The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-13
Non-Union Sailors Forcibly
Taken from Port Gamble.
SENT PENNILEss TO VICTORIA.
The Warspite Strikes q Rock While
Returning to Esquimalt.
explosion OF Wagon Loaa OF Great
Northern Blasting Powder-Rapid
Decrease OF Smallpox-The Ouaran-
tine Will Probably BE Lifted Today.

VICTORIA, B. c., Aug. l2.~Following
close on the Richard III kidnaping Incl
dent comes sequel from Psrt Gamble.
Consul Myers was visited this afternoon
by party of six sailors, who fold the fol-
lowing sensational story. ltis given in
the words of the spokesman, II. Samson:
Myself and five Others. said he.
formed the crew of the schoener Robert
Levers, lying at Port Gamble. We are not
members of the sailors union, which fact
caused us to be in bad SAVIOR wita the union
crews of the bark Bonanza, tie schooner
Norma and the barkentine alitac. and
three San Francisco vessels thai were living
close to us in the harbor. Qn Wednes-
day the three vessel were visited by
Agent Leighton. of the Sailors Union, and
man named Martin, both of sshom came
over from Seattle in the stes.yner Elsie.
These two men persuaded the union sail
ors, some thirty in number, 30 take us
away from our vessel. We we're visited
on Wednesday night by crowd of union
men under Leighton. They came aboard
and told us we were "scabs" and could
not work on any vessel on the
Pacific coast unless we j.oined the
union. I'VE were told TO come
along and make no fuss. or it would go
hard with us. We were also told that if
we went quietly We would be paid the
amounts due US from the captain and be
given cards from the union, which would
take US to San Francisco freezof charge.
There being SO many of them, and not
knowing how we might be treated in case
OF refusal. we thought best to accom-
pany them. We accordingly went
on hoard tho EIcin and xLoro %ol-.,
to Port Townsend. There We were
marched under guard to the headquarters
Of the Sailors Union, where We remained
the remainder of the night. II. the morn
ing We were taken to a restaurant and
given breakfast. By this time the union
men had persuaded us that the best thing
to do was to keep quiet and do as we were
told. They assured us that every one in
Port Townsend was in favor of the union,
and that an appeal for help would do no
good. We were kept under watch until
the North Pacific came along, and then
were placed on board. Our fares were paid
to Victoria and We were given the follow
ing letter:
"'PoEr TowNsEND-Mr Tom Ellis. Friend Tom:
The bearer OF this note and his eoiapanions are
the men about whom l wired yos.. They are
men worthy OF your very taoughtsll consider
alton, no. having given us tas leas1 trouble. l
trust you will upon their arrival alake things
comfortable as possible and oblige, goN BURNS.
This letter was addressed to Tom Ellis,
of the Pacific hotel, Victoria When we
arrived here on the North Pacific Thurs
day night we found no Tom Ellis, and be-
ing out of funds would have passed the
night on the street but for the kindess of
sailor. who went good for nights lodg-
ing for u.s."
This is the story told ConsIll Myers.
The names of the men are II. Samson, r.
Jones. NJ. Williamson, Edward Lerad,
John Eikema and F. w. Wedin. The let
ter which the men carry is evidently a
fraud, as no such man can .be found.
Consul Myers is very indignant over the
matter. He regards it as a hIghhanded
affair all through. The union probably
thought that by sending the men here
they would be unable to get hack while
the quarantine lasted, and so would not be
able to give any immediate trouble. The
captain of the Robert Levers, irs the mean
time, will be compelled to ship union
crew