The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-25
TWO B[IuGERENT TARS.
John and AXel Johnson Of Schooner
William Nseley Arfaisnsd.
CHARGED With ASSAULT ON NATE
Heard Before Commissions biodge"-
Refussd TO Hoist Jib and Gener"i
spsrring Match Eoliowed-The Sohn-
sen Brothers' Story.

John and Axei JOHNSON, b"o
sailors, aged respectively % and 2s years
were arraigned before United States
Commissioner Blodgett today, charged
With assault on Ludwig Olsen, mate OF
the schooner william Neeley. Not more
than six weeks ago the same vsssei
brought In cargo OF mutineers
who wers arraigned ana oouno
over to the grand jury. Captain Thomp-
son seems to be playing in hard luck
with his crew. He In . weather-beaten
mariner about forty years OF age ana
reared TO the service. The mate Olsen.
upon whom the assault Is claimed 10
have been made. Is a younger man .,
NorwrR sn desceut buI speaks toisraoiy
{sir English.
The Johnson brothers were arraigned
an rne charge OF simple assault They
arc both rather under sized men and their
looks do rot imply very groat
ferocity or Herculean strength; Ihe
bro hers shipped aboard the Neeley ypS;Iay ally
deYphia whers cargo of coal was taken
m and tbe vessel then set sail Tor the
nnrt al Proyidence. The Johnson broth
ssrs made no disturbance whatever until
tbs ship reached Delaware bay on
Sunday, July 16 AZ 10 o'clock .. n. .ne
I0nnu0uH
on call FOR the night watch which was
evenly divided among the four seamen.
John johnson served his watch
st the proper time. but
Axel. when called at q. IN. declared
himself to be too i'll tt perform du y, and
his place was taken py MS protner. Aso
& m. the mate summon d the Two men
on deck to assist in getting the
vsssel under way. TIE men were
fnsIlv ordsrod to hoist the jih. This they
declared they were unable To do unaided,
and without asking permission ,neN
brought the winch into requisition, wnich
cI;sen exposfulated, and told the men to
20 ahead aud hoist her by hand. Ihen
the trouble began to brew
eve can't do IL by hand" called down
John Jotnson, ''come here and pull her
up yourself"
.bie invitation his indignation knew no
boundsL Hie blood ran cold at this In
sult to the dignity Of matehood, and IN
peafaring rhetoric more notable Ior
dynamic qualities than elegance he ad-
mipistarsd- -atirrin2 -rehnke 10 -the
recalcitrant seaman.
Jonnson did not take kindly TO the In
sulting remarks of the mate and squared
81 for the purpose of inflctlng punish
ment. Hexrap pied with the mate aud
soon both we're on the floor locked la
deadly embracr. Axel Jonnsop, solicitous
for the welfare of mis- brother, also took "a
hand In the scrimmage aud the deck WAS
soon sQuirming mass OF seafaring legs
and ssafaring spostropheA The ma,e
soon concluded that the ,iie
him and grasping an IRON poker
that lay conveniently by he laid ab ut
him right and left. John johnson stop
ned most of the blows with his bod.
just at TIE critical juncture OF tins un-
pleassntness Captain Thompson ap-
peared upon the scene and seeing
how the wind lay ordered Mate Olsen to
u oixh anchor AID retire to tbs protec'
tion of the cabin. The mate wouli
daddy have complied, but he found
himself unable to pass the shoals and
breakers of the johnson broth
srs' active fists. The captain
BY dint OF much pessuasion hualiy sue
O. e1ed IN separating tue )mbatants. aud
peace once more brooded over the face or
The deep, ror the captains word 10 law
aboard ship. The refractory Jonpsons
Wryo put In irons ana brought to this
city. ard Friday they rested at Cranston.
Tness facts were brought out at the
preliminary hearing before Commissioners
Blodgett today. TIE job .sons testified
that they had been Oh duty for twenty
consecutive hours and weie upable TO
hoist the jib. Tue fare aboard ship. they
said. AS such ~ would have caused u
pig 10 turn mp his nose.
The boys do not look viciously inclined
and the case against them simmered
down TO suca u triffiing matter that the
younger, John. Mas olsen rSci. Axel
WAS bound over to the granu jury In the
kun ot $5Ol