Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-09-03
MUTINY QUELLED.
Firemen and Strokers Endeaver to
Control the Ship-The
Leader Killed.
A Wealthy Broker Of Omaha Found
Dead in a Chicago Hotel

Dead in a Chicago Hotel.
Msti.y On >Aipssara.
NV York, Aug. sl.-Captain Baker
of the Netherland line steamer Abdam
underwent an experience during his
last voyage which has caused quite a
sensation in marine circles here. The
ship reached here late yesterday and
went to her pier this morning. As soon
as the skipper got ashore this morning
he went to the Office of the agent of the
line, Van Den Toorn, and informed him
there was an attempt at mutiny on the
trip home and that one of the ring
leaders had paid the penalty of insu6.
ordination with his life According to
the story of Captain Barker the out
break on board the vessel was the result
of plot to take possession of the ship.
The Abdam left this port on July 10 for
Rotterdam. She had on board upward
Of 800 cabin and steerage passengers.
The craft had been running off shore
but twenty-four hours when the officer
on the bridge called upon, the captain
EVIDENCE OF DISSATISFACTION
among the firemen and stokers. All
these were socialists, and had Given
evidence of their autagonism to the line
on a previous trip of the vessel to this
port Captain Baker went below to
the furnace rooms when informed by
his officer that mischief was brewing.
His presence was the occasion for
round of Kisses He said nothing to
the men and returned to the deck. Go.
ing to his cabin he sent for Chief Engi
neer Beel. The latter told his superior
officer that the men were on the verge
of mutiny. and that he had pleaded
with them in vain. Il fear" he added,
1.-THE men will draw the fires and leave
US in nice mess" You do your duty
and let matters shape themselves, ~ said
Captain Baker. II have 300 passen-
gers on this ship and any man below who
tries to run this vessel will pay dearly
for it. Everything went we'll that night.
A quiet search was made among the
effects of the stokers for rum, but very
little was found. The craft was forty
eight hours out from port, and Captain
Baker had about made up his mind
that the fears of his officers were ground
less when the vessel
BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN,
and finally stopped altogether. Captain
Baker went to the bridge and asked
what was the matter, The second officer
on duty told him he had given the en-
gineer no signal to stop or slow down.
just then the chief engineer rushed to
the bridge. Come below" he shouted
to the captain, "the men have put out
the fires and threaten to take my lifeif I
insist on giving them orders. They re
fuse to obey me in any way" Captain
Baker hurried below. He found
twenty of the tiremen and coal passers
punched together alongside the furnace.
They had drawn the fires, and the yes.
sci was simply holding her head to the
wind with the aid of a few sails. What
is the matter with you fellows?"
shouted the captain. A general howl
from the men was the answer to the
shippers query. "I'll tell you what
the matter Is, said Peter Dusen, who
appeared to be the ringleader; I'VE
have grown tired of this life and we in.
tend to run things to suit ourselves
that's what the matter is Is that the
expression of yourself" inquired the
captain, "or are you acting as spokes-
man for the others?" Il don't care
what the other fellows do" said Dusen,
Il am going to have a good time or
know Why All right, said the CAP.
tain; you can accomplish your pur-
pose when you do away with me. - IF
that's SO. ~ do it now," said Dusen,
and picking up a huge iron
PICK he sprang at the captain.
The latter drew back, pulled a navy re.
yolver from his pocket, aimed it at
Dusen and fred. The man fell at the
captain feet with an oath. The ball
had entered his left breast, and few
hours later he died. The
QU1cKNEss AND DETERMINATION
of the captain filled the remainder of
the mutineers with alarm, and they
flew IN every direction about the fur.
mace room. The body of Dusen was
buried at sea. Papers in his bag showed
him to have been a leading socialist,
and anything but good character. The
klll1ng OF this man quieted the mutiny.
Fires were relighted, and the vessel pro.
ceeded on her way, reaching Rotterdam
without further incident. At Rotterdam
Captain Baker had all hands
arrested. Then he gave himself
up on the charge of murder.
He was placed under $4,000 bonds to
appear for trial on return of the vessel
to the port next month. Dusen was a
Hollander and unmarried. Three hun.
dred passengers on board the vessel
were greatly excited. All expected the
mutineers would get possession of the,
craft The matter will be fully settled
on the return of the craft to the other side
Shipping men are confident that Cap.
tain Baker will be honorably acquitted.
DIysteriOus Death in Chicago.
CHICAGO, Aug. 20.-The dead body of
Clark Woodman, one of the wealthiest