Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-26
thirty of them were roaming around the

thirty of them were roaming around the
water front of San Francisco unable to
secure the wages due them, destitute and
dependent upon charity for their subsist-
eDCe.
The charges by the men were, in SUBJ
stance, that they had not been paid their
rag money" $50, which the United States
contracted to allow them in case of the loss
of their clothes by the sinking of the vessel;
that their wages prior to the date OF the
disaster had not been paid them, and that
they had been discharged and sent adrift,
none of them with more than $25, and that
the clothes furnished them in Samoa had
been charged for at the regular rates. leay-
ing them little or nothing to live on after
this cost had been deducted from their pay;
that Lieutenant Carlin, the executive officer
of the Fandslia, had refused to sign the
certificate for one of the seamen to be pre-
scented to the Fourth Auditor by which he
would be enabled to procure mis- rag
money" and finally, that when the men
disembarked from the Rockton on arriving
at San Francisco they gave three groans
tor Captain Farquhar of the Trenton, and
that they were deprived of what was justly
due them by subsequent action taken by
him in a spirit of revenge.
Copies of the newspaper articles were
sent to President Harrison, and six OF the
sailors Joined in the 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 newspaper articles.
These were referred to Secretary Tracy,
who ordered an investigation made as to
the truth of the statements. The papers
in the case have Just reached the Navy De-
partment, and make the following show
ing:
Commodore Benham, of the Mare
Island Navy Yard, SAYS the newspaper
articles have grain of truth in them and
a great deal of eXaggeration, and that the
attack upon Lieutenant Carlin is unjust in
the extreme, for the reason that he re-
manned at San Francisco by his own re-
quest. and was temporarily assigned to the
receiving. ship Independence, in order that
he might be able TO look after the interests
of the Vandalias men, and aid them in
obtaining an early settlement of their
claims.
As to the complaints of the discharged
men the Commodore says it is hardly nee
essary to remind the authorities that the
men cannot be held beyond the date of
their enlistment. He further furnishes the
statement made by Lieutenant Burnett
showing the amounts paid to the men who
reached San Francisco, fiftv-nine in all.
These range from $26 81 to 1912 0S. In no
case being as as small as the largest amount
said to have been paid to the men.
Eighteen men are reported as having de-
serted after their arrival, and of course they
received nothing. Lieutenant Carlin states
that of the nineteen Vandalia men, who it
was possible were roaming alb ut the
waterfront" one was discharged at his
own requ 81, two were discharged at the
/ sr.,.
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 663
pei cent. 1t was good clothing, the same
as worn by the officers and men.
AS to the rag money" it is stated the
Government does not sign contract to pay
$50. 1t does promise to pay as much
as $50 on certain conditions.
The Lieutenant says: The claims of the
men were excessive. as a rule. A seaman
who shipped in January and was wrecked
in March can justly claim his pay for two
months and no more. If he has drawn $50
worth of clothing he is in debt for at least
$l2. Captain Farquhar could not and did
not have an order regarding the amount of
money to be distributed to the Trenton.
The amount of money actually allowed
was one months pay, and the sailor who
complained that Carlin refused to sign
his application to the Fourth Auditor
was told it was useless to make application
until that official was in possession of GER
tain data, which could not possibly be
furnished before the last of July, but re-
fused to accept the statement as final,
whereby the Lieutenant told him to make
out his own application"
The officer says he did not know the
seaman had obtained blank to be signed
He further says: AS to the statement that |
would help no one to get his money until
l got mine, l will only say that l am here
at my own request for the special purpose
of putting various records in shape, so that
the Fourth Auditor may properly settle the
mems accounts. This work is now fin
ished and the applications for indemnity
otherwise known as rag money! have
been made out, but some of them had
claims for personal effects. O'Donnell, the
other man mentioned by name in the
newspapers, was discharged by sentence of
court-martial. The only men entitled to
sympathy are Johanseu and Steehmer
They have money due which they cannot
get at present. The claims must follow the
routine in the Fourth Auditors office, and
if am not mistaken an Act of Congress is