The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-08
APPRENTICE TALBOTTs STORY.
One of the Cruiser Baltimore's Sailors Tells Of
the Outrage at Valparaiso.

Vallejo, Cal, Jan. 7-Investigation into
the assault on the Baltimores sailors in
Valparaiso began this morning at Mare
island, in the presence of Judge Advocate
general Remy. United States District At
torney earlier and United States Commits
sioner j. s. HanIey. Mr.. Remy conducted
the Investigation. John w. Talbot. ap-
prentice on board the Baltimore, was the
first witness. He was one of the liberty
party on Sept. 16. He stated that G. w.
Riggin, the boatswain's mate, one of the
killed, was with him during the
afternoon. About o'clock they went
together into O saloon called "the Shak-
speare," in the southern part of the. town.
The proprietor ordered them out. declaring
that q mob of disbanded sailors
and soldiers were preparing to at
tack the Baltimore'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" Talbot
said. Coming out 1 saw Riggin being
threatened by Chilian sailors in man-of-
war uniform. I ran across and tried to
separate them. One of the Chilians spat
in my face and knocked him down. In
stantly crowd of over one hundred people
appeared in the street and we started on q
run, but soon jumped on passing
car. The mob followed and stoned the car,
and we were instantly surrounded by the
mob. i 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
.A-lxI I~I t. -
and went into a corner and defended my
self with chair. The mob followed me.
and Chilian sailor in man-of-war uni
form stabbed me again. The bartender
finally put them out. and barricaded the
for admittance, and after an hour
q policeman arrested me and took
me 10 Jail. He disguised me By substltut-
ing hat for my sailors cap, which had
would not notice that was an American
sailor. The officer turned me over to two
other policemen, who struok me several
times, although l was making to resistance.
had no arms of any kind and was perfect
ly sober. After a short time in Jail l was
sent to hospital with Hamilton, Painter
and Davidson. all badly hurt. We were
kept there four or five days and were then
sent TO the ship. where / was in the hos
lean sailors were attacked by the mob"
This ended Talbott's examination.
The next witness was James NJ johnson,
armorer of the Baltimore. while sitting
IN a restaurant" he said, Il was told
they were killing our men outside, and
was warned not to 60 out. went mp
stairs and looked out at a win
dow, and saw that a man was lying face
down in the middle of the street. with two
or three policemen and a mob of citizens
around him. They were stabbIpg HIM in
the back as he lay there. The'polce made
no effort to stop them. ! left the hotel
and went to the place. The man was
bostswain's mate Riggin. / turned him
over and found the pulse still beating.
gave him q glass of liquor and a moment
after he recovered, and said: "For Gods
sake, johnson, take me out of this before
they kill me- lifted him and drew him
to one side. when saw a squad of soldiers
approaching followed by bowling mob.
When within six feet the soldiers fired
two shots. 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 soldiers rifles. and
i am sure 1t was soldier that shot.
heard no other shots fred"
The investigation will probably last q
week.