The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-25
Chained In o Dark ship Pen.

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Chained In o Dark ship Pen.
TIE suFFERINGs or NATE ON TIE NORTH
ERN IGur ACCUSED OF MUTrNY.
New Yort Times.I
Captain Joshua Slocumb, OF the ship
Northern Light. obtained a warrant from
United States Commissioner Shields Thurs
day afternoon for the arrest OF Henry Ar
thur Slater, one OF his crew. who, he said,
was mutino,s. Deputy United States
Marshal Charles Bible served the war
rant. When he boarded the vessel.
which was lying at Pierrepont Stores,
Brooklyn. Chief-Mate Mitchell asked
tbe Marshal II be was alone. lie said
that Slater was dangerous man, and il
would "take several powerful men
10 hold him. Slater was confined in
pen about five feet by four. and as dark as
q dungeon. As the Marshal peered into
the darkness Slater cried out, "Are YOU
the officer come TO arrest me.' The Mar
shall said he was. "Thank Cod" said the
prisoner fervcntly. The miserable man
was lying on his back, with one foot hoist
cd into the air and strapped TO the ceiling.
Attached TO the ankle OF his other leg
was q heavy iron manacle, to which
was fastened an enormous chain weigh
ing about eighty pounds. His only
clothing was an undershirt and q sock
which covered the foot which was raised in
the air. The unfortunate man had been
confined in his pen for fifty-three days, ana
had torn off his clothing while the ship was
crossing the equator, when the heat in his
pen must have been 400 at least. The
carpenter filed the rivets from his mana
cles. and he was released. When he was
taken on deck he was unable TO stand while
be was being dressed. The Marshal offered
brandy TO the prisoner. He declined. say
ing that he never drank liquor, and after
drinking q few swallows Of water he told
the Marshal he was ready TO go.
The Marshal was compelled TO support
his prisoner and to move slowly from the
vessel 10 the Wall-Street ferry, which was
only about $50 yards distant. Slater was
so weak that he painted violently and was
compelled to sit down on the curbstone to
rest several times on the way to the ferry. |
On reaching the city the marshal and his |
prisoner took a horse-car TO the Ludlow
Street Jail. consuming nearly three hours |
In the journey. DeputyWarden Herman |
prepared q chop for Slater. lie swallowed |
few moutbfuls, but was unable to retain |
substantial food, and q physician was sum- |
moned, who prescribed the proper nou-
rishment. After the prisoner was placed |
in bed he became feyerish and raved in de-
lirium the greater part OF the night.
When the marshal went to the Jail yes-
terday morning to take Slater before the
commissioner the prison physician said his
removal at present was out Of the ques-
ton. Although be was still very weak, Sla-
ter had an interview with his counsel.
james p. Davenport. He said that while
the ship was lying OF Port Elizabeth, in |
South Africa. on September 26th, he heard |
a second mate was wanted, and he applied |
for and obtained the position. He thought |
the Captain did not like him for some
reason, and he heard him say: "Tll
fix that fellow when we get OUT
side" One day. when the YES
sci was about eleven days out, the
Captain gave Slater an order, which he saws
he did not hear. The Captain called him
down. and then struck him on the head
with something which caused the blood to
flow and impaired his eyesight. Slater re-
take his things from the cabin and 90 for
ward to the forecastle with the men, as he
could no longer remain with the officers.
-Four days aiterward Slater was late in |
making his appearance. The Captain said |
he would put him In irons. Slater ran |
forward and hid himself among the freight.
The Captain fred two shots at him |
rs he ran. Shortly afterward the |
chief mate and several men, armed |
with cutlasses and pistols, captured |
him and placed him in irons. His hands |
were shackled behind him and his feet /
were manacled. Slater managed to make |
his escape, and then he went TO the room |
where the mates were sleeping. Pointing
his pipe, which resembled pistol, at them, |
he directed them 10 throw up their hands. |
They did so, and he searched for their pis-
tolls, but was unable to find them. He says
he intended to throw the pistols overheard, |
The Captain again had Slater put in
irons and chained to the deck. For |
several DAYS Slater's diet was sim
gle cracker and water. Then the ra-
tons were doubled. One day he was lonely |
and attempted to sing hymn. For this |
he was "triced THAT Is, his feet were |
strapped to the ceiling several hours each |
day. On Wednesday last some one emp
tied bottle OF carbolc acid over him,
burning him, and causing him much pain |
He says he is twenty-siX years old, weigh
ed lS5 pounds. and was very powerful |
when he shipped on the Northern Light.
He Is now very much emaciated, and |
"NiShS why lOuttiS. ilc Hiu |
medal which he won In an exhibition OF |
Caledonian games at Fort Elizabeth before |
he sailed.
Captain Slocumb, when questioned in
reference to Slater's statements. said he did |
not see how Slater could be sick. He
thought she must be shamming." lie
said he had had a good deal OF trouble,
from first TO last, with his crew, and that
Slater was responsible for much OF 1t. One
Of the subordinate officers Of the Northern
Light said that Slater acted very badly be-
fore he was placed In irons. He then con-
Quoted himself so badly that the captain |
was obliged to have him chained as well as
handcuffed. He broke several pairs of |
handouts. Captain Slccumb preserved
these irons. and will produce them at the |
examination. An examination into the 1
case will be had this morning.
The interests OF humanity seem to de-
mand the publication Of the following