The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-07-26

Charges Of Samoan Survivors Against Officers
Very Much Exaggerated.

Charges Of Samoan Survivors Against Officers
Very Much Exaggerated.
WASHINGTON, July 25.-On the 18th of
June, San Francisco papers contained the
statements of certain survivors Of the dis
aster to the American vessels at Samoa
(enlisted men on the Trenton and Wanda
lia) which, if true presented a severe in
dictment against the authorities of the
country, especially the Navy Department.
for cruel treatment and heartless abandon.
ment of the sufferers by that disaster. The
papers practically indorsed the statements
of the men, and reported that about thirty
of them were roaming around the water
front of San Francisco unable to Sc
cure the wages due them, desti-
tute and dependent upon chari-
ty for their subsistence; ;a .a,..Idn Inc
that they had not been paid the bag
money! (S60), which the United States con-
tracted to allow them in case OF loss of
their clothes by sinking of the vessel; that
their wages prior to the date of the disas-
ter had not been paid them; that they had
been discharged and sent adrlft, none Of
them with moro S25; that the clothes
furnished them in Samoa had been charged
for at regular rates. leaving them little or
nothing to live on afterathe cost had been
deducted from their pay; that LIeutenant
Charlin, executive officer of the Nandalia,
had refused to sign certificate for one of
the seamen to be presented to the Fourth
Auditor by which he would be enabled 10
procure his ''bag money" and finally that
when the men disem harked from the Rock
ton on arriving in San Francisco. they gave
three groans for Capt w. ii. FarQuhar. or
the Trenton, and that they were deprived
of what was Justly due them by subsequent
action taken by him In spirit or revenge.
Copies of the newspaper articles were
sent to President Harrison. and six of the
sailors joined IN petition TO Secretary
Blaine asking that he use his influence To
have justice done them. Attached to this
petition was copy of one of the news
paper articles. These were referred to
Secretary Tracy. who ordered that an in
vestigation be made as to the truth of the
statements. The papers in the case have
just reached the Navy Department, and
make the following showing: Commodore
Benham. of the Mare island navy-yard,
says that the newspaper articles have q
grain of truth in them and a great deal of
exaggeration; that the attack upon
Lieutenant Carlin is unjust in the ex-
treme, for the reason that he re-
mained at San Francisco by his own
request and was temporarily assigned to the
receiving-ship Independence in order that
he might be able to look after the inter
ests of the Vandalia's men and aid them in
obtaining an early settlement OF their
claims. AS to the complaints of the dis
hardly necessary to remind the authorities
th ven cannot be held beyond the date
of enlistment. He further furnishes
as nent made by Lieutenant Burnett,
sho,. g the amounts paid to the men who
reached San Francisco, fifty.nine in all
They range from S26.S1 to S272.OS. In no
case being as small as the largest amount
said to have been paid the men: Eighteen
of the men are reported as having deserted
after arrival, and. of course. they received
nothing. Lieutenant Carlin states that of
the nineteen Vandalia men who. lt was
possible, "were roaming about the water
'front.'" one was discharged at his own re-
quest. two were discharged at the expira-
tion of enlistment, three were discharged
by sentence of court-martial, and thirteen
were deserters. The clothing issued to the
men at Samoa was charged to them at a
discount of 66 % per cent. 1t was good
clothing, worn by officers and men alike.
As to the "bag money" il is stated the
government does not sign contract to pay
$60. 1t does promise TO pay as much as geo
on certain conditions. The Lieutenant
cessive, as a rnle. A seaman shipped in
January and wrecked in March can Justly
claim his pay for the two months, and no
more. If he has drawn $50 worth OF cloth
ing, he 10 indebted for at least Sl2. Captain
Farquhar could not, and did not. have an
order regarding the amount of money to be
distributed to the Trenton men. Tho
amount of money actually allowed was one
months pay." Inc sailor WHO CON pldfDeQ
that Lieutenant Carlin refused to sign his
application to the Fourth Auditor
was told that il was useless TO mako
the sapplication until that official was
In possession of certain data, which could
not possibly be furnished before the last of
July, but refused to accept the statement
as final whereupon the lieutenant told
him to make ont his own application. The
officer says he did not know the seaman bad
obtained blank TO be signed. He further
says: '.As to the statement that Il would
help no one to get his money until gob
mine will only say that | am here at my
own request for the purpose OF putting va
rious records in shape. so that the Fourth
Auditor may properly settle the mems ac-
counts. This work is now finished. Appli-
cations for indemnity (otherwise known as
bag money! have been made out for all the
men. dead or alive, aud / have as yet taken
no steps toward getting my own money"
In conclusion, he says: There are SIX
names signed TO the letter TO the Secretary
of State, viz: McCluskey, Stewart. Devine.
Bleidner, Lane ard Boyle. McClnskey was
not at Samoa at all Lane was discharged
by court-martial. He was on board the
| Nipsic, which was not sunk; and he has not
| the shadow of a claim for any thing. Boyle
aud Stewart were discharged by court
martial. Bleidner and Devine were dis
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