The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-11
BRUTAL TREATMENT OF A CREW.
The Tortures Which American Seamen
Suffered at Britieher's Hands.


The Tortures Which American seamen
Suffered at a Britieher's Hands.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Feb. f0.-The Record
this morning has the following account Of
the voyage OF the ship Macedon from Phil
adelphia to Hiogo, in which it is shownby
the finding Of a court of inquiry that the
crew were subjected to the most cruel
treatment:
zone Of the most atrocious cases OF cru
city ever known TO tho annals OF the sea
has been disclosed by the finding OF naval
court OF inquiry in connection with the
voyage of the British ship Macedon from
Philadelphia to lliogo, Japan. The Mace
don left this port on May 10, 1887, in COM
mand Of Jose Willis Jones, master, and
after a protracted voyage Of 2ls days
reached her destination on December y,
with her crew reduced innumber by death
and disease and the survivors half dazed
from the brutal treatment 10 which they
had been subjected at the hands Of the
ships officers. The crew were all shipped
at Philadelphia, several Of them having
been American seamen. Five unfortu-
mates succumbed TO their fortunes and were
thrown overheard to he devourcd by a
school of sharks that followed in the wake
OF the ship. The list Of the dead included
Edward Grant, John Miller, james Arm
strong, Alvin Chapel and Angelo Bianchi.
On the arrival of the Maccdon at Hiogo
out of n total surviving complement Of
seventeen persons on board, thirteen were
suffering from scurvy, only the master,
mate, cook and steward having been ex-
empted from the symptoms OF that dis
ease. Charges OF gross tyranny were FORM
ulated at IIiogo against Clarance N. Cox,
the mate, and Charles y, Beyeridge, the
boatswain. A native court with James
Trcup, British consul, rs president, was or
ganized 10 investigate the complaints which
had been entered by surviving members
OF the crew. OF the five men who died at
sea the evidence showed that Edward
Grants death occurred on September %,
1887, OF scurvy, after having been the vic
tim OF wanton act OF cruelty ON the part
OF the mate. Eight days before his death
Grant was triced up TO the main mast and
kept at work until the morning of the day
before he died. John Miller was lost over
board on October 7, and the master al
lowed the man 10 sink without making
any effort 10 rescue him, not even causing
boat 10 be lowered when the accident &C.
Cured. On November 10, while suffering
from scurvy, James Armstrong was sent
aloft on the mizzen mast by the boatswair
10 scrape the mast, task that was not Of
an urgent nature. While performing thi'
unnecessary duty Armstrong fell TO th,
deck and died OF his injuries the following
day. Alvin Chapel and Angelo Bianch
died Of scurvy, the former on December -
and the latter six days after. For Bianch
was reserved the most shocking acts o
cruelty, he having been dragged along tn,
deck on several occasions by Cox and Bey
eridge while in dying condition.
"The outbreak OF scurvy on board thu
! ship was shown 10 be due TO a gross viola
, ton OF the English statutes requiring thu
! use Of lime or lemon juice, and TO def
cheney in the quantity OF other anti
> scorbutics in the food supplies for 10 lon
voyage. During the voyage OF the Mace
don one Of the stewards feet was bitter
Off by a shark when the ship was throw
on her beam ends by sudden squall."