New-York tribune., 1890-04-28
HOW 4 LIE UTENANT Q UELLED 4 HUTINY
THE TRIAL OF YOUNG AMMEN, NOW REAR
ADMIRAL, FOR MURDER RECALLED.

THE TRIAL OF YOUNG AMMEN, NOW REAR
ADMIRAL, FOR MURDER RECALLED.
The great bundle of public documents brought from
Washington by Lieutenant r. VI. G. Brown to the Nc
Gala courtmaral at the request of the counsel of
that officer contains report Of one OF the most re
markable that was ever tried in the history Of
the Navy. 1t the trial for murder OF Lieutenant
Daniel Ammen at present rear admiral, an old school
mate of General Grant and the protector of the
Nicaragua Canal
Lieutenant Ammen was detailed to take to the
Pacific Squadron in May, 1864, detail OF 900 OF the
worst possible men, including many Liverpool dock
men, as a certain class were calico NJ that tiihc'
They took passage on the Pacific Mail steamship Ocean
Queen, then in command Of Captain Tinklepaugh' on
May 13. The vessel also had on board 1,040 pas
sengers. Boatswan Thomas Bell went as aid to Lieu
tenant Ammen. About midnight on the first nght
ont the officer In charge roused Lieutenant Ammen.
and asked him to deck to listen to the complaints
of Of the men that they were forced TO lie OH
deck because II WAS so crowded below. The officer
told them that better arrangements would be made In
O day or two They then demanded whiskey. which
refused. At the trial of Lieutenant Ammen u
disclosed that few Of the men, the rngleaocrs
had canvassed the entire draft to learn who could
run the ship. and man who dissented from 'hc
proposition to mutiny was thrown overheard
On the following afternoon the men threw over
hoard all of the mess furniture that had been supplied
to them and beat and abused the walters who served
them. Captain Tinkepaugh became so apprehensivc
that he threatened TO put into Hampton
Roads but was persuaded by Lieutenant Ammen Ia
continue the voyage TO Colon Later husseh ana
Kelly Of the declared that unless better 1000
was served to them than the regular steerage food
they would 20 aft to the cabin and help themselves
and also break into the storeroom for whlSKey'
Lieutenant Ammcn warned them that the first man
who should ince TO mutiny would be shot, and Kelly
dared the ofHcer TO put him IN irons. ihei
Lieutenant Ammen mustered all OF tho men, ana sald
he hoped IL there any uprising that the oct'er-
disposed would not join in 1t.
At dinner on the next day both Kelly ana husseii
said that they were satisfied with the fresh beef boiled
potatoes. hard bread and coffee served TO ucm bat
their satisfaction was fclgned II was learned tla'
the men had arranged to mutny, and Lieutenant
Ammen and the officers Of the ship armed themscve,
with revolvers, but kept them out OF slght before
dark the ringleaders rallied the men and made an
attack upon the officers of the snip IN tlc por, sa5
and saw Kelly and Russell in the lead. attacking Cap
tain Tinklepaush and the chief cnslnecT. LeHten.
ant Ammcn ordered the men back, ana upon hcIIY
refusing to 60 he drew his revolver and shot the man
dead. other shots fired and Russell dFOppe1
dead. The others then fell back. and then the Young
officer went forward them and said that violence
had been met by force. and he regretted thst II was
who refused 10 take part in the mutiny, and they
gave him rousing cheers. Then he SAID Now g 81
to your dinner and do not allow the occurrence ~
soon aftcrward the young lieutenant went Deiow
10 dinner and sat beside Justice Field, OF the hitsd
states supreme Court sworn statements were iir ~
before Justice Field. The vessel arrived al colon IN
GOOD time and the draft sent across the ls'lmus
TO the Cyane, then at Panama. .,
Upon the return Of Lieutenant Ammcn 10 the mica
states he reported all OF the facts and asked Tor a
court martial. He refused to employ counsel to de
fend him. hut had the advice and assistance of icue-
ant- commander James Parker, now practising law
vcr in This city and president Of the Marine society
Although the Navy Department was unfricndly 70
young Ammen. and the inquiry was thorough N"
actual necessity Of his action was approved ana he
was acquitted OF the charge Of murder and com
mended by the court for doing his duty.