The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-02-10
RUSSIAN CRUELTY.
Captain Joseph W. Morris, of the
Schooner Helena, of Boston,
Relates his Experiences in Russian Coal
Nine Where he Was Confined Two Years
for POaching in Behring Sea.

tSpecialto THE Observation-Disclosures Dispatch
Boston, Feb. 9.-One of the greatest out
RACES ever inflicted upon American citizens
by decree of a foreign power has been the
Imprisonment of four New England sailors,
for two years and ten months, in Siberian
coal mine. One American died, after starry
ing upon rice soup and being eaten by YER
min. This seems also to have been the fate
of the twelve or fifteen japanese who made
up the rest of the crew.
The first member of this little party to
reach home after being mourned as dead is
Captain Joseph w. Morris, of this city. He
suffered unheard of cruelty as punish
ment for poaching IN Russian territory,
and is one of the survivors of the awful
punishment inflicted upon the crew. The
fact that he was poachlng invalidates his
claim for indemnity from the Russian gov
eminent He had made one successful ex-
petition to the islands in Behring sea and
then he tried it again. The second time he
had an experience which effectually cured
him of poaching in Russian territory. The
schooner was the Helena, and was
manned by four Americans and twenty
two japanese sailors. Captain Morris
was in command The schooner made q
successful run to the islands, secured full
cargo of skins and was headed for YOko-
hama when Russian man-of-war over
hauled her. After trying to escape and in
the meantime being fired upon, the schooner
heaved to. The Russians opened fire on
the crew with their rifles and killed seven
Japs at the first volley. The schooner's
captain did not know the cause of this
slaughter until he saw that his flag was
still flying. The captain cut the halyards
with a Ratchet and threw the flag over
board. The firing then ceased. The Rus
sion then boarded the schooner and finding
! 5000 sealskins aboard took the schooner in
tow. The crew were taken to hotel in
VladivostOck on October o. the captured
men were convicted of violating the seal
/ ing laws and were marched to Nicolaski,
/ 80 miles to tbs northward, when they had
to work in the mines.
| The captain says; "Each of US received
! from the interpreter pap5r stating that
each must dig and send up from the mine
| five carloads of coal day. If the stated
amount of coal did not come up, no rations
would be sent down, so that if any of US
were sick we would have to starye to death
was the first to go down and | did moi
again see the light of day for two years anG
ten months. l was left in pit 200 fee
long and about 200 wide. [ there behelC
one of the most woeful sights l ever saw
in my life. 1t was man feet high an(
built in proportion. He was covered will
coal dust from head to foot, his clothe:
were in tatters and he looked like fiend
Later, an officer came down bringing will
him two belts and chain with riyettinI
instruments. My fellow prisoners ant
myself were rivetted together. The Poll
was really insane and for day or two m,
condition was mighty uncomfortable. HI
ate my rations of rice soup and Threatened
to kill me when | expostulated. AT last
hunger drove me to desperation, ant
the Pole and had fight
1 got the best of him. One day the Pole
died. L took my shovel and cut the corps
through at the waist, removing the belt
thus by the only possible way freeing my
self from the body. placed the portion
of the corpse on the car and sent them u
on the next load of coal. On the next ca
down were hammer and coal chise
which l had OWNED were for the purpose Q
taking off my bands and chat n. This l di
and sent them up with the next load Of Goa
This was all the recognition they gave I
my sending up the dead body.
''Time went on AND I was about losin
my reason when one day an officer an
interpreter came down with the news tina
I was released. Second Mate Croker wa
released with me. | could get no tiding
} of the others and | presume they died j
, the mines. Lately have heard that Code
also survived but have no authentic infoI
nation to that effect"