Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1893-01-05
Fined for the Cruel Treatment Of 0ystsr Drsdg-
ers.

FINED Tor the Cruel Treatment ofOystsr Dredg-
erS
Yesterday Capt James A. Turner, ofthe
oyster police steamer Governor McLane,
brought 10 Leonardtown Stewart H. Evans,
master of the schooner NJ. E. Dennis, OF
Crisfeld, charged by Col. ii. @. Tieck,
agent of the German Society Of Maryland,
with cruelty TO the crew Of his vessel.
Evans is typical dredge-boat captain
tall, broad shOuldered ard fine specimen
OF physical manhood. Paul Burgardi,
Carl Henry b. Lenz, John Azam Varga,
Oscar Ref, Emil Koehler and Charles Neu
bert Were the accusing witnesses, and the
story of their hardships was interpreted tn
Justice J. F. Morgan by Agent Tieck.
Paul Burgardi, Hungarian, was the
first witness He said 1--WE were badly
treated and had bad food-a piece ofbread
and some soup. was beaten by the mate,
negro. The captain did not see the mate
beat me. The captain scolded all the time
and told the men they were no good.
did not get enough to eat.
Carl LEM, a German, testified that he
was shipped from Washington street, New
York city. THE treatment on the boat
was fearful. When l came aboard was
told to cock. said couldn't l had to
cook fish and coffee and the crew couldn't
eat them. The captain always watered the
coffee. Sunday evening the mate beat me.
told the captain and he didn't do any.
thing. Once the captain kicked me and
the mate hit me on the eye. The captain
always spoke English. couldn't under
stand him. A few days after came aboard
my friend was beaten on the hands by the
captain until the blood came. My friends
name was George Cleaver. George said
he could not stand 1t. and If the captain
beat him again he would jump overheard.
lie did get over and has never since been
heard of Neither Cleaver nor any one
else ever threatened the captain. The 9TH
or men Of the crew saw Cleaver beaten and
the blood running from his hands. One
of the crew with very sore finger was
abused by the captain because he could NOT
work. When we came ON beard We were
clean; now we are full Of vermin"
On cross examination the witness said
he did not ship as cook. He was asked II
he could cook, and said he could cook DO
tato SOUP. He had learned how 10 do that
in the German army. Was in the cabin
when the captain kicked him. The mate
beat him when he came up. Had 20 sleep
on bare board.
Azam Varga, Hungarian, could not
make himself understood.
Oscar Reif, German, shipped in Balti-
more, testified that he was on the Dennis
one month and three days. The mate hit
him. Saw the captain hit the man who
ran overheard He bit him with n ham.
mer and made blood come. Heard the
man say he couldn't stand the treatment
and would jump overheard. The man
went over one night and has not been seen
since. Did not get enough TO eat and did
not have enough strength to work. No
matter how hard he tried the captain was
never satisfied. On cross-examination the
witness said the man was on the boat
about four days before he jumped over
board. Had fish and bread TO eat; had
cabbage twice Saw the mate beat a man
and after knocking him down. jump on
him. The captain was not on board At the
time.
Emil Koehler, a German, said the
captain beat him with his fist, hit
him in the face. The captain said the men
did not work quick enough. Worked as
good aud fast a he could; didn't get enough
to eat; had Ia sleep in hold of vessel with
out bed or stove. Reif, vargar and Nsu.