The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-30

6ecOnQ pair On one OF my men VINO wore
Confederate uniform; on asking an explains
tion, was informed that he had sprun
his irons and was walking of, when he va
:: brought back. denied him. the luxury q
q second pair of irons, and told the mat
If the man sprung his cuffs again and lei
simply to shoot him, to which the mat
assented. The man then said that var
rope would hold him, as he knew the re
!sspect due to authority. He was informed
that in such case he was entirely safe iron
kharm for the present. :.
Within forty eight hours we had passe,
the gulf stream lying off Cape Hatteras, AMI
rom that time on until we arrived at As
iinwall had the balmy weather which i
usually found at sea in this region. In tn
passage east of Cuba we were met by tn
United States steamer Neptune" Com
nlander Sanford, whose duty was to guar,
these mail steamers and other vessels from
aeizure by Confederate privateers. III
US from thence to Aspinwal
and guarded the wharf at that place t,
prevent tile desertion Of my patriotic sail
ors, composed principally of what nigh
properly be styled the trough and scruff'
If all creat tion, with, doubtless, some hon
yrable exceptions.
. ) Captain Sanford informed me that b
lN4l lN4 y ies. st i5.sty to send eithe
afsasines or officers with me to Panama
And. when the cars moved on, Boatswail
Bell and myself were alone to prevent tn
assertion Of a goOdly number who coult
Not but feel that ito have justice done
lFas in no degree desirable. The train wal
special and had no passengers other thar
myself and command, with perhaps few
exceptions.
e The boatswain sat at one end of tn,
i'm ND o+ 4nn nj %Lo
GRADES when the speed was slow man from
Hme to time would Jump off and make fol
fhe brush, receiving parting salute from
The revolver OF the boatswain or myself
4rd thus the draft was lessened by som,
TN men. Whether we killed or wounded
ahy of them l never learned.
Many more would doubtless have de
s9rted had they not deferred their object
uptil reaching Panama, when, much to theil
dAgust, they found themselves in large
building, with marines stationed at all the
exits, and tugs in waiting to transport them
onboard Of the "Cyane," Captain Law
wltO was in the harbor and ordered to re-
ceiye them.
When they were mustered around the
capstan, as is usual in vessels of war in
making transfer OF men, from time to
time ! would call halt and give the
character OF the man and occasionally say:
'Ifyou have u mutiny ON board shoot this
man, VINO has already forfeited his life, and
inQhire about the matter afterward. You
wig find that you have made no mistake. ~
l wits informed afterward by Captain Law
that he never had such obedient, respectful
met under his command as those l deliv.
erea over to him with the character plainly
staked in number OF individual cases.
Abatement OF all the facts was given the
the Navy Department on my return home
in the "Ocean Queen" in q report dated
June 5, which closed as follows:
have been minute. perhaps tedious, in
furaishing such facts as appeared to have
evoh remote bearing upon the transac-
tiole detailed. Ii anything should suggest
itse1 in forming an opinion will be much
pieaSed to answer as definitely as may be
In MY power any inquiry or demand of the
dep6rtment. Ii, in the good Judgment OF
tho honorable Secretary OF the Navy, any
ETY. OF my action in the occurrence OF Sun
day, May Is, or in connection Herewith, /
have to request court ol inquiry"
Ten days passed and not even an ac-
knoWledgment OF the receipt OF my report
was sent me by the department. l then in
closed copy of the sworn statements, and
in an. accompanying letter wrote: II have
to ask that the department will prefer
charges and order a court-martial upon
me, taking the most unfavorable view war
ranted by the sworn statements which
inclose. As no one in active life can escape
from the malice which from time to time
arises only from a proper, not to say neces-
sary, exercise OF authority think it due
me that my conduct should be officially
pronounced upon" With the same disre-
gard of courtesy, it may be said decency
the department deigned not to inform me
OF the receipt OF this letter. Perhaps fort
night later gentleman came to my resi-
dence and informed me that he was Judge
Advocate OF Naval court-martial, and
had very disagreeable duty to perform
the presentation Of charges for my trial. l
him there was nothing disagreeable
about that.
Rear Admiral Breese was the president
of the court; he informed me that he had
orders to hold Inc in close confinement, and
was somewhat perturbed thereby. l re-
piled that had been q .nidshipman under
his command twenty-four years before; he
knew how far he could rely upon my word.
l would not venture any opinion in regard
to what he should do, but he could rely
upon my appearance-that he would not
be able O get rid OF me until my trial was
At that time there were two naval courts
martial in session. 1t was supposed if the
department sent case to the one it was
equivalent to an acquittal; to the other a
l appeared before the last
The head of the court was a
highly honorable officer, as were several
sticks" ''black Sheep" and imbe-
Giles, one OF whom had the idea of the
Dutch judge, who asserted that when a man
was brought before him he should be con-
demned. If he was not culprit, he would
not have been brought before him. Every
one against whom the department preferred
charges was necessarily guilty.
When my trial was called, as required by
law, was asked if desired counsel. re-
piled that did not, except the advice and
assistance OF Lieutenant Commander
James Parker, OF the navy. This unheard
OF action on my part greatly disturbed a
OF the members of the court, and
it is Il wonder that l was not assigned
against my wish. Previous to my
trial an officer OF high rank, unaer whom l
had served, wished to know whom in
tended to employ as counsel, and added
that | should have one uf the ablest, as it
was evident that the department was un-
friendly to me.
replied that knew all the facts sur
the attempted nutiny that were
shown in the sworn statements and would
appear in evidence. Had any other course
oeen pursued by me l would have been cul-
oable to Il degree. After the trial was not
willing to appear to have been drawn
through the mesheS of the law from the
ability OF counsel, and therefore would
nave none. My friend was very much con-
;erned by reason of my resolve, in which l
persisted.
All OF the witnesses were positive in rela-
Jon to the necessity of my action, and, as
alluded to before, the chief engineer stated
that the first night out a discussion was
lad among the drafts as to who could take
charge OF the enginery and do this and that
after the seizure of the vessel.
When a witness before the court, Captain
was asked: "Was the con-
luct OF Commander Ammen cool and col
ected at all times when you were present,
specially during the attack in the port
,angway, on the afternoon of Lunday,
Nay 15?''
Answer-"It was unusually so-unusual-
y cool and determined, so much so that
hanged my mind; because he was SO mild
It first that didn't expect when the time
or action came, he would be prompt.
ound him, however, very cool and deter
mined, prompt to act. Prior to that
thought he was very mild and easy.
Doubtless to the disgust of some OF the
members OF the court the testimony on my
rial WAS so uneQuivOcal, esta blishing the