New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-24
MUTINEERS PUT IN CHAINS.
TROUBLE ON THE STEAMER PRINCIPAL.
SIX FIREMEN WHO GOT DRUNK AND REFUSED TO


woRK-rwO OF THEM IRoNED
When the steamer Principal, of Aexandre's line, Le-
tween New-York and Havana and Mexican ports ar
rived on Sandy Hook yesterday afternoon she up
police signals She dropped her anchor at Quarantine
and waited for tue arrival of the police boat A
porter of The TRIBUNE made his way out to .heE in
boat and communicated with the captain over the
rail. He was finally permitted to go board On the
deck were Captain Webster, his three mates, the
purser and twelve passengers, all in state Of decided
ALARM They waiting anxiously for the arrival of
the police. Forward were the of ten sailors.
"We don't feel any too comfortable with six mutineers
aboard said Captain Webster. d" Our whole voyage
has been one of danger, We have eight Ioremen, and
they are the worst 10. of men took to sea- They
low Irhmen, and tougher brutes you don t want
to meet. We reached Progresso 10 Yucatan, April
H. We landed our cargo and were to start tor Camp
eche at O'Clock that afternoon. just after dinner
that these Irshmen had some wbiskey aud were
getting drunk. | asked where they got 1t, and they
refused to tell. told them to give it up to me, aud
they refused to do that called my officers and after
some dispute managed to get the liquor away from
them. Ii appeared aterward that they had got the
stud from Mexican lighter which had come along side
during the morning
by this time they pretty drunk / needed to
n AXE all possible time so ordered them to fire up.
Six OF them refused point blank ] argued with them.
but it was of no They Aaid they wouldn't pnt an
other shovel OF coal that night and that they were
going TO have good time. told them that they were
delaying the United States mails and they laid them
selves liable Tor mutiny the high They we're
impudent, and swOre they would kill anybody who at
tempted TO arrest them. Ii my force had been large
enough should have put them in chains at But
they were six men-the other two had reported for
duty-and they were crazed with liquor, anc knew
that any resort to violence my part would end in
bloodshed. This anxious to avoid. il possible.
They went about the ship IN drunken rage, and
concluded 10 let them alone tor the time. My officers
and couple of sailors went below and fired up We
got away from Pogresso at 10 p MA loss OF over
five hours. The next morning. when they sobered up
and realized their crime they conferred together, and
uded that they already mutineers, they
might well be killed for old sheep well as lambs,
and they again refused do duty unless woild prom
Use not TO prosecute them when reached New ork
refused to promise anything. but | parleyed with
them, for they such tough set that feared the
consequences OF treating them as they deserved Alter
holding out for several hours they came to me and said
they would do duty
They did 90 to work. but all the way TO Havana
they behaved badly and their influence with the crew
caused great ALARM Two of thcm-i won tell their
names before make my official report-were more
deyiish than the rest and found out that they meant
to escape at Havana We reached that port on April
lS and while there these two again refused to
work. One OF them said to an engineer that he wasn't
going back to Newiork just to get into the Peniten-
tiary. They tried to induce the others to mutiny
again. aud things began TO look squaly They came
TO and tried to get me TO promise that wouldn't
have them arrested. refused again. and the two
rascaly OF the ack began 20 swear at me vicious
ly pulled my revolver, and pointing II at him told
him TO shut up. Then bade him and his companion
20 stand right where they were, and ordered the rest
Of them to go below They oLeysd but with a decided
hesitation | ordered one of my officers to put the two
in chains, keeping them covered all the time with
my pistol When they secured, went TO the rest
Of the mutneers and said that should make no terms
with them at all, but that my mates and would Keep
them in sight every minute OF the voyage and II saw
the slightest attempt az mutiny again on the part OF
any one OF them, would shoot him down.
1--WE left Havana that night and they have behaved
well enough since The two men chained were the
worst of the gang One OF the others said ne would
have gone work first. but he afraid these two
would kill him. OF the two. one made such promises
Of obedience yesteIday that released him The other
Is still confined"
IL was afterward learned that tho names of four Of
the sr muineers Mcclure Hart, CrOgan and Con-
pelly Wheu the steamer reached sandy Hook and put
up police signals, there was great deal OF omin0us
eommotion among the crew, and at the time Dt THE
TRIBUNE reporters visit the officers and passengers
yilbly anxious No positive outbreak had oc-
curred. but everyone on the outlook AT Ocock'
while anchored at Quarantine. Captain webster sent
telegram to Police Headquarters requesting tnat ON
sent 10 take the mutn int custody without
delay. lie intends to proceed against all six OF them,
and formulated hi, charges against them last night.
The police boat Patrol was out on duty IN the aicr
on return her moOrings at the foot OF East
Thlrl-st at $50 D. M, dispatch receiGed by Cap
tain smith from Inspector Dilks. asking him II he had
been attending the mutuy the steamer at Quaran
tine Captain smith answered " No" Then message
by the Inspector ordering the captain To go
down TO the Principal early ths morning ana render any
assistance necessary.