St. Paul daily globe., 1892-01-08
COWARDLY CHILIANS,
A Baltimore Sailors Narrative of
the Attack

VALLEJO, Cal, Jan. 7.-Investigation
into the assault OH the Baltimores sail
ors in Valparaiso began this morning at
Mare Island III the presence of Judge
Advocate General Remy, United States
District Attorney Gartir and United
States Commissioner j. s. Han!ey.
Remy conducted the investigation.
John w. Talbot, apprentice on the
Baltimore. was the first witness He
was one of the Liberty party on Sept.
16. He stated that c. w. Riggin. the
boatswan's mate, one of the killed. was
with him during the afternoon. About
8 O'Clock they went together
into a saloon called the Shakespeare,
in the southern part of town.
The proprietor ordered them out, de-
claring that mob of disbanded sailors
and soldiers were preparing to attack
the Batimore's men and he did not
want any trouble in his place. Riggin
and Talbot laughed at the warning, but
left the place and went to the True
Blue saloon.
About O'Clock, coming out, I saw
Riggin being threatened by Chilian
sailors in mau-of-war uniform. | ran
across and tried to separate them. One
of the Chilians spat in my face and |
hio~hoo hih uoWI. lHSldHIIy
crowd OF over 100 people an
peared on the scene and we started
on run. but soon jumped on
passing car. The mob followed and
stoned the car, and we were instantly
surrounded. | saw Riggin fall and tried
to reach him, but was stabbed in the
back and turned to run. After going
few blocks | turned into doorway and
was again stabbed in the back. got in,
however, and got into corner and de-
Tended myself with chair. The mob
followed me, and Chilian sailor IN
man-of-war uniform stabbed me again.
The bartender instantly put them
out, and barricaded the door. The mob
clam0red outside for admittance, and
after an hour a policeman arrested me
and took me to Jail. He disguised ME
by substituting hat for my sailors
cap with the word "Balt;mOre'' OIL it.
SO that the mob would not notice that
was an American sailor. Tine officer
turned me over TO two other
policemen, who struck me sew
eral times, although l was making
no resistance. | had no arms of any
kind and was perfectly sober. After a
short time in Jail, l was sent to hos
pital with Hamilton, Painter and Da-
wilson, all badlv hurt. We were kept
the ship, where l was in the hospital
fOrty-five days. None except American
sailors were attacked by the mob"
This ended Talbot's examination and
the commission took recess. Cd
James NJ. Johnson, armOrer of the
Baltimore, then testified. "While sit
ting in restaurant" he said. II was
told they were killing our men outside,
and warned not to go out. | went up
| stairs and looked out of window, and
saw that man was lying face down
in the middle of the street, two
or three policemen and mob
of citizens around him. They were
stabbing him in the back as he Law
there. The police made no effort to
stop them. left the hotel and went to
the place. The man was Boatswain's
Mate Riggin. turned him over and
found the pulse still family beating.
Il gave him glass of liquor and a
moment after he recovered and said
For Gods sake, Johnson, take me out
of this before they kill me- l lifted
him and drew him to one side. when l
saw squad of soldiers approaching fol-
| lowed by hOwling mob. When within
One grazed my left cheek. another
struck Riggin in the neck and his head
| fell from my shoulder as If his neck
was broken. had backed against the
wall, but seeing Riggin was dead
slipped off to the side past the soldiers
and got back into the boarding house.
| saw the smoke come out of the sol
dicrs' rifles and / am sure it was sol
| der that shot. | heard no other shots
fired" The investigation will probably
| last week.