Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-06
CRUELTY on SHIPB0ARD.
ALLEG I'D BRUTAL TREATMENT
or A FRENCH SAILOR.

The Mate of the British Bark Seawsrd
Accused of MaltreatinG a Young sailor
Bov-A IL Year-OId Lad Put in Irons
and Thrown Into the Vessels Hold
story OF the steward and His Wife.
Among the patients in st. Joseph's hos
pital is Peter Devane, II years old, and
native Of France. He was a seaman on
the British bark Seward, Copp, master
which arrived at Brunswick ThanksglV-
ing day. Devane tells a story OF horrible
treatment by the first mate, Joe Pearson
and the second mate, Z. 5. stoneman'
Harry Thompson, who was the VesseFs
steward on her last trip and his VIE
bright-taced little Irish woman, corrooo-
rated Devane's statement.
Iftbe statements are not exaggerated
the subordinate Ulcers Of the bark showed
great cruelty 10 the lad, and the steward
and stewardess say that they too were
kicked and Knocked about until they were
blue and sore all over.
The Seward cleared from Liverpool
with salt, Oct. II. for Brunswick. Thomp-
son says that when three days out he saw
Pearson chokitg and ill-trealing a 10.
year-old stowaway who had came on
deck. The steward demonstrated with
the mate for bis cruelty. With an oath
Pearson turned on Thompson, and the two
fought for i've minutes.
Il put him against the bulwarks," said
Thompson. "After awhile he asked me
TO stop. let him 90. and he wanted me
to go aft 70 renew the fight. ] went 10
the galley 70 look after my pans, for the
ship was rolling heavily, and then / went
aft 10 call the slewardess. The mate ran
ahead OF me and went right on 10 the
Captains bedroom, and told the Captain
that was taking charge of the vessel.
sit was between and 6 O'Clock In the
morning. / went in the after cabin and
told the Captain all that bad happened.
One of them struck me two or three heavy
blows on the back. | couldn't tell which
one. because it was too dark"
After that Thompson says be was
Stunned by the officers Of the ship, who
did not allow any one to speak to him. He
states that Pearson thought him and De-
vane had been talking one night.
"AbOut O'Clock the next morning,
which was Friday, Nov. Is, German
sailor named Max, ran up TO me and sald
They are killing poor FrenchYP | ran as
far as the ladder going on the poop. and l
just saw the first and second mates lit
ing the boy up on the BOBBY hatch and
throwing him down the lower hold"
II ran out on deck" interrupted Mrs.
Thompson, for l thought they were kill
ing my husband. | heard somebody cry
ing, don't kill mel over and over, and
begging to be let alone"
"Yes," resumed Thompson, "my wife
came out only half dressed. We saw the
captain and mate looking down. and
pretty soon we saw the mate pulling
something up, and it was the poor French
boy" To use ThompsOn's expression,
Devane was 'all one clOtter of blood"
The boy was handcufed, and had fallen
over % feet on some rocks in the hold, the
between decks matches being of. The
lad was taken into the cabin by the Off
GERS, and washed and patched up. He
gave as the reason for his treatment the
mates suspicion. Devane SAYS that Pear
son asked MIN what he said to Thompson.
Devane replied that he had not been talk
ing with the steward, but the mate did
not believe it. To punish him the mate
ordered Devane TO 20 up in the rigging
after be came OF duty at the wheel. When
the boy said be did not want 10 go the
mate put the irons on his wrists and with
the assistance Of the second mate threw
him down in the hold.
DeYane saws that be could not speak when
be was taken cut. and the ThOmpsOns say
that il Was i've DAYS before the boy could
eat solid food. Deyaue states that Pear.
son threatened three or four times 10 kin
hin or throw him overheard if he spoke to
the steward. Mrs. Thompson says the
mate abused her very badly when out OF
her husbands sight. and beat her several
times. They say that all Of the crew except
a hslf-witted seaman ran away from the
ship as soon as they got in port at Bruins
wick because they had been badly treat
ed. The boy who was the stowaway got
place on the David Clarke, and is now
running on that boat.
IL IL nudnrafan1 that havana will lfhaI
the vessel for damages, and will prose-
cute Pearson tor cruel treatment.
Thompson is quite an intelligent man,
and has notes Of the story, which, he says,
he wrOte out at the time the events oc-
CURED. He states that ne served in the
United States navy eight years, and de-
clares that he has no interest in Devane
farther than that be wants to see the men
prosecuted who III treated the boy.