New-York tribune., 1891-08-28
SEVEN MEN TRICED UP.
STIRRING SCENES ON THE FRED BILLINGS
CAPTAIN WILLIAMS SAYS HE oUELLED 4
MUTrNY WITH HIS REVOLVER.

CAPTAIN WILLIAMS SAYS HE oUELLED >
MUTrNY WITH HIS REVOLVER
Captain II. ii. Williams Of tie four.mssted ship Fred
Billings, Is, from the accounts Of his men, one Of the
commanding officers who were born generation or
two after their time Ills IDEAS OF furnishing men date
back 10 the period when foSging was considered an
entirely proper way Of treating disorderiy Oeaman
OF course. the captain Of vessel must have supreme
authority on board and must enforce discipline but
Captain Williams seems 10 have employed methods
worthy OF the middle ages Seven Of his men declare
that they ironed and triced up amidsaps, with
only their toes touching the floor for nearly ten hours
and they exhibit their bruised wrists IN oorroboratlon
of their story. In spite Of this state Of affairs the
captain, serene IN the consciousness OF being much
abused and harshiy treated officer, walks his deck
free man. while three OF tho fellows whom he stuns
nm are>in jail awaiting trial on a charge Of muiny
The Billings left this port september for san Pran,
cisco, and thence sailed for Havre. She shipped
new crew OF sixteen men there and started for New.
York. On July 26 She was In the 0nter harbOr IN tov
of the tug William Jolihe when trouble began 10 brew
Emil Muer the boatswsin, had words with Thomas
HAYES, seaman, up forward, and swore roundly al
him and several OF the others james Heath sus
tested that 1t didn't cost anything 10 be civil. and
Muer became moro enraged. Finally be struck Hayes
over the head with capstan-bar. The sailor fell 70
the deck with frghtful wound on Ids head lie was
unconscious Tor four BOUTS anu Ia SuH suHer1ng nom
the hurt.
The charge is made that the men tried 10 throw
tba boafswaln into the sea. The first mate r. a.
Meady appeared the scene at this moment ard
restored something like order. Captain Williams
whose mind seems to be saturated with sea-tales Of
the davs when bold buccaneers roamed the spanish
Main and marooned unfortunate prisoners or made
them walk the plank. breathes out his suspicion that
tire men shipped on the Billings 10 captar her anl
TO return 10 France with her. lie says that they
tried to cut the hawser leading 10 the tug but wcgs
prevented.
Captain Williams was on the quarterback, and
Heath. Edward Clark, Daniel Sullivan. James Carr
Thomas Duffy, John Curtin and another sailor, With
knives drawn II is charged, went up 10 him to pro
test against the boatswains brutality and % ask for
protection against IL. The captain drew lis revolver
and swore he'd shoot the first man who put his foos
on the quarterback For men who harbOred desperate
designs of getting possession OF vessel, so short .
distance from Shore the seven mighty towards.
None Of them advanced 70 the deck. At the captains
command all threw up their hands, and quietly sub
mtted to be ironed.
The seven were taken between decks. and ths
manacles on their wrists were fastened 10 beam.
their toes Just touching the floor. The trouble oc
CURED Mt about p NJ, and the men say they were
kept there until a. m. Not one OF them was taken
down for an instant In spite Of their pleas t2r ef
were all released. Everything went well then until
August 20, when IL is charged, Heath became nsuh
ordinate. AS Hayes and Clark Joined him In his Dis
obedience, all three were thrown in irons. When tho
Billings arrived IN this port the police boat Patrol was
summoned, and the three sailors handed over 70
the police They we're arragned before Commlsslaet
Hitchcock and remanded until Monday. CoDhlctng
stories told by both Sides and doubt the sailors
were by no means bameless.