New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-16
ALLEGED CRUELTY AT SEA-
A MATE CHARGED WITH AN ATTEMPT AT
MURDER.

STORIES OF HARDSHIP AND BRUTALITY TOLD
By THE CREW OF THE SHIP CONSTANCE
THE FIRST OFFICER ARRESTED
Thomas Wormscy and other sailors on the
British ship Constance, which arrived at this
port Wednesday. told story Of alleged
cruelty which led to the arrest yesterday of George
+. Johns. the first mate of the vessel, on the
charge Of an attempted murder. The ship is
owned by merchants of Ncw-Brunswcis. She
voyage to Hong Kong. where new
crew was shipped, and aitcrward went to The
Philippine Islands to obtain Il cargo of hemp.
The vessel remained at the port of Manila from
October ~ to the 2sth. Captain p. Il. Tingcy
went ashore on October -. leaving the first mate.
Johns. and the second mate John Lee. in charge
Of the vessel and crew.
According 10 Wormslcy's story. the day
full of exciting adventures for officers and crew.
The first mate sent Wormslcy to oil the forcnast
before it became light in the morning. lie
dropped some oil on the deck. but nothing WINS
said 10 him at the time. Early in the afternoon
the second mate ordered him 10 clean the boards.
Mate Johns followed him as he going for
water and. according TO Wormsi,y's statement.
picked up Delaying pin and struck him the
head. causing him To fall. When Wormscy
attempted 10 rise. Johns hit him again in tic
face, breaking his nose and followed up the
blow with repeated kicks. and then allowed
him twenty minutes in which 10 clean up the
OIL threatening 10 hit him again if the work
WAS not completed in that time.
The sailor says he contincrd to work; although
he was severely injured Al haf-past in the
afternoon Won;slcy saw the second mate Lee
strike Isaac Burton for some apparent cumsincss.
Burton ran around the house. calling on the
first matc Johns for assistance. but the first
mate called out. Kill him. and Burton
was Knocked down and kicked. Wormscys story
continues: The two mates walked around the
house and came across John Knight, another
man. The first mate asked him what he was
looking at. and rs Knight did not answer hc took
a Delaying pin and struck him. The second mate
also struck him. Knight drew knife and made
"a strike at The first mate who drew a revolver
and shot Knight three times. One bullet entered
the LETT breast, one the left chccl, and the
mouth. Tie Ken gathered around and the second
mate took up an axe and told them 10 get away.
They did not move quickly, and | Lee run
over 10 Thomas German and hit h. with the
axe. t,Orran was injured On tie ~ = and head,
and TO avoid further blows hc jumped overheard.
he ship WAS four miles from shore and there were
many sharks swimming about. German caught
hold OF cable and remained IN the water till
Johns ordered the boat lowered. Gorman and
John Griicn. who hau also Juinpcd overheard.
were picked mp. All this tine knisht lay ia the
scuppefs bleeding. heard Knight ask the first
mate for water saying that he wnul die If ID"
did not receive H. Johns Siid. Well. YOU may
die. then. Robert Lewis hcird the i.rsi mate say
10 tie second mate, 'W here s Normscy" Lee
,aid Attending 20 his work JohnS aid, III
hA Kui-hf and Wormscl before o'cori,.
Worii~lcf slys that Lee ordered him - do some
work 80 the WiIJcnmasi a. about half past .
o'clock lie had 20 pass the place where tie first
mate WIS standing. Johns had revolver IN
his hand Woiulsey sols that nc heard the
clicks Of the trigger, but the weapon
was not discharged. Tho mate then threw The
revolver a. Womslcv. and II struck him IN the
back and Was disc -argcd. The bullet struck
NNrm,cy in the back. and Is still there. The
runpowdcr s"t his shirt on lir. bur hr was
compelled 10 go mp the mast 10 avoid iurthcr
danger.
The captain returned TO the vessel carly in the
cycuiug and ihc men reported their grievances
10 him Tie ttpfriu said that they had been
treated properly. WormSlcy wanted 10 complain
10 tie Hrfish Consul. but was not allowed Ia 10
on shore \ physician was sent for. and 'hc
wounds ~ Kni-ht and Wormsicy were dressed
Knight WAS suhsequcnt'v taken on shore. ana re-
manned M Manila Wnru.slcy SAYS that Johns
was arrested at Hong Kong for cruelty 10 the
crew. bat hc escaped punishment
Johns is sturdy and rather fierce looking sailor
He saws that the members of the crew were hard
plotting 10 set the vessel on fire Srutic her and
cscaur I'm boat He said that he COM
pcllcd 10 act dccisi.cly 70 rprcss mutiny.
Consul General Booker made n complaint ycSt"r
day before Commissioner Shields, asking Tor
Johnss arrest on cXtradifion proceeding on
o,irgc Of attempt al murder. Commissioning
Shields issued - warrant and Johns was arrested
az tn. pirrrcpni.i Stores Eruokivn. He sent
10 Luilow Street Iail without bail. HIS cNamina-
tion will begin on Monday.