Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
80 HE

midst of the mutinous
crew and unaided and alone place five of them
in irons.
The nervy officer WHO thus put down the
mutiny which threatened the whole ship
Is Admiral Daniel Ammen, who was
at that time captain in the L. :. navy
IL Is thrilling story and can best be told in
Admiral Ammen's own words the words which
ne USED before the court-martial that tried and
acquitted him.
II was ordered by the Navy Department"
said the admiral, Ito take passage on the Ocean
queen on Friday, Nav IS. 1864. to receive on
board that vessel and take charge Of a draft of
zZo men. intended for the Pacific squadron. TO
accompany them TO Panama. and. after deliver
ing them TO the senior officer present at that
point. TO return to New York Boatswain
thomas q. Bell of the navy was ordered TO as
slst me. No marine guard or other assistants
were assigned The draft came from PhiladeI-
phia, and (although il was not in evil
uehce was principally composed of men
VINO nad oeen transferred from the army a
snort time before. The Ocean Queen left the
wharf at New York at about 1 O'Clock ID. m.
she had on board about one thousand and forty
passengers, excluding the draft: about one
third were women and children. Ii had been
arranged that the draft should be received on
il was so done.
1T is proper here 20 explain that on board
that steamer the steerage and cabin passengers
are divided from each other by means on the
starboard side of a fixed bulkhead and on the
port side by a lattice, in which there Is - gate
way; and by the rules of the vessel all steerage
passengers are forbidden 70 come abaft these
bulkheads. The men composing the draft were
storage passengers. Owing TO the crowded
state OF the steerage the starboard side of the
spar deck. under the hurricane deck. was APP
propriated exclusively to the men under NV
charge. Although crowded, should have much
preferred at that season of the wear and for
that voyage. living and sleeping there. TO occu-
plying berth in the steersge.
THEY WANTED WHISKY
about midnight that night was called and
told that my people wished to see me. at
once dressed and went on deck, where was
met by four men, two of whom | remember as
John Kelley and Alfred Bussell. seanen the
deceased), who told me they were uncomforta-
BILE, had no place to sleep. and therefore had to
wander about the decks; they finally said that
whisky would make Ii all right. 1 replied that
i knew that they were uncomfortable; that in 4
day or two We would be III pleasant latitude
and that in the meanwhile / would see what
could be done to make them less uncomforta-
BILE, but that whisky quite out of the dues-
ton, as 1t would make all wrong
They left without any manifestation of dis
appointment or anger, perhaps impressed with
the idea that the interest had expressed was
the result of intimidation and NOT of the dis
position l have to care for the comfort and
well being OF those under my command. and
which L regard a not unimportant Part of
the duty Of all officers under whom men are
placed.
The following morning Saturday all Of
the draft that asked expressed themselves sat
isfied with their breakfast. although | found on
inquiry that no vegetables had formed part
OF II. soon made a request 10 Capt. Tinkle-
paugh on this subject, which he at once agreed
to. In the afternoon at dinner there was dis
Subtraction, at least on the part of twelve or If
teen, who threw overheard number OF pots
and pans containing food. and beat and abused
the servants Of the ship until they refused to do
duty. Chief among these twelve or fifteen were
Kelley and Russell. The object was probably TO
prevent the better disposed men from getting
anything 10 eat and thus TO make the dissatis-
faction more general.
II at once detailed number of the blacks
belonging TO the draft TO reset and replenish
the tables, and thus prevented the well disposed
from suffering. The captain of the vessel was.
not without cause. seriously concerned on ac-
count of this mutinous conduct and the very
menacing and disrespectful expressions of my
men, and told me he felt much disposed to put
into Hampton Roads and put on shore at least
twelve or fifteen, If not all of the draft. While
had to admit that the conduct and language
OF some of them were very mutinous and dis
respectful, told him hoped he would not do
this; that the delay would be great, and that
felt satisfied we could control the men.
The following morning Sunday, 18TH the
men appeared TO be entirely sober the supply
Of liquor obtained through the steerage pas
sengers having probably given out Their
breakfast consisted of hard bread, boiled salt
beef Of good quality, tea or coffee and homiuy
and molasses. l was in the act Of in
specting their breakfast when was
-n1 % ID H. Al
deceased), in the most disrespectful terms and
manner. After my inspection | became con-
WINGED that the object of the men wps diff
Guilty irrespective of any treatmen4 which it
was in my power to have bestowed u BON them.
DETERMINED TO MUrINY
"Soon after breakfast heard John Kelley
and Alfred Russell in conversation with Boat
swain Bell, my assistant in charge of the draft.
They declared that they had eaten nothing
since they had been on board. and that il their
dinner was not such as they wished they GER
tainly would go aft in the cabin and get what
they desired. Kelley said he had once aided on
board of a vessel of war to knock down a sentry
over a spirit room, and that they intended to
do as well on board of the Ocean Queen; that
he knew there vas liquor on board and he in
tended TO have it.
The conversation, though addressed to Mr..
Bell. was loud enough and evidently intended
for my ear. replied that hoped their dinner
would be all they could ask. that lad spoken
to the captain on the subject, but that their
10 go aft and help themselves was
quite out OF the question, and II there was an
attempt Of that kind they would certainly be
shot. They contemptuously replied that they
were quite accustomed to being under FIRE
and felt no alarm whatever and Kelly said
that they regarded me as a very well-disposed
person; that he felt satisfied would do any,
thing in my power for their comfort, and