St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-03-01
Commander McCalla Pleads
Justification for Carving
a Drunken Sailor
His Subordinates' Charges Of
Brutality Partly Denied
by the Martinez.
Alleged Impudenee on Their
Part Good Ground for
Suspension.
The Crew Preparing a Round
Robin to Send to Secre-
tary Tracy.

NEW YORK, Feb. %. Commander B
Fl. McCalla, of the United States sloop-
of-war Enterprise. makes partial de-
mai OF the statements of his officers and
men that he Is an inhumaD officer, and
that he treated all hands with great
brutality during the voyage, which was
ended yesterday by the vessels arrival
here. He says: ~ am perfectly will
Ing to go into details of my &C.
tions on this cruise, which
has lasted over two years. The
stories as printed in the morning papers
are all One-sided, and | was not given
an opportunity to say my say
stand ready to make clear, concise re-
port of the whole affair, and. though I
feel that an officer seldom wins public
sympathy in a misunderstanding with
his sailors, think my actions through.
out were in keeping with my position
and the standing of my men. As far as
can Judge from the accounts as printe d
the story that attacked a sailor named
VI alker with sword is the worst. In
my defense | admit that the story n
true. l did use q sword in Walkers
case. but that was justified | am will
ing To let my superiOrs at Washington
decide. This man Walker came aboard
the Enterprise while she was at South.
ampton. He was in beastly state Of
intOXicatiOn. That would probably
have been excused had he gone to his
quarters without saying anything. In.
stead he
RAN WILD ABOUT THE DECKS
after being hauled from the water.
swearing and shouting all the time: II.
was a rebel and fought two years in the
war, and L haven't enough of fighting
yet. Pm not afraid of the biggest man
aboard your blasted plug, and | won't
keep quiet; no, l WON'T" sent an
orderly to quiet the man, but he refused
to listen to reason. His disOrderly con-
duct continued until finally | was com
PEELED to go to him myself. He
sword on him. Commander McCalla
produced the sword which, lie said, rad
been used. 1t was anything but q bright
looking weapon. It's edge, is as .dull-as
the average razor in a BOwery barber
shop. IL have since gone into Walkers
record" continued the commander.
''and find that the man was born in
Colorado In 1853, two wears after the
war ended. That fact settles Walkers
claim to being war veteran.n Passed
Assistant Surgeon G. g. Herndon. at the
request of Commander McCalla, brought
in his official rs cord books. The sur
geOn read record of the occurrence
fIom the book, and finished by saving
that the wound was an inch and a half
long at the back Of the head. extending
10 the bone. The commander then pro-
ceeded to answer the other charges
brought against him as follows: NOw.
as to the suspension of Ensign Kline,
let me say this: | suspended him from
duty because he was
SURPRISED WHILE ASLEEP.
"He denied having been asleep, but he
did not speak the truth in that respect,
because | myself found him slumber-
ing. Ii anybody else had reported him
would have gwen him the benefit of q
doubt. But my own eyes did not de-
ceive me. was attracted to the spot
where he lay by his heavy snoring. l
to tell me that l was mistaken. was
justified In suspendng him under
the circumstances. The same may be-
said of the case of Walker. There was
no other remedy as far as the latter was
concerned. My action was perfectly
legitimate, and am willing to take my
chances for it with my superi0rs at
Washington. [ never had further
trouble with Walker after the occur
renee until he deserted at Southampton.
As to my landing my men in Negro
bay. en- the African shore, opposite
Gibraltar, | did that to drill the
denly. II was from the east, and
the beach beng lee shore, we had to
haul off shore. Before going | signaled
the men ashore to go to Ceuta, fifteen
miles distant, and remain there until 1
was able to come around again. | went
to Gibraltar and returned tn the African
shore the following morning. L then
learned for the first time that the men
had refused to march to Ceuta. claim
ing that the stretch of fifteen
miles was inhabited by wild Moors
who were likely to attack and
massacre them. Instead, they camped
on the beach. | thought this proceed
ing very peculiar. considering that
there was no danger, and that there
were thirty well-armed men In the
party. | am willing to make affidavit
that the story Of my having attacked
the cOaehman of Lady Playfair because
he refused to allow me on the box OF
her lady's coach is
A YARN OF THE SAILORS
and an absolute lie. | admit having
met Lady Playfar while ashore, but
nothing unusual happened with the ex-
ceptiOn that some of my men repaired
the broken tongue of the wagon In
when the lady was travelling. Ask any
engineer with experience whether my
action in censurIng Chief Engineer En-.
tWistle for using salt instead of fresh
water in testing the boilers was
not justified. Now about nv
asking for subscriptions for the
unfinished statue of Prince Will
lam at Torquay. None was com
PEELED to subscribe. and did it because
| considered that the prince in his life
time did much for America. 1t is untrue
that we had any court martial on board
during the cruise, because there could
be none without authority from Wash
ingten. As to my other suspensions for
to a superior officer, | must
say nothing until / have made
my official report to Washing
ington. '.YOu have heard my state
nent," concluded Commander Nc
Gala. land it is only fair to let you 20
among the men and ask them il have
exceeded my authority or have been
other than fair. impartial commander.
who believes that discipline Is essential
to the navigation of every man-of-war,"
Commander McCalla did not nave
perfect idea Of the soundiugs of his
nen' when he requested the reporter
to 20 forward and Interview the men.
The men, with one or two exceptions.
coneided In the statement that the voy-
age had been one OF great brutality and
harshness.