The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-14


testimony of the men, who related their
individual experience during the riot. By
this the facts were clearly brought out
that the attack was premeditated and
that the police and soldiers aided
the mob in their deadly work. The
fifth day the medical officers of the shin
testified as to the wounds received by the
Baitimore's men and as to the criminal
neglect of the wounded sailors in the Val
paraiso hospital, the authorities refusing
to treat the men themselves or allow the
Baitlmore's surgeons to do il. Today sew
eral of the senior officers testified as to the
legal proceedings in Valparaiso, bring
ing out clearly the utter failure
of the Valparaiso court to establish
anything to the detriment of the
sailors, and the care which the court ex-
ercised in avoiding any questions that
might bring forth reflections on the VAL
paraiso police. Then Captain Schley took
the stand and proceeded TO give a resume
OF the whole history of the ship since first
reaching Valparaiso. He spoke over an
hour, clearly and forcibly, and was listened
to with great attention by the audience
that crowded the courtroom. He
showed forth plainly the incep-
tlon and growth of the anti American
feeling among the Chileans, beside the
many discourtesies he was subjected to.
He saw over seventy of his men on shore
shortly before the riots began, and they
were all sober. But even if they had not
been, he declared, he saw no reason why
they should have been visited with capital
punishment for being drunk.
Lieutenant Uriel Sebree, u. s. N, execu-
tive officer of the Baltimore, testified:
On October i6 and IL the men of the Baltimore
were granted twenty-four hours liberty At
the time there were also English, German and
French men-ofwar in port. Their men were
granted liberty on shore from time to time
One German sailor had been attacked and
beaten by some Chileans prior to October l6,
and IL was reported that the latter excused them
selves by saying they thought the man was an
American. went ashore on October IS at 2:3o
p IN. with Captain Schley, and remained until
about $50. saw during the afternoon thirty
or forty OF our sailors who were ashore. re-
marked at the time TO the captain that they
were behaving very we'll l saw not more than
three VINO showed any signs of having been
drinking, and they were not misbehaving do
not remember the names of these men. Among
those l shore and who were perfectly
sober were ]. Hamilton, carpenters mate, and
Jerry Anderson, coalheaver. Both of these
men were seriously wounded in the riot. also
saw Jerry Anderson again about p. m, when
he came aboard the ship badly injured He was
not under the influence of liquor.
Dr. Stitt was recalled:
He first visited the hospital on October H. to
look after Turnbul, Talbot. Davidson, Hamil-
ton and Painter. He carefully asked the Sister
of Charity in charge of the room whether these
men were drunk when they were brought to the
hospital the night before. The sister replied
that they were sober.
James III. Sears, a lieutenant attached to
the Baltimore, testified:
On October IL the commanding officer sent
me ashore to call upon the intendente and ar
range about the funeral of Riggin and also
endeavor TO obtain the release of our men in the
Jail and in the hospital. 1 found thirty-one
men In Jail and Eve in the hospital. The chief
of police assured me that number of the men
would be released that evening, as there were
no charges against them. Later in the day
procured the release of twenty men. The Judge
OF crimes offered to release the rest IL / would
guarantee their return if wanted by the Chilean
court. L declined TO give q guarantee,
and eleven of the men were retained in
jail. The judge stated that there were no charges
against the twenty released, but that the
eleven showed wounds, appeared to have been
implicated in the disturbance and might be
wanted in the investigation of the affair. While
was collecting the men to return to the ship
clerk appeared with paper which he asked the
men TO sign. told them to stop signing and
asked the man what the paper was. He replied
that it was mere iormaity, stating that the
men were not engaged in any disturbance
ashore. The paper Was in Spanish. ON the
clerks statement l permitted the men to sign.
i did not read the paper. was only slightly
familiar with the Spanish language.
Tho next day returned to the
Jail TO attend to the comforts OF the men and
secure their release ii possible. j pressed the
judge to hurry the investigation, but the only
reply could get was "mdRanG" tomorrow. On
Monday. October l9, saw Higgins burial and
tried TO have the men in the hospital released.
The judge refused, as the mep had not been ex-
amned. The next day, October 70, was sent
by Captain Schley TO attend the examination of
the eleven men. was present when few pre-
liminary questions were asked by the clerk of
the court. but when they were taken before the
judge / was not permitted to be present,
on the ground that the examination was secret
In the evening the men were released. Captain
Schley had given guarantee for tho
return of any of them that might be wanted by
the court. was informed by some of the men
several days later that at this examination they
were required 70 sign paper written In Span
ish, which they were told was a mere formality,
stating that they had taken no part in the riot
OF October is. II becoming known that the men
had signed an exoneration of the police, asked
them whether they had done So They all
stated that they had not, so far as
they knew. When / first, on October II,
saw the articles alleged to have been taken from
our men by the police, there were among them
several pocket knives, small revolver, two
sheath knives and an iron pestle four inches
long. Later on, October 20, was again shown
these articles They then consisted of seven
pocket knives and an iron pestle, aud that was
all it was charged that was found on men.
None of these knives could properly be called
weapons. The men were searched before / ar
rived at the prison.
Lieutenant Henry McCrae, U. s. N, at
tached to the Baltimore, testified:
On October IL went 20 the police station saw
the judge of crimes and asked why our men
were arrested and ii they could not be released.
He replied that they could not 20 until an in
vestigation was held. on November % con-
Quoted nine men Of the Baltimore's crew to the
court at Valparaiso / was permitted TO be pres
ent as interpreter. Each in turn testified TO the
circumstances of the riot and was called upon
10 look at three Chilean sailors who were present
aud identity them, If possible, as partlc-
patOrs in the riot. In no case could
our men identity them The three
men was dictated 70 a writer from the judges
notes. l remained listening 10 his dietation
while the men were allowed to 20 out In the
plaza for dinner The dictation lasted three
hours. Then the men were recalled and / at
once noticed that one of them named AcWilI-
iams drunk. All the other men signed
their testimony, but Mcwlliams was too drunk
TO do 30. translated each mans testimony 10
him before he signed. On December again
Chilean police and sailors yere also
present witnesses. Evidence was
given as before. Wallace identiied one Of
the Chilean sailors "a a man who j0bbed him on
the day Of the riot Davidson thought he reeog-
nizei another Chilean sailor as one OF the armed