The morning call., 1893-04-27
CRUELTY AT SEA.
The Tale Of the Roan0ke's
Crew.
B0ATsWAIN ORR ARRESTED.
The Mates Arrest Would Have Fol-
lowed, but He Mysteriously
Disappeared Yesterday.

The fine four-masted American ship
Roanoke was locked at Fremon-street
wharf yesterday morning, and hardly had
she tied up to the piling when 1t was
rumored that all had not been serene on
board during the vessels passage here from
New York, or while she lay in the stream.
On the ship were two brothers who oe-
pied the positions Of first officer and mates
boatswain respectively.
The latter, Gearge a. Orr by name, has
incurred tile enmty of number OF the
crew, who allege that lie spent his spare
moments abusing seamen. and upon one
occasion kicked a Jack Tar fore and aft,
then sat on him.
This was for the offense of going into the
foreeastle TO get his oilskiEs while the watch
was a. the braces.
Mate Orr, it is claimed, openly encourages
his younger brothers proceedings. and life
became long voyage OF misery Tor those
of the vessels crew who were not IN league
with the combination.
1t is claimed that one OF the shlps caOip-
boys was put up to egging the sailors on to
strike HIM so that an opportunity would De
offered for the Orr family TO Jump IN ana
administer sound thrashing 10 the man Tor
Interfering with the boy.
Seeing that the sailors were not lhcllheu
TO be drawn into the trap the alleged broth
ers are said to have taken TO venting their
spleen on the innocent youth, trounclrg him
Whenever occasion permitted.
Shortly after this episode Mate Orr
jumped on one OF the quattermaSters ana
beat him severely, then called upon the
Voungster mentioned to get in and finish
the job." the latter was afraid not to obey
orders and did as lie commanded, and bella
bored the almost insenSible form uf the
prone steersman To the entire satisfaction
of the Sims first officer.
There was general grumbling and discon-
ten: among the crew and blood-curdl'ng
consultations were held in the forecastle,
during which il was urged that the OTrS be
looked after wien they got ashore, while
some OF the crew were for wreaking
vengeance on the officers at the first Oppor-
tunlty. Better counsel prevailed, and II was
finally agreed to Dide their time until port
was reached.
It was decided TO place the matter in the
hands of the United States District Attor-
ney, which was done Oh Monday last.
George A. Orr was arrested by the u lted
States Marshal and confined in lieu OF the
$500 Dali, which he was unable to procure.
Further Investigation into the affair de-
Yelopetban interesting story. which, II tue,
will tarnish the fair name Of the Roanoke,
the second largest and most beautiful Of the
American merchant marine-the story re-
fleeing on the actions OF tue petty officers
who were in charge Of her.
Seaman Albert Morgan, the abused quar-
termaster who caused George OTIS arrest,
was seen last night by a CALL reporter.
He gave his story in a straightforward
manner, his statements being su6stantiated
by several of The vessels crew who were
present.
He said "On the 9Th of March the first
officer came to me and directed that l tell
the boy to scrape down the deck oil the
poop, giving me orders to break the -
Youngsters head if he did not obey me. L
had better sense than 10 strike the boy, as L
knew it was the mates orders 10 have me
do SO that | might get myself diSllked by
my shipmaes, for TO strike a boy at sea is
considered q very small thing for sailor to
StOnu to do.
II TOLD the youngster what the mate had
said and he replied, with an oath, that he
did not take orders from me and threatened
TO stuck Il knife into me.
Rather than have any trouble, which l
could see was brewing, l started in To do
the work myself Suddenly and without
warning Mate Or approached me like
sneak from behind aud kicked me with all
his force in the ribs. The blow stunned me
and l fell sideways, and as l did so he
kicked me repeatedly and struck me heavily
in both eyes with his fist. L was thrown off
the poop to the deck below, where lay for
while half insensible.
George Orr came rushing aft and Joined
his brother. The latter turned to the boy
who was near and said, XIII the - -;
if you don't, I'll kill you! The boy was
p.
BLOOD was running out of cuts in my
head; l was blinded in both eyes and uu-
able to defend myself.
cat this juncture the noise attracted the
attention of DR.. Lindsey and Mr.. Stern,
two passengers who got on with us at New
York.
They came forward to where the Orr
brothers were waiting for me to strike al
the boy in defense, so as to get an excuse
for both TO jump on me.
"Dr. Lindsey said: Here, now, that will
do. Pve seen enough of this kind of bust
ness In this ship and l won't stand it. Tell
that boy to quit and attend 10 that mans
wounds
II almost believe that his interference
saved my lie,
First Mate Orr watched every opportu-
nifty after that to get chance to strike me.
never offered any resistance on any oeea-
sion, AMI determined to weather the trouble
till we reached port"
BoAtswain Orr was arrested for abusing
man whose exact name could not be
learned, as United States Marshal Long
could not be found last evening.
THE brute stood over the sailor with
stick while the latter was on his hands and
knees holyStOnlng the deck and pTOdded
him so severely that the mans body was
covered with black and blue spots.
Mate Orr gave directions to his brother
to XIII the if he did not work
lively"
after the stick had been tried for few
hours rope with knotted ends was re-
sorted to.
- will kin you sure, or beat you to
death, are the words it is claimed were
used by the boatswain.
Several witnesses claim that CAPTAIN
Hamilton would not heed the mems COM
plant, but gave orders TO his officers to
'beat them to DEATH" If they did not obey.
Some Of the men claim to have been Kept
on duty twenty hours on a stretch and re-
20 nm Ilr / inds
and Mr.. Stems to hear their side OF the
story.
A search was made for these gentlemen,
but they had gone out for the evening, the
clerk did not know where, and it was not
possible to find them.
The Marshars boat went alongside of the
Roanoke in the stream on Monday after
noon. Vim
George Orr was just making all haste to
get ashore having heard of the warrant
having been issued.
"Who are yon?" he asked when the
Deputy Marshal told him he was wanted.
The officer showed his badge and took the
sal0T-beater into custody. Orr could not
raise the $500 bail so was kept in custody.
Inc vessel d0cked yesterday, and as soon
as she did so Morgan came ashore and
swore out a warrant for the arrest of
Thomas Orr. the mate.
Search was made high and low, but no
trace of the man could be found. Up to a
late hour last night he was still missing,
and the authorities were yet on the search
for him.
No one on the Roanoke would say any,
thing about the case. No one knew where
Orr was.
A number Of the vessels crew congre-
gated at the Sailors Home last night and
discussed their troubles.
The one theme OF conversation was,
"Nha. pity it is that such fine vessel as
the Roanoke should prove such floating
hades."
One sailor said: ut was something fear
full, the abuse Morgan was subjected to,
and Captain Hamilton did nothing to dis
courage it.
Morgan was scarcely able to see for
three days after ne was beaten and kicked.
would have been killed. | believe, if we had
not had passengers aboard"
The Rnannke cana here with paneral