Arizona weekly citizen., 1892-01-16
TELEGRApHIC.

VALLEJO, 'jal., Jan. 0.-Ine lnVeSll-
CATION into the assault of the Baltimore's
sailors in Valparaiso, began here today
at Mare Island In the presence OF Judge
advocate general Remy, U. S. district
attorney Garter and U. S. COMMISSIONS I
j. S. Menly. Rsmy conducted the iB-
vestlgation, ard John w. Talbot. an
apprentice of the Baltimore was, the
first witress. He was one of the liberty
men of September 10th. He stated
that he and G. w. Rrggin, the bo-t>
swain's mate, one of those killed, was
with him during the afteruoon. About
3 O'Clock they went into saloon called
the Shakespeare, in the southern part
of town. The proprietor ordered them
out, declaring the mob had dlsbanded
The soldiers and sailors we're preparing
to attack the Baltimore's men and be
didn't want any trouble in his place,
Riggin and Talbot laughed at his warn
ing and left the place and went TO the
True Blue saloon.
About O'Clock coming out of the
saloon, L saw RIggin being threatened
by Chilean sailors iu man-of war uni
forms Iran across and tried to sepa-
late them. when Ole of the -ChIieans
spat IN my face and / knocked him
down. Instantly a crowd OF hundred
people was in the Street, AID we started
to rur, but soon jumped on assngc ar
The mob folio wed and stoned the car.
We were instantly surrounded by the
mob. [ SAW RIggin fail and tried TO
reach, him but was stabbed III the back
and turned to run.
After goiug few blocks | turned
into doorway and was again Stabbed
in the back. got in however, and got
into a corner and offended myself With
a chair. The mob followed, and Chi
lean sailor in man-of-war uniform stab
bed me again. The bar tender then
put them OUT and ba ricaded the door
and the mob clamored outside for en-
trance. After an hour policeman al
rested me and took me to jail. He dis
guised me 10y substituting Il hat for my
sailors cap with the word Baltimore"
on it, so the mob would not notice that
| was an American sailor.
"The officer turned me over to two po-
licemen who struck me several times,
although | was making no resistance,
and had 30 arms OF any kind. was
perfectly sooer. After short time in
jail | was sent to the hospital with
hamilton, Painter, and Davidson, ali
badly hurt. Wa were kept there four
days, and then seni To the ship, where |
was in the hospital 45 days. None but
American sailors were attacked by the
moo"
This ended Talbot's examination, and
the commission took a recess.
Next witness was James M. Johnson,
armorer OF the Baltimore, who has been
III the navy nine years. He Vas one of
tie liberty PARTY on the uas Of the as
sault. He t Id the following story Of
his experience:
81 went iDto restaurant and board
ing house owned by Peter Nelson. While
sitting there | was told they were killing
our men outside and warned me not TO
40 out. 1 went up stairs and Looked
out of window and saw a street Car
stopped at the corner and a man was
Iylpg down in the middle Of the street
With Two or three policemen and mob
of citizens around him. They were
stabbing HIM IN the back as he lay there
and the policemen made no effort to
stop them. Presently left the hotel and
went to the place. The man was the
boatswaln's mate Riggin. turned him
over and he seemed to be dead but
found bis pulse beating family. gave
him glass of liquor and n,cmenJ af-
ter be revived and said, "t'ur q Gtd's sake
John, take me out OF thus before they
Il l. ,4l
draw him to one sioe when L saw a
squad Of sol Iers approaching followed
10y a howlIpg mob. When only six feet
away the soldiers fired two shots, one
grazed my cheek and the other struck
Riggln IN the neck and he fell back
dead then slipped TO one side and
escaped into the house / came out Of"
At the close of the examination of
johnson he testified that he and the
C ew Of the Baltimore hed been warned
1 week before not to go ashore as the
Chileans We're laying for them. He
disguised himself In citizens clothes oD
the morOing of October IL and was not
tnolested. Ihis WAS because be was
not recognized as an American sailor.
The Chilean ooatmen refused to put
him on board the Baltimore, though he
offered ten dollars for dollar trip.
They gave as their reason that he was
an American sailor. johnson also
stated that be bad refused to express
an opinion favorable to the conduct of
the Valpaf also police, though asked to
do SO on two occasions.
The investigation will probably last
at least week, though efforts are
being made TO hasten it. There are
two enographers and two t pewriters
and the written testimony is kept close
up to the actual proceeding. 1nstruc
tlons from Washington are to finish as
soon as possible.
A large force of men is at work on tie
Baltimore, orders b4ing to get her ready
FOR sea a soon rs possible. Extra eIec
trio lights have been fitted up and over
time work is being done. So far it has
not been developed that any very ex
tenslve repairs are necessary.
Vallejo, CAL, Jan. Sin the Balti-
more inquiry tod"y Charles Langen ties
titled that he was in the International
hotel with johnson one of the Baltimore
crew, and left the hotel 10 time to wit
ness the attack on Riggin. The crowd
vas armed with knives and knocked
Riggin down. Lagen pull them off and
Riggin arose but was again knocked
down, this time by two policemen, who
then stood back and allowed the crowd
10 beat and stab RlggIu, although the
latter seemed to h asking protection Of
he police. Langen fed, but half an hour
later returned and squad of Chilean
soldiers approaching, with mounted
officer at their head, they marched to
within six feet of where johnson was
holding Riggin in his arms, then halted,
and the first two soldiers levelled their
rifles and fired A Sc cond shot wa>
fired. and although Laugen did not see
by whom, he was sure it Was by
soldier. Court took recess.
WASHINGTON, Jar. 8.-Capt. Gabriel
son, commanding the revenue steamer
Gallat!n has made a report to the treas
hry departmef t concerning the loss of
hat steamer and death of jacobson the
carpenter.