Evening journal., 1889-03-19
lNTOLERABLE CRUELTY.
Terrible Stories Told by Sail
ors on Chesapeake Boats.
THROW THOSE MEN OyERBOARD.r

THROW THOSE MEN OYERBOA2D.v
Testimony which May Mean That the
Dead Bodies Found Floating Are Not
Always Those Of Men Who Were Killed
by Accident-Tortured His Employees.
BALTIMORE, May IA startling statement
was made by witness in the trial Of Capt.
Q, T. Beauchamp, one Of the brutal oyster
pirates recently apprehended The charge, IL
literally true, gives a more serious aspect to
the case and hints Of something darker and
more terrible than mere privation and brutal
treatment 1t would suggest that the numer-
Gus dead bodies found floating about the bay
and It's tributaries are not always the result
Of accident, and that human life is not held
at very high premium by those who sail
the waters Of the Chesapeake in search Of ita
great food product, for John Kovaleck, o
sailor ON Capt Beauchamp's vessel, testified
that the captain had offered to increase his
pay II he would consent to throw two worth
less hands overheard The statement pro.
duced sensation
Fleet Capt Tub Beauchamp, owner Of
the pungies Beauchamp, Rasmussen and
Stevens, is the third of the brutal oyste.
pirates recently captured to be brought be-
fore jury. Capt John Wallace and Capt
Severn Croswell, who were convicted Of
cruelty Saturday, were brought over from
the Jail as witnesses In his behalf
Edward Brandt testified that be had seem
Capt Beauchamp beat Jim Mitch. 'Jim,S
hs..
very awkward. Beauchamp would give aD
order, and when Jim would not understand
il he would strike him. One day he picked
up an oyster and struck him with 1t in the
mouth. II must have cut his gums, for the
blood came out through his teeth His lip
was also cut and bleeding. put Jun ashore,
by the captains orders, about a week before
left ! was discharged the morning of the
day that Capt Beauchamp was arrested
The witness then detailed the hours Of
work, which kept the crews busy sometimes
until after 9 o'clock at night During this
first two weeks the fare was good, but after
that 1t became very poor and at times was
totally unfit to eat. Brandt concluded by
telling how he had been put ashore at Crapo
without money, although there was wages
due him, and how he had worked his way to
Baltimore
John Kovalleck, mate Of the Stevens, said
he had always had plenty Of food while sail-
ing. He had seen the boys cruelty abused
kovhlleck created sensation IN the court
room at the conclusion Of his testimony. Dis
trict Attorney Hayes had signifed that he
was through with She witness, when he an
nounced that he had something more to tell
Aly term Of enlistment on board the Beam
champ had already expired, said Koyalleck,
ft.... 1 .tata
became necessary to haul the lib sheet aft
A strong breeze was blowing at the time, and
/ called upon two Of the men on board 10 lend
a hand TO get the sail in proper trim Tha
men could not work much because they did
not understand the handling OF the sails
Capt. Beauchamp then said 10 me: why
don't you haul that jib sheet artf todd him
that l couldn't because the breeze was too
stiff.
"'Why don't You make some OF those fell
lows give you hnndf asked the ca tain. 1
told HIM that had ordered the two hands on
the boat 60 lend me hand, but they didn'k
know much about il. Throw those fellows
overheard They're not worth cent Of the
money they earn here. Just throw them
overheard and III give you couple Of dol
lars mora I'd sooner give you a couple of
dollars more than 10 give it o those fellows.i -
Bill Stieker testified that Capt Beau
champs treatment OF his men was always
harsh. Every day in general he said II
got cuffed and knocked about One day.
while | was culling out oysters Capt Beau.
champ said was not doing it right. l did as
he told me, but in little while he came back
again, picked up my culling hammer and
struck me with it ON the wrist When pro-
tested he struck me again and chased me ia
the mast and back, kicking and cutting ms
all the way. This was the cause of my at
tempting TO escape afterward After we had
been hung up by the thumbs, Capt Beau
champ said one day, IT I'd been here when
you tried TO escape I'd have killed you"
On cross examination Sticker testified: II
knew Capt Beauchamp claimed to be
church member, and he used to go ashore
sometimes to attend church. but that did not
interfere with his knocking us about tha
deck
l. d. White, New York World reporter,
testified that he was one Of tn marshal's
posse which arrested Capt Beauchamp.
while on board Capt Beauchamp's boat .
said he, "the men claimed that they wera
W thout water, and one Of them said: My
God, you don't know how good a drink OF
water tastes till you find you cannot get it,
Capt. Beauchamp, when asked about water,
said he would have the captain Of the Stevens
get some as soon as they reached harborn