The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-07

United States Commissioner Heacock
All complained OF the mates brutality,
but none except Hill preferred charges
sufficient to constitute the basis Of a COM
plant.
In describing their voyage the men said
1--WE left New York 131 days ago, and
during the entire trip the ship was hell
| aflOat. The second mate bullied US from
the start 10 finish and beat Us whenever
we resisted. While on our knees scrub
bling down the decks he would kick us.
simply out of pure devilment.
"Crocker began on Charley
while he was aloft, during
| cause something did not suit hiT
attempted to kick Peterson off
sail yard. Peterson slid down
to the deck and Croker after b
he reached Peterson Le gave
ing. the scars of which he can
Harry Hill was beaten the
The mate beat him terribly TT
left New York. but the worst !
gave him was on the morning OF June
Hill was scTubbing and painting a small
boat. Some tobacco juice dropped from
his mouth upon the new paint. Mate
Croker came along and noticed the stain.
He at once began to swear, and ordered
Hill to throw his Qud overheard. Hill said
he would not let it happen again, but
would swallow the juice. The mate in
sisted on his throwing the tobacco in his
u.
obeyed the mate jumped on him, seized
him by the back of the neck and began to
beat him. The two rolled over and fought
like dogs. When they were finally parted
the deck and their bodies were covered
with blood.
"They were about to start in again when.
Charles Hul.berg asked the mate not 10
abuse Hill any more. Croker then
turned on Hultberg and gave him terri
bic beating. He then made Hill go for
water 10 wash the blood off his face. While
Hill " as on his knees bathing his wounds
the mate knocked him down with club
and jumped on him. 1t was at this time
Bill received the nine wounds on his head.
From this time until we reached port
the mate did not trouble US. Captain Pea
body knew that we were being abused by
the second mate, but never interfered in
our behalf"
Charles Hultberg stated til at he had also
been struck with belaying-pin by Mate
Croker He added that when the mate
struck Hill the club he useG was fastened
to his wrist with string. Hill was not
| near as tall nor as heavy as Croker. AS
| they rolled about the deck the mate had
decidedly the better of the fight. and when
| the chance Offered he would try to crush
the life out of Hill with his knees. Once
| Hill got on top, and 1T was then the mate
buried his teeth in HIPS arm and hands
| anu dlIeuJpltu W RbuBo Jul Hio cyCos Inc
mate once got his face too close to his VIC
Tins, with the result that Hill bit off a
| piece Of his lip.
Croker was taken before Commis sioner
HeacOck. who fixed his bail at $780, After
spending the afternoon in the Marshafs
ofice Captain Peabody secured bondsmen
| for him and he was released.
The accused in his de Tense claims that the
men were insubordinate, and that in both
instances Hill struck him first. He says
that on the night the Tam OShanter
sailed from New York most of the ere W
were drunk. Hill on that occasion was
crazy with drink. He was compelled to
reduce him TO subsection with Delaying
pin. Hill and others had threatened to
throw him overheard, and he had reason
to fear that his life was in danger. He
had repriman Hill for splitting tobacco
Juice on the newly painted boat. and be-
fore he could turn away the sailor struck
him heavy blow and caused him to fall
over the companioDway. When lie rose
he was in passion. and the result was
struggle of several minutes duration on
the deck. In the fight he Ghe mate) was
badly bitten on the left arm and lip by
Hill. Had he got ashore sooner than the
men he would have been the first to swear
10 complaint.
Captain Peabody, the master of the Tam
OShanter, was accompanied on the voyage
by his wife ana child.
The Marshal. it is understood, has war
rant also for the arrest of the first mate.