonment not to exceed three
months.
In barbarous countries, however,
the consuls must have a prison of their
own, marshal, a jailer and guards,
and have their mandates executed by
them without interference of the local
police.
AS had fereseen, from long expert
ence in such cases, hardly two days
expired before 1 received request
from these men that they wished to
see me at the Jail.
This time thought best not to go
myself, but sent my vice-consul, who
reported to ME that he found them very
Indignant st the food they were allowed
in tho prison, and that they were half
starved; but at the same time they were
still obstinate in refusing to return to
their duties.
Very WELL" said l 4" let them stay
there DAY or two longer; they will
como to terms, am sure"
The very nextday, in fact, I received
letter written without doubt by the
sea lawyer, in which they appealed to
mo for an amelioration of their cordi-
ton, especially their food.
They complained that they had been
placed in dirty room with several
straw bells without sheets. and with
only blanket for covering; that the
food was not tit for any decent person,
being composed mostly OF horse beans
ooked with onions, black bread and
srnr wine, without any coffee. or tea,
O. I rlouthful of meat, etc, etc.
The letter said that thoy did not be-
licve the American Government allowed
seameu to be treated in such style;
that they would enter a complaint and
seek redress when they returned to the
United States; and at any rate, thai
they wished to see me personally.
Sailors are like children. whom you
cannot reason with when they are cross;
you must wait until they are calmed
down. Therefore, took no i'm mediate
notice Of the letter, but waited awhile
before visited them to see what fl ,ci
the low diet would have on them.
waited all that day and the next,
and on the morning of the fifth day OF
their confinement, before Off - hours,
proceeded to tho Jail.
There. seated in the warden's office,
l ordered them to be brought before
me. They came in looking rather
dogged, especially the sea-lawyer, who
acted always as the spokesman.
"How long are We to be kept in this
place ?" he asked.
Gas long as you refuse to return to
your duty on board OF your ship"
But this is beastly hole, unfit for
men! We are starving, for the food
they give Us is not fit to eat. They
don't allow us but two hours q day for
exercise. We are not criminals that we
should be treated SOL
"Now listen to me-" 1 said, inter
rupting him. ~ speak to you all.
You have combined to refuse to obey
the orders of your officers. which is a
criminal offence against the laws of the
United States. When came on board
inquired into your complaint, and
found it not sufficient to authorize me
to discharge you from the ship, and
accordingly ordered you to return to
your duty.
"This you refused; therefore, there
was no alternative for me in order to
protect the master of your ship aud
enforce his authority, but to send you
to Jail, as he had no means of keeping
you confined on board the ship while
in port, which he had the right to do
when you refused to obey his lawful
orders.
"I have caused the examination of
the stores and provisions of the ship
by two competent persons, who have
reported and attested to me in writing
over their Signatures that these were
of good quality and served in sufficient
quantity as customary in merchant
ships; and. therefore. your complaint
was unwarrsnted by the facts.
."As to the prison and its fare, I have
no authority over the discipline and
food Of an Italian prison. As mark
of consideration toward the United
States. the authorities, at my special
solicitation, allow the sailors that I am
obliged to send here to have q separate
room, apart from the native criminals
or suspected persons, so as not to have
them brought into contact with bad
characters; thus much 1 could obtain;
but es to food, a Jail is neither restau-
rant nor boarding-house, and / have
no right to ask them to prepare differ
ent food for my prisoners.
Furthermore, ii you are uudsr the
delusion that by holding ont against
your officers, the ship will be obliged
to go to sea without you, it is my duty
to undeceive you ON this point; for You