The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-07
OF THE SHIP.
WilmingtOn's Passengers Do
Not Want Another Trip.
THEY COMPLAIN OF HARDSHlPS.
The steerage Angry and Doing Some
Plain TaIking-The Victorian Get
ting Ter speed-Water Front.


her again. All ;he passengers demanded tEans-
isrs 70 smother vessel or the return OF their
money, but Captain Moody and z z. Thamp-
son. one OF tne owners WHO is aboard. refused
this Complaint was then made 20 the local
government inspectors OF steam vessels, and
Captain Bryant visited her, bat as the vessel
was not leak ug he said he could not condemn
her as unsafe. All day the steamer was the
scene o. constant agitation among the passen-
gers, those II the Storage bling especially Bit
ter on account Of the treatment. they have re
ceived
The vessel was lying at the Oregon Improve
IneBt Company's Dulkers t4king on fresh sup
ply OF coal, and . Observation-Disclosures reporter
visited her and held al interview with Captain
Moody, Chief Engineer Moran aud Nr. Thonp-
son, one o! the owners. They al denied tina. the
vessel went 70 sea uuprepaYed OF i'm properly
loaded, or thGt the machinery was al all lpcr-
feet or gave the ieEst trouble. They further de-
nied that any o: the crew had been drunk, and
Ar. Thompson said that so far from the s:eerage
passengers having be compelled 20 remain in
the miserable hoe provided for this cass oI pas
sengers, over twO-thirds OF them were allowed
the use OF the cabins in which u sit aa1 sleep,
and sha, they were well fed. They also deny
that there were fifty tons Of coal on the deck,
and claim that the amount was only thirty tons,
and that ali OF this bat a5ou. ten tons had been
slowed away bffore the storm strucz her.
some distance away talking over the situation,
and, as the reporter finished talking 70 Mr..
Thompson, one OF the crowd, namet Martin
Heaiy, approached the reporter and said: ''Are
yon going - give Us square deal in This al
far?''
The reporter assured him tina. he wanted 10
get all the facts available and there was no de-
sire 70 either shield or iniure anyone.
"Come this way, then said Healy, and he
led the reporter % a seat on a large block OF
timb2.tha lay short distance away. Then
drawing from his pocket a copy OF the PosT-IH-
TELLIGENCER ia which the story appeared, lie
began:
This story is Gil right as faS as it goes, but I.
don't begin 10 tell ha.f the actual facts
The reporter then explained that every charge
published had been denied by Thompson, the
captain and chief engineer.
Heaiy suddenly springiEg TO his feet, grabbed
the reporter BY the shoulder, saying: ''Come
with me aad we viii 20 right before Mr. Thomp-
son. III tell you the facts right in his presence
and III bet he WONT deny any statement /
make" With this he led the way 10 where
Thompson was standing alongside the vessel,
and as Healy and the reporter approached
Thompson moved away a short distance, Yet not
out OF hearing. Healy tnen began in loud
voice 10 relate the story OF the treatment the
steerage passengers received and in 8 short time
about twenty OF the other overwhelmingly
II.
corToborated every statement he made. Said
he:
This denial OF the amount of coal there was
on the deck is all bosh. 1t TOOK the steerage
passengers over two hours TO throw it overheard.
Does that look like there were only ten tons left
on thereI While we were throwing the coal
over of course We got all wet with the sea
breaking over the vessel. but We were compelled
10 return to fhe steerage, IN which there was at
least two feet OF water Any man will admit
mat those Storage quarters are unfit for occu-
pdaey even at best, but just think of men
whose clothing was all wet through, having to
20 IN there III two feet OF water and a stream of
water pouring down alongside the foremost l
objected, and took seven OF the other men to the
steH arl aud demanded admittance 10 the cabin,
hut We were refused. There are plenty of the
men here who can tell you that the steward
charged them s. apiece for the privilege of get
ting oed IN the cabin. He went down in the
sIeerage with me and admitted that il was q
tough place. but advised Us 70 crawl up on
top OF the grain sacks: that that was
tFsI-rate place % sleep, and much more com
ioFtso Die than the quarters he had coming across
the Atlantic years ago. l don't know what he
bad years ago, but We have been shamefully
treated on this occasion, that do know. went
70 Thompson and the captain and everybody,
but ii was no use. viii say, however that the
captain and one OF the mates are gentlemen.
Captain Moody stool watch continually for four
days, and were il not for his bravery We never
could have got through. But Thompson has Just
bought the vessel ana wants to make her pay
for herself the first trip. Well, they call me
kicker, because lad sand enough TO demand
my rights He's our captain shouted the
crowd, land here's our mate" pointing 10 Van
Nerdeu, a cabin passenger. HE stood by US
too We elected Heay our captain because he
had enough backbone TO stick up for our
rights
Healey then continued THE steward
seemed to be set on bleeding every passenger
for his last penny. lie brought jug of whisky
aboard ~ Portland aud got II retilled al Astoria
This be sold TO the passengers and the rest of
The crew at b cents a pint Why. one of the
dremeu got paralyzai drunk and was unable 10
take his turn on watch, ami one OF the Il res went
out The other fireman came out 10 get him to
take his watch, ana " tsen he found him drunk he
SAID ne wodtd nave the steward arrested as
soon they got into port Ii We wanted
20 get anything lit to eat we had 20
pay The steward extra for il. Our food
was served IL the stee-ase in reat
large dish, and those who could gather around
il got something 10 eat, out those who could not
find rOoU got lett. There was room for about
seven 70 get around the dish, so the balance OF
the tn.rty-cue bad poor show. l cannot give
you al the details, but those are the PRINCIPAL
facts. Perhaps we should not blame Thompson,
| !oE notice his hair has begun falling out as
result OF the worry he has undergone on this
;rIq."
Just a. Hea,y had about finished talking two
OF tie uTemen came up, and Healy, pointing 10
tEem, sand; Ask those men whether the stew
ard sold them walsky ~ noJ. One OF those Tel
lows was drunk
The Aremen hesitatci for an instant and then
admitted that Uea'y was telling the truth, and
passed aboard The vessel.
Three Cinnamon who were in the steerage
FF4s.r hs fr#r~ F13s
Early yesterday morning. Tney then came up
Gown ana soon ryt.-Ecd with some of their
tolntryneu Who cea SPEAK English AMI de-
.3elGed transfer .o- Them - another steamer
.-c were refused They ds8 not take ;heiv bag
sage aboard sgatD. but hung around, evidently
-ya-tsUg 20 see wast the other passengers would
aually resolve - 80.
he follow ,ag steerage passengers stated that
:.rv pad tae scWSri Tor tae pgIyi. eye OF sleep
rc in he cabin. v. + Brewer palg s. r II
Cameron SD, VI 2. E.o1rre s. Lewis Rec 81.
Z. carlson 81 aDt john Moran s. \ big. tall
elbow named r q. Soper ssl1 he was the only
lGe who slept IN The cabin without paying. ami
-e was pallet o.; once. ost showed fza; aud
was finally allowed 20 remain under protest
some o! tie cabin passengers aad nearly all 81
-an'c IN tAe Storage are >h1gt o. money 60 psv
,t..s fares OF another steamer T. >aa Francisco
and, IS they al gs.,sve.y asser; they viii not
venture our III the Wilmington sEaia taey VII
a had share unless they sre given transfers
several O them were talking about seeing
.AWysC saG Noc.ug she veSse-
captain NNotv Gled protest with the com
I'D .--3oner Tor the purpose OK projecting the YES
e.. against .os> III .-c event OF any damage 20
tse car-o The captains hands are consider
ably swollen and &c SD taai a.s te-t were -
swollen s. result az his long watch and ss;.
u2s vet taa, AIS shoes had Il re sutotf
EcEar4iug the con iJlou oi the ycss4. c. z-q~
ayyaut, luc4. inspector, toi1 ;hc reporter thet