Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-28

Inc Y. .. 3. enterprise, whose home coming
from Europe has been anxiously expected for
some time, arrived in New York yesterday.
The anxiety for her appearance, after about
three years absence, rather sharpened
by the statements, first printed in The STAR,
regarding the troubles on board the vessel be-
tween captain-Commander B. 81. McCalla-
and his officers and crew. The vessel had on
board the body Of the late Minister Geo. II.
Pendletoh, who died in Germany, and left
Southampton for home on the 5th instant
coming on the southern course by way Of
Madeira and Bermuda.
OFFICERS UNDER ARREST.
Two Of the officers of the ship were brought
home under arrest to be tried by court-martial
They are Chief Engineer Jas. Entwistle and
Ensign Geo. W. Kline. The chief engineer is
accused of impudence to the commander and
the ensign of sleeping on post.
The crew is much depleted, from sixty to
seventy men having deserted at various south
ern ports. uboficer is reported saying
that the assertions which had been reported
occurred as follows: At Dartmouth l, at Bristol
and at Southampton IA. These assertions
were brought about not by any disafection or
Ill treatment but simply because the men
were either weakened by the grip or seized
what they considered better Opportunities
Men had been placed in irons at various times
during the voyage and many fourteen
were in them at one time, but all cases Of
offenses were simple infractions Of duty and
never at any time had there been any general
dlsafection of the men.
STORIES OF HARSH TREATMENT.
Another version is that these assertions
were caused by the tyranny of the commander.
1t is unusual for men to leave a ship while in
foreign port unless there is some unusual i'm
pulse given them by what they consider to be
bad treatment. Charges, it is said, are likely
to be preferred against Commander McCalla
by one or the other of the two officers now
under arrest on the ground of cruelty.
SLEEPING WITH HIS EYES OPEN.
Kline's offense is stated as sleeping at his
post and denying it." His friends on board
ship say that he was standing watch on deck,
his eyes wide open, saluting officers as they
passed him, calling them by name when the
commander stepped up to him and accused him
of being asleep. According to his friends
statement the ensign, much surprised, said: II
am not asleep, siri' ''Yes you arer was the
captains retort, and the luckless ensign was
made himself unpopular with his captain, it is
said, by preferring charges against him in a
letter to the department, which never went be-
yond the captains Office, through which all
such communications must pass.
A dispatch from New York saws: Com
mander McCalla said. in regard to the reports
that some of the officers lad been placed un-
der arrest and that remonstrances in regard to
his own conduct had been forwarded to WASH
ington, that the matter must have originated
in the home office among officers who had
little to do. little investigation about the
vessel showed an undercurrent of feeling a
distrust to engage in conversation and a weari-
ness of the visitor that indicated that all was
not as pleasant as it might be-"
CUT HIM DOWN WITH SWORD.
The Tribune today remarks "The life aboard
the Enterprise for officers and men was de-
scribed by one Of her ships company yester-
day as having been one continual round of
from hell to breakfast and back again Among
the incidents OF the cruise that will illustrate
the state of affairs on board is the following:
When the ship was at Christiana fireman
named Walker got drunk, as sometimes will
happen with sailors, came on board and was
put in irons. Capt McCalla had him brought
to the mast. When the officer of the deck
questioned the man Walker replied that he
was drunk and glad of it, Thereupon Capt.
McCalla ordered the officer of the deck to cut
the man down with his sword. The officer of
the deck refused. Capt. McCalla, going into
the cabin, buckled on his sword and had the
man brought on deck again. The man was
brought up in irons and the captain, drawing
his sword, cut him down, deluging the deck
with blood and so severely injuring the man
that the surgeon had to he Immediately sum-
Inoneu 10 atVenu MS WOUNDS. nasty bed OF
tarpaulins was rugged up on deck and there the
man lay for some time. The members Of the
crew declare that he was there for q day or
two, but it is hardly probable unless there was
some good reason for ii, (which has not yet been
made public"
COURT OF INQUIRY POSSIBLE.
Entwistle and Kline will probably be court
martialed unless the Secretary of the navy
should deem it wise to first order court of in
quiry to investigate these stories. Such court
could then report to the Secretary where the
blame, if any was to be given, should lie
for what seems to be a most unsavory state of
6isciplipa m hoard shin