The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-04-06
OiaS visE INV IASi !trDAIs
AA0fxn0 AND MATES ACCUSED OF
CRUELTY AS IN YEARS GONE BIZ.

4ssssAaents that nd With Death ssnsslues
-Rsaress that she sailss Knsws Mes Of, sr
~ Least F1sAs DiAsslsy IN Demsadiae.
II do not expect the opinion OF man like
myself TO have any effect on business men."
Was ono Of the remarks Of . man who has boon
engaged In mission work among the sailors for
many years. while talking In little room
near the East River front. Of the character Of
the mon among whom he earned his bread.
for Of all impractical mon suppose mission
parsons are tho worst. Nevertheless see and
lsarn things that few other men have oppor-
tunity Of seeing and learning. From my OK
perience have concluded that one great cause
Of the present mercantile depression on the
high seas IL to be found In tho inhuman treat-
mont 70 which the mon before the mast aro
subjected Hardship toughens. difficulties
Durmounted give strength. but brutality de-
srades."
rs the case Of the sailor really 30 bad.
then {" friond asked.
IT is. Leaving out Of view the kind OF q
hole they live In. and the kind Of food they cat.
viii tell you OF something that know 10 DO
truo about the punshments inflicted on mon
before the mast BY the officers over them.
What do you suppose happens to man who
does not instantly jump TO obey an order given
him7"
Gets thumped. a. 1t were. don't he"
"Ho does. The lightnass with which you
speak Of the 'thump Is fair indication OF the
way tho public regards tho treatment Of the
sailors. Ho gets thumpod 80 much that he Is
greatly astonished when no gets into one OF the
few ships where humping Is not allowed.
Some time ago q handsome little schooner
came into this port with a load Of mahogany
from Mexico. Her cook went on to Boston.
and told there that tho mate had hanged one
OF the crew ut sen. I WINS on tho schooner next
day. and asked q young Swede twho had been
It. tn tSo mate hTa n fe
he ever strike any d youY l asked. Why.
blows at one time The mans m.nner showed
that no was astonishod, when asked II tho
"Well. thon. il the men did not worry over
the blows. tho treatment was not brutal.
We will 500 about that later on. Blows Of
tho hand or tho fist are tho lightest punish
ment q man gets, II You could 60 with i. me !,
astonished to SEQ how they are covered with
seasS ana S%ra 81 To XIII n WON would
think to look Ut II. tho average mate picks up
Sips. Ssf or Of woSd PHI Or
club. provided it is handy. and with that no
rkes right and LETT the men when
adds n frosh scar to tho sailors head. I havo
sesn mon whose heads were checked all over ve!.
cold wea:.s.r this winter = ship sailed Pvt
hs port sF Nav East o'a: a e psu %a. WITH sSs
had TO como to anchor on account "a suo
weather.. Nine of the men we're sent ashore =;
tho hospital so badly frozen that they could
box. He was frozen on a yard aioit. and he iell
and was killed. There was no necessity ioF
sold isr punshment. Yst that ysFs thing has
Sss1 done: / saw leero lashsd 70 the eat, cot;
II es whom o Ss w Su%p the VESSEL dashed
s Ssd sso lii S %ss 50 s III fins
reached psr.. tTo weeks later. and then he was
orss hs $Ss4. 'ss case.
on record that arc worse than that. though; SO
much v0r.s That they almost pass %.t HSlef III
nter where ne mate SGT down on nslnSs s
i Elm III s sSs ssS &Ss W.
kept on deck ct work az day long one day: and ,
Il s: h ct S0E .h as ST.
y. sses had Swollen g thas n sonld nos 81 8.
on bis iseti tho mate Knocked him across The
%sishs was ossed on ' The mans and
mate him to walk up "f aSe on
more than three hours Of this, the wretch ed
~Sie sf Ks .sSs tho s0
Al and bs Sysf hs mns arrest
cd when he went ashorep"
.There are several reasons. and one is TINT a.
- sss WIFI to 'S oe % 1s
except that Tie men aren't usually Killed. Gei
ms.s oss his S
the rigging. steady himself on the yard BY the
lit and the a%R 81 %eaS
Knocked OH the yard and never missed tiii 81
SaSSersd, Thsn shsrs 4 tSs .of's!s q Il:
side Of the ship to paint or they are deprived
Of Ssd nd s anS on he
sanstro s Men have been nailed up In boxes
that were too short to lie down IN. too narrow
ss III fea sa%sw ss
70 get The lid down 50 that 4 could be nailed
That was In the, navy. however. where men
NTH get far better
does # hHpesSs 9"t such treatment
"There arc several reasons. One Is that peo
men tCIFlDly 10 pEeSOCNO OtScIpuHo. OiSclp
line covers multitude OF sins against poo
Jack. I once heard q Judge IN the old Marin,
Court not long before 1t WINS changed In name
charge a jury that Il they found that the mat o \!
down with Delaying: pin for the PURPOSE O
enforcing lawful order, then they should flint
the mate not guilty. because mates must. un
der the lay. be allowed some discretion in en-
forcing discipline. And yet that was case Il
which. II / remember correctly, tho man ha
lost nm eye through his beating"
Just what is the law under which a consci
entious Judge could 30 charge aiury2"
1t reads: II any master or other officer 9
any American ship shall, from malice. hatred
or revenge. and without justitlabe cause. bea
wound or imprlson any one or more OF tn
crew or shall infict any cruel or unusual pun
ishment. every such person SO offending sha
on conviction thereof DO punished BY fine ne
exceeding u 600. or b. Imprisonment not e1
ceeding five years. So far as have been abl
to learn. no Captain or mate has been impris
oned In this port since that law was passed II
1885. just think Of trying 70 prove hstre'
that beating was an unusual punishment"
Have sailors then. no redress 2"
They have. but they don't know It. The
could commonly obtain q verdict In suit X
damages. but the trouble Is that they don
know It.. Then they have, great difficulty |