The morning call., 1893-06-21
CLANKING CHAINS.
Seamen Are ShaCkled for
Complaining.
A TALE OF TERRORIZING.
Strange Case of the Bark Obrig
Which Needs Investigation-An
Unceremonious Reception.

there was a full-fedged mutiny on board a
deep-sea vessel anchored in San Francisco
harbor yesterday.
Four seamen were put In irons and con-
fined as prisoners. No one was allowed
to go near them and to all appearances
they are still in chains waiting the decision
of the United States authorities.
The trouble occurred aboard the Ameri-
can bark Adolph Obrig. which was to have
sailed in the morning in ballast for Taltal,
Chile, TO load nitrate. Her crew. which is
a non-union one, were put on board four
days ago, and in that brief space of time
they learned a lesson which they will
probably never forget.
The captain 'old his story of the affair to
a CALL reporter, and alleged that his men
were discomfort upon realizing the long
journey they were about TO make to a
southern port; that they were full Of rum
when they came aboard, and as the effect
of the liquor passed away began to get
-orry that they had signed. There was
not much trouble on brard." said Captain
Carleton. "We have no men in irons now"
But you did iron part of your crew."
queried the reporter.
well. yes; we Put couple Of them in
irons, but the whole prnce eding was more
of a farce than anything else"
The captain did not appear to wish TO
give more lucid story than that quoted,
and made several statements of small I'M
port, but sufficient to show that he was
trying TO evade an exclamation of the
trouble, and which were not In accordance
with the story of his first officer nor the
evidence gathered by the reporter.
Before interviewing Captain Carleton
THE CALL representative, in company
with another member of the press, boarded
the Obrig at 80 o'clock in the afternoon
The bark is lying in the stream off Harri-
s0n-street wharf.
When the reporters boat came alongside
the O0rig there were eight men on the
f0reyard. The boatswain was forward on
the forecastle head. There was not soul
on deck aft.
An investigation of the aft doorway of
the cabin proved 1t to be locked. The en-
trance to the cabin through the chartroom
was open, and at intervals the clanking of
dent that some one person or several were
locked in one of the stateroomS.
The first officer on hearing through the
bOatswain that some one WAS on board the
bark came rushing aft juggling Delaying
PIN In his hands.
Are you repOrter?" he asked in a
commanding tone.
When answered in the affirmative, he
replied:
"Well, you can get right back into your
poat; we don't want you on this ship"
us the captain on board?" was asked.
mo. he isn't, and l have his orders to
allow no one on board during his alb
sence."
Did you have any trouble with your
crew. ?"
Some; but that's none of your bust
ness, nor anybody else. Go on now; get
into yOnr boat"
When told that it was only iniuring his
and he ~ nfk 10 hi H.
the way he did, and that all The CALL
wanted was the news, he relented a little
and said that he meant no act of dis
courtesy, but his orders were TO protect
the bark from newspaper men at all haz-
ard.
In the meantime the clanking of chains
in the cabin was heard, and not man
more than the nine mentioned, not includ-
ing the mate, was in sight, while there
should have been fifteen in view.
There is scarcely any room TO doubt but
that five or six of the crew were chained
beneath decks, when it was the duty of
the Obrig's officers to turn them over to
the United States Marshal If they were
really mutiners.
Investigations on shore brought to light
an entirely different version of the trouble.
Ii this side of the story be true-and cir
cumstantIal evidence strongly tends to
prove that it is-the Obrig must be a float
ing tOphet.
1t is said that the food furnished the
men was vile and that on the second day
after being on board the first officer COM
menced abusing his subordinates.
AS the time drew near for the bark to
sail the men saw what a horrible trip was
before them and perhaps made some at
tempt to get away.
Lying right in the shadows of a big,
busy city, and in the free waters of the
State, with land only mile away, Ameri-
can seamen we're being subjected to treat
ment when would shame slave-driver.
Full details of the abuses to which they
claim to have been subjected were not OBJ
taiDable for the reason that not man on
board the Obrig was allowed to converse
with anybody, no matter who he might be.
Captain Carleton and his officers evi-
IDENTIFY took the law into their own hands,
and threw part of their crew into irons as
related. Carleton said his men were under
the influence of liquor when he took the m
Oh board. Other parties say that they
were not.
One story told by boatman. and pur-
porting to come from one of the men
imprisoned on the bark, reports that the
first and second officers treated the me- n
horribly during the four days they have
been n board. Men were threateDed with
beatings and irons whenever they conf
planned of the food or their treatment.
Captain Carleton when first asked
MED the story, but after a cross-examina a
ton admitted that he had put two men in
chains.
When informed that men were still in
irons on board his vessel he replied that it
might be possible that the first officer had
been obliged to take severe measures with
the mutneers during his absence. The
captain contradicted his own and his
mates story in several instances.
Last accounts were that the Obrig was
making all haste to 60 to sea this morning
and carry her crew with her IN spite of
themselves. II she sails, as she possibly
will, she win 60 to sea with four or five
men ironed like slaves in her cabin. No
telling what the result of her trip will be
If this is the case.
DID the Obrig's crew unla wfully mutiny.
justly rebel against tyranny. try to esca De
from the clutches of vicious officers, or
were they shanghaed
More details of the mutiny on the Obrig
In the peaceful waters of San Francisco
Bay are wanted, and if the bark has not
sailed before this article is made public.
perhaps the proper authorities will take
some action and try to find out.
The United States Shipping Commits
sinner refused to have anything to DO with
the case.