Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-07-18
SAD EXPERIENCES AT SEA.
Stowawsys Thrashed and then Abandoned
on a Barren Rock.

Chief Officer Zollinger, Of the Brazilian
mail steamer Finance, now moored at
Roberts's stores, Brooklyn, Is charged by
number of the passengers with having
shockinely i'll used several negroes on the
HIGH seas, and also with leaving three Of
them on a barren rock miles away from
land.
Early in the evening Of Sunday, July
7th. after the vessel had left st. Thomas,
four negroes were found concealed III the
coal-bunkers. They were hauled up on
deck before Acting-Captain Iollinger' 1t Is
stated. and beaten with a stout board until
their heads and faces were mass o. cuts
and bruises. Zollinger, II is alleged. called
for belaying-pln. and continued the At
tack on tho defenceless stowaways despite
the protests of some Of the passengers,
who had been attracted 70 the deck by the
piteous cries of the unfortunate men. The
second mate was ordered TO man boat
and take three Of the stOwaways to rock
IL the sea at a considerable distance away.
The rock appeared TO be about halt
mile long and thirty miles from land. The
NEGROES were thrown overheard from the
boat and two of them finally reached
shore bv swimming. while the other would
have been drowned had be not been res
cued and taken ashore. The fourth stow
away had managed TO escape the further
fury of the captain by hiding himself.
search was made for him and he was found
and again i'll treated and several shots fired
over his head with pistol. All this was
done in the presence of the lady passen-
GERS. who were in the cabin crying A
Baltimore physician approached the cap
tain and asked him for the sake OF the Ia
dies to cease torturlng the negro. lie then
had the negro blindfoldod and thrust over
the side Of the ship. where hc was left Tor
awhile and then taken OF board again.
As the vessel neared port young man
named James Burke, who had been put IA
irons before the ship left Rio because he
had accidentally dropped some rubbish
that sOilcd the dress of some passengers
who were coming aboard the Finance IN a
tender. was asked to sign IN the log-book
the statement of the reasons for ms pun
ishment. He wrote that he bad been drunk
and disorderlv, but rs soon as the snip
landed he went to a LAWYER and lad tine
matter before HIM, claiming That ne was
assaulted without prOvocauon, and what
he signed i'm the log was forced by threats.
Second Officer Evelyn is also accused by
Burke with ill-treating HIM.
Chief-Olliccr Zollnger was not aboard his
shin when visit was made there Nester-
dav, and all that officer Evelyn would say
was that Burke was disOrdeTly and deserved
his punishment. lie would say nothing re-
garding the Stowaways.
When called at the United States Com
missiOncrs Office | was told that the case
had not beeu laid before that court.
Captain Baker. Of the steamer Finance,
who ook charge of the vessel yesterday.
said he had been informed Of the story of
alleged brutality, aud that it was greatly
exaggerated. He said Burke was placed IN
irons because Of his unruly conduct, and
in such cases the officers did not act IN a
very gentle manner, but no undue force
was used.
As regards the stowaways they were made
to walk pretty lively around deck and all
sorts of pranks were played on them. But
this was only done in order to prevent them
from going back and telling their friends
how easy IL was 10 stow away. They were
frightened and this had the desired effect,
but none Of them were harshly dealt with.
The island they were put on was one tnat
was frequently passed by fishermen.