New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-23
Mr. INGERSOLL EXPLAINS.
ANSWERING THE CHARGES MADE AGAINST
HIM
TESTIMONY AT THE M'CALLA COURT OF IN
ou1RY-A LIEUTENANT KNEW OF ONLY
TWO CASES OF DRUNKENNESS AMONG
OFFICERS ABOARD SHIP.

. OFFICERS ABOARD SHIP
Tho McCala Court Of Inquiry revealed nothing
startling or new Yesterday. The bomb thrown on
the day before by the courts question ABOUT INC use
of liquor by the officers Of the Enterprise "cn' VII
In a harmless hzzlc, when Lieutenant lheer'oil' u"
taking the witness chair in the morning salo 'ia'
on reflection he could remember no cases excepting
tbo<e ~ Assistant Engineer Bennett and Naval Cadet
Clark in which officers had been under the influence
OF liquor on board ship In regard to the charges
made against him by members of the crew, Lieutenant
JngersolI went into them in detail, explaining MS
action In every case.
In regard to Keevy, who charged The executive
officer with striking him, he said that kecvy was
had man and belonged to the troublesome crowd
aboard shin. Keevy came TO the mast ana asheu
why lie had been punished. Mr.. 1ngerSoll toiu hi'h
that he already knew and to go forward. hce'!
replied: Il won't leave here until find out ana
advanced toward the lieutenant in threatening
manner Lieutenant Ingersoll believed that the man
was going to assault him. and struck MN As''
blow from the elbow, saying: $50 forward ino
mau looked at him moment and then went lo'"diu
As TO Neil who swore that the lieutenant threatened
to brain him with Delaying pin at Lei'h' "c s'
"Neil was young subject 10 violent paroA9 SINS
of rage On the occasion referred to by Mel, ->iei
was In one Of these paroxysms." Mr.. lneersoH '"iu
him repeatedly TO be quiet. but the man said: ION
can't do 1t. If had my coat off, ia show you.
He then rnshed toward the officer ana thrcaehcu ~
strike him. Lieutenant 1ngcrsoll grabbed MN y!
one hand and held him against the PIN rail- Al 'he
same time he reached behind him. and TAXING
behaving pin ont of the rail said; Keep qule'
Neil. keep Quiet The ships corporal ran up ana
Lieutenant Ingersor handed Neil over 10 him ana
had him put in the sentry's charge. Ncls la'her
who came aboard. said TO Lieutenant lngerson Ila'
nc knew the peculiarlties Of his son, ana thaI TIC
had no doubt that the young man got what nc oe
served.
raid Mr.
the man who was at work the poop. lying down
ON deck cursing aud shouting lie ordered MIN 10 get
up and go 70 work. The man refused ana Leuc''ii'
Ingerson lifted him 10 his feet ana placed min IN
confinement. He never struck him or sworc az NM
ain the case of witte," said the Lieutenant Il must
admit that imprudcnt lie was exceedingly
impuden 10 me on starbQard side OF the quarter
deck and sent him TO the port side lie s'oou
there muttcrlng and l went over to him ana saio
sWittie Won deserve to have your face slapped Tor
your impudence.' White replied I'd like TO see you
Try to do it, then did slap his face .11,, few
minutes after / went 10 him and said 'WItue,
then went forward ..,,,,,
As to Armstrong the Lieutenant said that he caught
same time pushing him with the back Of his hand
Shea and Norris. the two men who got drunk at
said were two Of the worst men he ever sailed win;
When they board they went to We mast a a
stood there He ordered them 10 go forward nut did
not say he was sorry they had shown up again In,
stead Of going forward they started aft lie Grabbed
Thcv looked al him a moment and went. Llcut"nint
Insersoll cx planed two other incidents III whc
he had been accused by the sailors OF using IN
necessary violence. lie said that never III Ills NE
had he sworn enlisted man ana tIlat we
expression which one Of the men charged lim with
using had never in his lie passed his lips His manner
was clear. calm and convincing
In reply TO questions prepared by the court about
the general management of the snip ny captain
McCaIla Lieutenant lngerSOn t.stif'd that the snip
was not happy lie attributed TINS prncpdIlJ
70 the bad element among the crew Ptnl>Amcn's
were inflicted by order Of the commanding officer
He thought the cruise had been successful one a
far as the number Of ports visited and the impression
made was concerned He thought that the ere"
needed severe punishmcnts but that II these had bee
inflicted in another manner, tie effect woud nave
been better
Lieutenant Lekly testified that the ship was an
unhappy one. A proper feeling existed between
officers and at The hegnping Of the cruise but
IL was soon DESTROYED. lie regarded the discipline.
or lack Of discipline Of the ship "a ponslbc for
this. All officers loyal 10 the commander, and
carried ont his orders.
happy one. This. he said. was partially Due 10 the
fact that all the movements of the vessel were kept
a profound secret. that no oinccr or man coma
make any arrangements Funshments were lnflctcd,
a, far As he knew by order of the commander He
knew OF no cases Of delegated authority.
Lieutenant Mulligan said thst he was personally
happy on the cruise but did not think the had element
ia the
Sergeant Cabins, formerly ma,ter-a' arms, came
before the conrt and said that he thought that ms
reputation had been smirchcd IN the course OF MS
investigation. lie wanted il vindicatcd. but a. that dd
missed after being repeatedly asked II he had any
complaints 10 make against officers, which he had
rot. The court adjourned 10 meet again tomorro"
morning at 10 O'Clock.