New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-19
lLL-TkEATED ON A DREDGER.
ANOTHER STORY OF BRUTALITY FROM
CHESAPEAKE BAY.
SIX RUSSIAN IMMIGRANTS LCRED FROM THIS
CITY TO BALTIMORE-CLUBBED, BEATEN AND
ROBBED by HFARTLESS OYSTERMEN.
.BY TELEGRAPH To TIE TRIBUNE.

rBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBuSEi
Baltimore. Feb is-Thc six wretched Russians
who were "shanghaicd" in Ncwlork for one of
the oyster dredgcrs of the Chesapeake, and who
were to have told their story before the United
States Senate Committee on Immigration, were
heard to-day by United States Commissioners Rogers
in this cit. Victor Skirm6nt told through an
Interpreter the story of their haldshiTs. lie said
We landed in Ncw-York on the Seryia, Noyem
bcr rs last. We pa our own expense. rs soon
as we left the Immigrant Office a man came up and
asked Ms if were looking for work We sail
We were anxious To do anything to earn a living
and he tool; fourteen Of Us 10 sort OF an office
IN dark street Here the witness exhibited
card of the "Ncw-York Labor Exchange, No.
10 Washington.st7 After we went inside" he
continued "wc met another man who said he
would send us to Baltimore to 20 on ship in
the bay. Us We had all been farmers in Russia
did not like the idea of going Oh a ship, bur
the man offered MS Sl3 month and board, and
we consented. Next day we started on the train
in charge of two men from the Ncw-iork office
We arrived here in the evening and were taken in
wagon TO the warl and put on steamboat.
Next morning we landed at a little town and
were divided into three groups. The SIX of us
here were put on one boat, six on another and
six weeks During the entire time We were
beaten and ill-trcatcd. not only did the captain,
the negro mate and the white cook beat us
with clubs, Delaying pins and cowhides, but often
grabbed the culng hammers and knocked lis
sensccss to the deck The captain was drunk
nearly all the time and gave orders in English
which we were unable TO understand When We
did not obey them We would be beaten.
I.,-o thn tlpcD
gashcs on their heads and the deck covered
with blood The negro thought nothing of knock
ing one of rs down if ne felt like doing /
was working at the drcdge crank one day and
was struck across the back with club in the
hands of the captain ! still suffer from the
effects of the blow When got in the Potomac
River near Washington were told We must
go on another trip il we wanted To get any pay.
We refused and the captain anchored the YES.
SCI took the only boat and went ashore We
were left tour days without a crdmb OF bread.
When We finally came ashore he ordered ms TO be
put in the boat and set ashore IN
tie woods. We were rowcd to shallow
water and then pushed overheard, in order 10 save
the cook the trouble of rowing further. w
wandered about until We found road which let
us 10 Washington There wc begged food and
slept IN thc police station. The name ot thr
boat We were ON ! am unable 70 glNr hcrau~e
cannot read En-lisn. hut the number on me
Drcdac Boat No. is i. tn schooner AMANDA
Lewis. commanded by Captain 'hul'h j. Flowers;
MAJOR q. ". Lew, J. LIc o"sr al INc N"-''i
md nc va, summon 4 before tie Commissioner
lie sid the Russians were mistaken, rs the AmahIa
Lewis had been down the bay several months
and never drrigrd or sailed III the Potomac
River lie said they must have been shipped on
a fs,f from virginia. The United States author
tlcr viii fully investigate the matter