New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-26
( SFc-Holland.
Other games were:
AZ Lowell-Lowoil 4, Worcester l.
! n. Hartford-Hartford 10, New. Haven 1.
THE SAMOAN SCRVIVORS.
STORIES OF THEIR ILLTREATAfENT De
MED BY NAVAL OFFICERS.
PUBLISHED IN SAN FRANCIsCO-REsULT
OF SECRETARY TEACY,S INvEsTIGAr

PUBLISHED IN SAN FRANCIsCO-RESULT
OF SECRETARY TRACY's INVESTIGATION
Washington. July c5.-on June Is. san Francisco
newspapers contained the statements of certain sur
vvors of the disaster To American vessels at samoa.
enlisted the Trenton and Vandalia which, II
true, presented severe indictment against the au-
thortes OF the country, especially OF the Navy De-
parment, 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
secure the wages due them destitute and dependent
upon charity for their subsistence The charges by
the men were in substance that they had not been
pad the bag-money7- s6O-which the United States
contracted Ia allow them In OF loss OF their clothes
by sinking of the vessel that their wages prior
the date Of the disaster had not been paid them that
they had been discharged and adrift, none OF
them with more than s25 that the clothes furnished
them In Samoa had been charged for regular rates,
leaving them little nothing live after the cost
had been deducted from their pay that Lieutenant
Carin executive officer OF the Vandalia had refused
to sign certificate for Of the to be pre-
scented to the Fourth Auditor by which he would be
enabled to procure his bagm0ney7 and, finally
mat when the men dsembarked from the ROckton
on arriving I'm san Francisco they gave three groans
Tor Captain W. II. FarQuhsr of tho Trenton. and that
they WIRE deprived of what justly due them by
subsequent action taken by him in spirit Of re-
venge.
Copies OF the newspaper articles were sent to
PRESIDENT Harrison and six OF the sailors Joined in
petition to Secretary Blaine, asking that he
MS influence to have Justice done them
Attached TO this petition was copy OF OF the
newspaper articles. These referred 10 secretary
Tracy, who ordered that investigation be made to
the truth Of the statements. The papers in the
case have just reached the Navy Department, and
make the following showing:
Commodore A. f. X Benham Of the Mare Island
Navy Yard. says that the newspaper articles have
grain Of truth in them and great deal OF exaggera-
on that the attack upon Lieutenant Carlin IS unjust
in the extreme, for the that he remained at
san Francisco by his own request and temporarily
assigned to the receiving ship Independence in order
that he might be able to look after the interests
Of the Vandalia's men, and aid them in obtaining
early settlement of their claims. As to complaints
of discharged men, the Commodore says It Is hardly
necessary to remind the authorities that men
not be held beyond the date OF their enlistment He
further furnishes statement made by Lieutenant
Burnett showing the amounts paid to the who
reached san Francisco ffty-nnc In all These range
from $2G 81 to 1870 08, In case being small
as the largest amounts said 10 have been paid the
men, Eighteen of the men are reported having
deserted after arrival and Of they received
nothing
Lieutenant j. W. Carlin states that Of the nineteen
Vandaa who IL possible were roaming
about the water 'front.'" discharged at his
own request discharged at the expiration
of enlistment. three discharged by sentence OF
cOurtmaral, and thirteen were dcserters. The cloth
ing Issued to the at Samoa charged 10 them
at discount Of &C 90 per cent, II was good cloth
ing. by officers and men alike.
A. to the bag money II is stated that the Govern
ment does not sign a contract to pay $50. 1t does
promise pay much eco certain condi-
tions. The Lieutenant says
The claims OF the excessive "a rule.
seaman shipped January and wrecked in March can
Justly claim his pay for the two months, and no more
has drawn $50 worth Of clothing he Is In debt for
ut least sI2 Captain Fsrquhar could not, and did not,
have an order regarding the money TO be dis
trlbuted The Trenton men. The amount OF money
actually allowed one months pay.
The sailor who complained that Lieutenant Carlln
refused to sign his application to the Fourth Auditor
until that official in possession of certain data,
which could possibly be furnished before the last
final wkereupOn the Lieutenant told him 10 make out
his application. The oricer says ne did NOT
know the seaman had a blank 10 be signed. lie
further says
As t. the that "I would help one to got his
money until got mine will only say thst am here at
my request for the special purpose Of putting the
various records shape that the Fourth Auditor may
properly settle tho mems This work is now I'm
lshed; appllca.ons indemnity (oherwse known as
''bag money') been made out for the men, dead
or alive and | have as yet step toward getting
my own money.
in conclusion he says:
There are six names letter the Secretary
OF State viz: McCluskey, Stewart Devine Bleidner
Lane and Boyle McCluskey not at Samoa at all |
Lane discharged by courtmartial he was board
the Npsc which and he has not the shadow
OF claim for anything. Boyle and Stewart were dis
charged by courtmaria Bledner md Devine were dis
charged thu expiration OF enlistment All Of them eX'
cept Boyle paid In full but some Of them had
claim for loss OF personal effects ODonne the other
man mentioned BY the newspapers, was discharged
by sentence Of court-nartia The only entitled u
symDathy are Johsnsen and Seehmer They have money
due which they get present The claims must
follow routine in the Fourth Auditors Office and II
am not mistaken an act OF Congress is necessary.