The Helena independent., 1889-07-26
WRECKED SEAMEN
An Indictment Of Heartless Aban-
donment Laid Against Our
Naval Authorities.
The Survivors of the Samoan Disaster
Dependent Upon Charity, Unable
to Get Wages Due Them.
That the Men Were Mostly
Deserters.

WASHINGTON, July 25.-On June Is the
San Francisco papers contained a state
ment of certain survivors Of the disaster 10
American vessels at Samoa which, II true,
presented q severe indictment against the
authorities OF the country, especially OF the
navy department, for cruel treatment and
heArtless abandonment of the sufferers by
that disaster. The papers endorsed the
statements of the men and reported that
ABOUT thirty Of them were roaming around
the water front Of San Francisco, unable
20 secure the wages due them, destitute
and dependent upon charity for their sub
sistence- The charges made by them were
IN substance that they had not been paid
500 Tor the loss of their clothes by the sink
ing OF the vessel, that their wages prior 20
the date OF the disaster had not been paid
them; that they lad been discharged and
sent adrift, none of them with more than
So; that the clothes furnished them in
Samoa were charged for at regular rates,
live on after the cost had
been deducted from their pay;
that Lieut. Carlin, executive officer OF the
Nandalia, refused 70 sign q certificate TO
De presented 10 the fourth auditor, by
which he would be enabled to procure his
rag money" and finally, that when the
men dlSembarked from the OcktOn on
their arrival in San Francisco they gave
trenton, and that they were deprived OF
what was justly due them by subsequent
aetion taken By him in spirit of revenge.
Copies OF newspaper articles were sent TO
PRESIDENT Harrison and six of the sailors
joined IN petition 20 Secretary Blaine,
asking that he use his influence TO have
Justice done them. Attached TO this
petition was copy of one OF the newspaper
articles. These were referred to the
secretary, who ordered an investigation
made as 70 the truth of the statement
Papers IN the case have just reached the
navy department. and make the following
showing: commodore BenhOm, OF Mare
Island navy yard, says the newspaper arti-
cles have not grain of truth in them, and
a great deal OF eNaEgeradOn; that the az
tack upon Lieut. COrlin is unjust in the ex-
IRENE, for the reason that he remained at
San Francisco by his own request, and was
TEN npOrarliy assigned 20 the receiving ship
Independence in order that he might be
able 70 look after the interests of the Van
dallas men aud aid them in obtaining an
early settlement of their claims. AS 70 the
complaints of the discharged men, the COM
mOdore says II Is hardly necessary to re-
mind the authorities that men cannot be
held beyond the date OF their enlistment
lie further furnishes a statement made by
Lieut. Burnett, showing the amounts paid
70 the men who reached san Francisco.
htty-nine IN all. These range from S26 81
10 81. y. Eighteen of the men are repre-
sented as having deserted after
their arrival, and of course they
received eStds 2. nothing. Lieut. Carlln
men who, II was possible, "were roaming
about the water front, one was discharged
At MS own request, two were discharged a.
expiration OF enlistment, three were dis
by sentence OF a court martial,
and thirteen were deserters. Clothing
issued 20 men At Samoa was charged %
them at discount of 66s< per cent. II was
good clothing worn BY officers and men,"