The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-08

New YoRK, juno Tho hardy tars
aboard the United States cruiser At
lanta, which steamed into port yestcr-
day after an absence of six months on
the Chilean station, tell strange story
of cruelty received at the hands Of Cap
tain Francis. j. Higginson, commander
of the vessel. Tho Atlanta had hardly
come to an anchorage along
side the flagship Chicago, in the North
river, at tho foot of Thirty-third street,
when several Of the crew, who had been
granted leave, came ashore. They lost
no time then in making their charges
against the Atlanta's commander.
Not alono this, but the men alleged
that the officers were guilty Of Snug
Cling on board the Atlanta in South
American ports thousands OF fine cigars
and hundreds OF cases OF bay rum,
which were secretly carried aboard the
warship at night.
The goods were placed in rubber bags
and towed behind rowboats alongside
the Atlanta, where they would be
hoisted aboard. The cigars were dis
tributed among the officers, and each Of
them came in for his share Of the bay
rum, also. The charges, in the main,
were made by a marine named Allen,
who had suffered imprisonment in the
"brig" and behind the iron bars in the
forward hatch for attempting to desert
at Buenos Ayres.
Regarding the charges OF cruelty
against Captain Higginson, Allen said a
favorite practice OF the commanders
when he wanted to punish an offending
or insubordinate tar, was TO order him
thrown over the ships side while she
was going at the rate Of eleven knots
an hour. Bowlines were fastened
around the culprit's body, and he would
be compelled to put in several hours
painting the sides OF the vessel while
strung up in that fashion. At such
times the sailor would be battered
against the side OF the ship blythe big
waves until, on being drawn on deck, he
would be unable to stand.
Allen said that Captain Higginson
was extremely arbitrary, and would
permit no man to go ashore. Allen en-
listed at Norfolk last fall. When he
applied for permission to go ashore
Captain Higginson told him, he says,
that no man would be "allowed to put
a foot on shore" until he had been in
the service eight months.
At En- Senado, where the vessel was
anchored for three weeks, Allen says
he andfour other marines were com
PEELED to sleep for week on the iron
grating coyoring hatch, and when
visitors came aboard the officers point
ed out the prisoners on the frying
PAN" as the grating was called, and
poked them with the ends OF their
swords.
Captain Higginsou was not aboard
LAST night when q reporter boarded
the Atlanta. Lieutenant w. r.
wing Chambers, the officer OF the
deck, listened TO the charges made
by Allen and other members OF the
crew, as related by the reporter.
lieutenant Chambers said: "This is q
lot OF rot. The man Allen tried to de-
sert at En- senado. he was captured
and tits true was placed in the hatch
with others. Instead OF locking the
man up in the "brig," which he should
have done, Captain Hlgginson ordered
him placed in the hatch.
"Allen was court-martialed, fined
three months pay and detailed on three
months extra police duty. AS for
throwing the men over the ships side
while under way, that is exaggerated.
"The men were put over the side, it
is true, to do some necessary painting;
but they were carefully lashed with two
bowlines, and stage was placed under
them. The sea was as calm as this
river at the time, and there wasno dan
GAS farsmuggling cigars and bay rum
aboard, that is untrue. We simply laid
in necessary stores at the port ut which
we stopped. Each officer received
about 200 cigars at En- Senado, an
amount ahy citizen is entitled to with
out payment OF duty.
"fhe bringing aboard Of the cigars
and bay rum was done openly. These
charges arc made out Of pure spite by
thoughtless members Of the crew, who
regard strict discipline on war ship as
cruelty"
Despite Lieutenant Chambers expla.
nations and statements, the aggrieved
members Of the crew maintained that
Captain Higginson treated the men
with great cruelty, and declared that
they would make charges at the proper
time and place.
The Atlanta was one of the war ships
ordered to Chile in December last when
war with tho South American republic
was threatened. While at Buenos
Ayrcs great courtesy was shown the
American man-ofsw6r by President Pei
ligrini, Of tho Argentine Confederation.
who visited the ship and was received
with anational salute.
Jay GoULD,s WEALTH.