Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-08
Official Inquiry Into the
Baltimore Affair Begun.
Sailors of the Ship Tell an
Unvarnished Tale.
Evidence Shows That the Assault
Was Premeditated.
The Men Were Forewarned but Not
Forearmed-No Protection Afforded
the Unfortunate Fellows by
the Police.
Associated Press pispatches.

Associated Press Dispatches.
VALLEJO, Jan. 7.-The investigation
into the assault on the Baltimore's
sailors in Valparaiso began this morn
ing at Mare Island, in the presence of
Judge Advocate General Remy, United
States District Attorney Garter and
United States Commissioner ]. S. Man
ley. Remy conducted the investi-
cations.
Among others present was Lieutenant
McCrea, OF the Baltimore, who was the
officer admitted to attend the examina-
tion OF the sailors before Judge Foster at
Valparaiso.
One fact not generally known to the
outside public, but which is well-known
to the officers at the island, is that the
shore party from the Baltimore that
was attacked, consisted entirely OF what
are called tirst-conduct men. They re-
ceive many privileges OF which they are
deprived on the least misbehavior. Be-
fore they went ashore they were
especially warned that if they
got into any quarrels at all, no
more sailors would be allowed liberty.
They therefore were responsible to tteir
testimony seems to show that they re-
manned entirely sober.
The first witness, j. w. Talbot, was
young, manipulating fellow, and told
straightforward story. The most i'm
portant fact elected from him was that
the sailors were warned an hour before
the assault that it was being planned.
The second significant fact was that
when arrested by the police, they con-
sidered it necessary to disguise him to
prevent his being recognized as a Balti-
more man and murderedlby the mob.
The second witness, J. M. johnson,
the armorer of the Baltimore. witnessed
the stabbing of Riggin from window in
hotel, and is positive that the police
who were present made no attempt to
protect him. He tried to rescue Riggin,
but squad of soldiers came up and
deliberately shot and killed Riggin
while in Johnson's arms, the soldiers
being not six feet away,
The statement made by the procura-
tor fiscal of Valparaiso, to the effect that
all but two sailors testified that the po-
lice had done their duty, is denied
vehemently by the witnesses. They are
unanimous in the opposite opinion.
John w. Talbot, seaman apprentice
of the second class on the Baltimore,
was the first witness called. He was
one of the sailors on liberty at Valparai-
so on September 10Th, the day of the
riot. About sixty of the crew went with
him at O'Clock, followed by others two
hours later. He said: "Boatswain's
Mate G.. M. Riggin, who was killed,
myself and two others were together.
We went into saloon in the eastern
part of the town, on the plaza de Toros,
where we were joined by several other
sailors, an apothecary, two machinists
and two firemen. After about an hour
three of us went in cab to the south
ern part of town. Riggin and went
into saloon called the Shakespeare.
The bartender said he meant to close
up, as a mob meant to attack us;
and he ordered us out. We laughed at
the warnings but left the place and
went to the True Blue saloon, where we
found Anderson, Wallace, Willis and
Williams, Baltimore sailors. About 4
O'Clock Riggin left the saloon and Ifol-
lowed him. When l reached the door |
saw Riggin and Chileans, in man-of-
wars uniform, disputing in the middle
of the street. ran up and asked what
ans were trying to pick quarrel with
him. I pushed them apart. A
Chilean then spat in my face
and / knocked him down. In
moment the streets were alive
with people. Riggin and l started to
run, but soon jumped on a passing
street car. The car was stopped at
once. mob of hundred men began
to stone us and smashed the windows of
the car. Three or four men entered the
car and told us to come out, and said
they would protect us. We left the car,
one on each side, and were instantly
surrounded by the mob. l saw Riggin
fall and tried to reach him, but was
stabbed in the back and turned and ran.
Several blocks off turned in a doorway,
and as did SO was stabbed again
in the back. | got in, however,
but the bartender threw me out. /
pushed back in, but was followed by the
mob, dragged out and stoned. I broke
in again, and when the bartender tried
to put me out knocked him down with
chair. | got in corner. The mob
uniform attempted again to stab me.
The proprietor then put the mob out
and barred the door, around which the
mob continued to clamor, yelling: Kill
the Yankee DEVILS After about an
hour policeman came in and arrested
me and took me to Jail. He told me to
take off my cap with the name Baltimore
on it, and gave me an old hat, SO that
the mob would not notice that l was an
American sailor. My uniform was not
so conspicuous as the name on the cap.
On the way to Jail man threw two
cobble-stones at me, but l lodged them.
The officer turned me over to two other
policemen, who led me along. Several
times in dark corners they struck me
with their fists, although was making
no resistance. had no arms of any
kind, not even a jack-knife, which
is usually carried. / was perfectly
sober all the time. was put in cell
with Fireman O'Neil. After while
they searched me and sent me to the
hospital in a cab. With me was J.
Hamilton, who was unconscious from
beatings and stabs, and George Painter.
also badly hurt. We were put in the
prisoners ward, where we found J. H.
Davidson. also wounded. We were