The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-20
VOYAGE OF THE VINE.
A Heavy Gale, the Mate Drowned
and Trouble Aboard.
CAPTAIN AT WAR WITH UNION.
Coast seamen Try to Get the Nom
Union Crew to Leave-Water
Front Notes.

schooner Vine arrived In port yesterday,
twenfy-three days from San Francisco. She
had an eyentful voyage, having encountered
very heavy gale the first day out, in which her
mate fell overheard and was drowned, and on
reaching Port Townsend her master, Captain
John L. Burns, had a serious conflict with
members OF the Coast seamens Union.
The day the vessel left San Francisco she was
struck by heavy northwest gale. The mate,
W. Z. Williams, went aloft to do some work
himself, having grown impatient wait
Ing for one of the sailors to do
1t. He was resting on the main boom
when the vessel gave a lurch and he dropped
clear OF the side of the vessel A boat was inn
mediately lowered. but the waves were rolling
fearfully and be could not be reached in time
The last seen of him was his hand thrown up
through the crest of the wave, as If expecting
some one to grasp it and rescue him. Williams
came to the coast about q year ago from Port
land, Me-, having come around in the ship Rob-
ert L. Belknap. He was about 81 years OF age
and unmarried
The gale continued for eight days, and at
times the vessel seemed TO be in danger of being
lost but she rode through il all right and got in
ahead OF the other vessels that sailed the same
time. On reaching Port Townsend an attempt
was made by the Coast Seamen's Union to in
duce the non-union crew to leave the vessel, but
Captain Buras got onto the movement and
handled the two missionaries of the union who
went aboard with that object in view, rather
roughly. He then teiegrapned Chief Rogers for
police protection here, fearing that another at
tempt would be made on reaching Seattle, and
yesterday when the vessel landed, Detective
Wilson and Officer sanstrom were on hand, but
the union meu made no demonstrations, and
appeared to give but little heed to the matter.
Following is Captain Burns statement of the
difficulty with the union, as made to q Posi-
lNTELLIGEScER reporter:
"Last winter the union men took two crews
off my vessel by force at Tacoma. finally sue
ceeded in getting third crew and put to sea,
but at Port Townsend another attempt was
made TO take this one away. To prevent it, had
to get my Winchester aud threaten to shoot the
first man who came aboard. When reached
San Francisco the union men there got the crew
away by force, having assaulted one man and
seriously injured him. / secured another
non-union crew, and they drove that
Isucceeded in getting q third crew and put to
sea before they had chance to drive it of.
felt sick of the warfare and next trip decided to
try union men, but this crew struck on me
while on the voyage, because
violated some nonsensicai rule OF
the union. then determined to get nom
union men again aud fight it out So on my
present trip paid shipping master so a man
to get me a crew. We got the men down in the
hold and the mate guarded the entrance with q
revolver until we got away. On landing
ut Port Townsend heard that
a man named Connolly had come up
from San Francisco to superintend the job of
getting the crew away from me there. ! re-
quested policeman to guard the vessel while
went up to the custom-house. / was gone but
q short time, but when ! returned found two
strange men aboard and nay whole crew packed
up ready to leave. 1 asked the two strangers
what they meant by eudeavoring to get my
crew ashore. They said they had . right to
take my crew away. ordered them
OF the vessel and one Of them struck
at me. The blow glanced and
barely touched my cheek. struck him blow
that sent him to sleep and then went for the
other fellow. had one in each hand when the
policeman came down and took them ashore
] then stood guard with my Winchester until
we were ready TO leave The crew returned to
work, but expected trouble on reaching here,
and therefore telegraphed the chief of police for
protection. do not know what TO think of the
war they are waging against me. 1t is ques-
ton of whether / am going to run the
vessel or let an unTeasoning lot OF sea-
men run ii for me and like
a great many more of the captains on the Coast,
] may yet be compelled to accept the latter al
tentative: but they can bet upon II that they
win not find me yielding mp without struggle
Tug Enterprise towed the schooner up from
Port Townsend. She has $50 tons of freight for
Seattle. She will take return cargo of flooring
from stimson's yard.