The Portland daily press., 1890-04-29
LIEUT.. AMMEN QUELLED THE MUTINY.
Commander Mccaila's Trial Recalls
Another Court Martial.
II Was In 1864 and the Crime Al
legged Was Murder.
Shots From a Young Officers Pistol
Killed Two MutIneers.

NEW YORK, April 28.-The great bundle
of public documents brought from Washing
ton by Lieutenant r. NJ. G.. Brown to the
McCala court-martial at the request Of the
counsel Of that officer contains the report Of
one Of the most remarkable cases that was
ever tried in the history OF the navy. 1t was
the trial for murder Of Lieutenant Daniel
Ammen, at present rear admiral, an old
schoolmate of General Grant, iand the pre-
iector of the Nicaragua canal.
Lieutenant Ammen was detailed TO take to
the Pacific squadron In May. 1864, detail OF
22O Of the worst possible men, including
many Liverpool dock men," as a certain
class were called at that time. They took
passage on the Pacific Mail steamship Ocean
Queen, then in command Of Captain Tinkle-
paugh, on May .3. The vessel also had on
Bell went as aid to Lieutenant Ammen.
About midnight on the first night out the
officer In charge reused Lieutenant Ammen
and asked him 10 go on deck TO listen TO the
complaints Of some Of the men that they
were forced lie on deck because 1t was SO
crowded below The officer told them that
better arrangements would be made In a day
or two. They then demanded whiskey, which
was refused. At the trial Of Lieutenant Am
men II was disclosed that few Of the men,
buC udQ CduNdS5tU LHt tuLlTt
draft TO learn who could run the ship, and
one man who dissented from the proposition
TO mutiny was thrown overheard.
On the following afternoon the men threw
overheard all Of the mess furniture that had
been supplied 20 them, and beat and abused
the walters who served them. Captain Tin
klepaugh became so apprehensiye that he
threatened tO put into Hampton Roads, but
was persuaded by Lieutenant Ammen to
continue the voyage to Colon. Later Russell
md oil fxnrO NJ kha 49,
unless better food was served to them than
the regular steerage food. they would go aft
to the cabin and help themselves, and also
break into the st0re-room for whlskey. Lieu
tenant Ammen warned them that the first
man who should incite to mutiny would be
shot, aud Kelly dared the officer even to put
him in irons. Then Lieutenant Ammen
mustered ahof the men. and said he hoped
II. there was any uprising that the better dis
posed would not join in II.
At dIuner on the next day both Kelley and
Russell said that they were satisfied with the
fresh beef, boiled potatoes, hard bread and
coffee served to them, but their satisfaction
was feigned. 1t was learned that the men
had arranged to mutiny,a and Lieutenant Am
men and the officers OF the ship armed them
selves with reVOlYerS, but kept them out Of
sight Before dark the ringleaders rallied
the men and made an attack tupon the Off
men went below from the hurricane deck
and saw Kelley and Russell in the lead, at
taeking Captain Tinklepaugh and the chief
engineer. Lieutenant Ammen ordered the
men pack, and upon Kelly refusing to go, he
drew his revolver and shot the man dead.
Other shots were fired .and Russell dropped
dead. The others then fell back, and then
the young officer went forward and said
that violence had been met by force, and he
regretted that 1t was necessary to shoot any
Of them. He thanked those who refused to
take part in the mutiny. and they gave him
rousing cheers. Then he said "Now 60 to
your dinner. and do not allow the occurrence
to disturb y0u In the least"
Soon afterward the young lieutenant went
below to dinner and sat beside Justice Field
OF the United States Supreme Court. Sworn
statements were made before Justice Field.
The vessel arrived at Colon In good time
and the draft was sent across the Isthmus to
the Cyane, then at Panama
Upon the return Of Lieutenant IAmmen to
the United States, he reported all Of the facts
and asked for couIt-martial. He refused
to employ counsel to defend him, but had the
the advice and assistance of Lieutenant
Commander James Parker, now a practising
lawyer in this city and president Of the Ma
rine Society. Although the Navy Depart
ment was unfrendly to young Ammen, and
the inquiry was thorough. the actual neces-
sity of his action was approved, and he was
acquitted Of the charge Of murder aud COM
mended by the court for doing his duty.