Evening journal., 1890-04-14
cAprAN DICKINSON ExoNgRATEp.
Tie Rappainnnociz's Commander Not
Gully OF Cruelty.

Tie Rappahnnnocis's Commander Net
Gully OF Cruelty.
At the evening hearing of Captain
James Dickinson of the big ship Kappa
hammock, on Saturday afternoon, the cap.
tain's testimony followed that of Daniel
j. Murphy, Jr, stevedore. He said that
his crew was terrible lot of men, and
some of them were cut.throats and
thieves 1.-The men came aft in body
on March 2S, and demanded that they
be allowed to see the United States mar
shall, as the boat was not sufficiently
manned. They positively refused to go
to work until they could see the marshal
sent for Commissioner Johnson, as those
officers are always referees in disputes
between captain and crew. The commits
sioner arrived with posse of officers late
in the afternoon.
The captain then described the dash
upon the mutineers and the ironing of
those who refused to go to work. The
witness did not think he had been
sufficiently severe with the men, and be
had reproached himself with being too
lenient. He had personally dressed
Grifin's wounds three times. Captain
Dickinson said that the food furnished
the men was better than the government
stipulated that seamen should have, but
he was always in the habit of giving the
men the choice of government or his
varied bill of fare. he is confident that
the vessel was not only properly manned,
but was in excellent trim, and 1t was
better provided than the average vessel.
The vessel is worth $3.50, 900 and the
cargo 1925, 900, on which there Is nc
insurance. I have my wife and two
daughters aboard, and it is hardly prob
able that ] would take them on such .
voyage, or risk that much uninsured
property, if the appointments were mel
correct in every detail.
Sergeant of Police Maloney and Com
missioner johnson testified 80 the hghi
with the stubborn men on the 2Sth. They
said: "a oman named Smith put his
hands ON Griffin to stand him aside. Al
he did so Griffin reached behind him
drew sheath knife and made lunge a.
Smith. Peter Kelly struck Griffin on thu
jaw with a blackjack and he fell. Hi
lip was cut and in falling his head strucl
bolt and inflicted the injury there
After a sharp scuffle with the mutineer
they surrendered, and all promised to Il
to work except Griffin, Randall and twi
or three others, who were put IL
irons"
Commissioner Smith then exonerate,
the captain from all blame and dismissed
the case. The captain received many con
! gratulations from the gentlemen in tn
court room. he is man Of pleasant ad
dress, and his hearty laugh and good
natured smile uphold the statement tina
''he could not hurt mouse" He is from
Bath, Me-, and part owner of the Kappa
hammock. He says that some of the news
papers by false and exaggerated report
are doing much to cripple the shipping
industries of the United States, whicl
are dwindling down each year.
After the hearing the three seamen
Captain Dickinson and Captain Swail
went to New Castle. The men were con
fined in the Jail until s o'clock, when the
we're placed on board the tug Argus an
taken aboard the ship. They said tina
they were perfectly willing to ship an
, do their duty as sailors, and all the
asked was to be treated properly.
The delay by the arrest, no doubt
caused great pecuniary loss TO th
{ owners of the ship, as after her lightere
! cargo was reloaded she was compelled I
: wait several hours before the captain AT
e rived When the tide changed she wa
! swung around on Dan Baker shoal an
q she soon sunk in the mud SO deeply thl
s she can not be turned. II is not know
E when the vessel can be taken out of Il
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