New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-15
TOEING A SEAM FIVE HOURS.
THIS AFTER WALKING THE DECK FOR TWO
DAYS.
PUNIsHMENTs INFLICTED BY OoMMANDE&
CHIEF oUARTERMAsTER wETHERBY.

CHIEF oUARTERMASTER WETHERBY.
Before the McCalla Court Of Inquiry yesterday,
several noncommssioned officers and petty officers OK
the soop Enterprise. together with one private
of marines, examined. Michael Gallagher, nrss
sergeant OF marines, told of having seen men con-
fined in the usual way and In straitjackets. Az
Oran, on the coast of Africa he saw men ironed
together with hand irons and leg irons They made
long string and at night the man at one end was
chained TO ringbOt and the at the other end 10
the potato locker. They kept this way for
two or three days sleeping on tarpaulns which were
brought on deck for them. The crew, he said had
bad element in IL which always causing trouble
lie regarded Walker as bad man. lie had heard
him that he belonged to the criminal class. lie
gave an account Of the striking OF Walker by Com
mander McCalla which did not differ materially from
that of the other witnesses to the occurrence.
Sergeant Monroe testified substantially as had the
preceding witness lie said that when Walker had
beers cut down by Commander McCalla some one
forward shouted out Now you fixed him. and the
commander replied Bring that man aft and III hx
him too
Private John Brandon gave an account Of the
Walker incident and said that the man was struck
three times. lie said that when the snip was Az
Rouerl France he and ten others Jumped the ship
and went ashore. They tried to get back without
being scen but caught and chained together
hands and feet in a line. lie released after two
/
about a week. Their irons not taken of even
at meal time At night they slept on tarpaulns on
deck with the man at end chained TO ringboit
and the at the other to the potato locker
In the afternoon Corporal Dean testified that No
never knew Of liquor being smugged on board the
Enterprise lie had seen triced up to Jacobs
ladders Sergeant Coddy testified to having seen two
white men and a negro chained together for two
or three days. lie had seen straiuackets used
and had seen chained together In line.
ships Writer J. H. Darby also told OF the claiming Of
men together Ouartermastcr Ham told how the
mon who got drunk at Cronstadt were chained
together Of how they made to walk In pairs
on the quarterback for two days. after which they
were made to toe a deck from o'clock at
night until l O'Clock in the morning. lie was one OF
the men who got drunk. None Of the other witnesses
had anything new to add The fact Of a mans hav-
Ing been confined in OF the coal bunkers on one
occasion corroborated by several who te'tieds
All the witnesses connected with the police force OF
the ship said that Walker unrily man. Tho
first sergeant said that the whole trouble was caused
BIZ eight or ten bad in tho ships company COM
mander McCala accompanied at the morning ses-
sion Of the by Joseph ii. Choate and Gustavus
Menzes. Of his counsel. In the afternoon. however.
Mr. Ch0ate was absent lie Court VIII meet AGAIN.
at 10 o'clock today,
The general court-martial which is in session at
the Navy Yard. Of which Captain Henry Erben Is
president. has. among other cases beforc IT. those
of several of the who are charged with havinv
deserted from the Enterprise when she in Europe.
Chief Quartermas Wetherby. who is charged with
desertion from the Enterprise. on trial yesferav
HIS grade the highest among the petty oncers OF
ship. and such he was entitled 10 uuusul
privileges and the fact that person IL promoted 10
that grade Is proof in itself thai he Is an exoep-
tionay good seaman. BY his deScrton II the chsr.e
il sustained he will sacrifice not only his good recori
but will lose all pay accrng him, and also. under
section 400 Of the Revised statutes. be debarrcd
from cnsting again in the Naval service Hence lt
WAS almost beyond comprehension that ne
should desert from the vessel. WHAT consututs
the act Of dcScron' is the question thae
the court decide. and 1t Is -
complex question. Wctherhy went ashore on ieMo
at southampton. and remained away from thc sup
until ,he went plymouth. Then be went 20 t,e
United States Consul ard made statement that ne
had left the vessel without intending TO return ana
the Consul advised him 10 join his ship AT Plymoutn.
This he aid not want do. and ne again disappeared
Then he worked his way 10 Rotterdam, ana irVnI
there worked his passage 10 New YORK. pom MS
arrival here Washington reported IN person
70 The Navy Department. aud was there charged VIVID
descrtion and made prisoner al large, suoJ'ct 10
trial Every effort made by the court Yesterday
IN got him ~ give for leaving the snip but
he refused tO unbo~om himself. The impression rit
whom N, spoke was that his for de>ertion was
NOT on account Of any prejudice against ,omnlander
vc6ala or any Others Of the Officers Dut because ne
| nod hceu threatened bv Of the crow Tor NOT
oivinc with them in their mutinous conduct. IL Is
doubtful whether the charge Of dcscrtOn VIII he sus-
taincd since AT opportunity arer ne let the
shin hr rpportnd himself TO the ''Overnn 30 auhorltles
II i ono Of the most complicated "a es ever gwen
! 10 court martial to act upon