The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-30
CAPTAIN NELSON DENIES
STORIES OF DESERTION FROM
THE ADAMS.
And Furnishes a "Star" Representative
With Some Facts Concerning
the Alleged Reports.

Late exchanges from San Francisco
contain much about the United States
ships at Honolulu, some of it being
true, some Of it partially true and most
of it utterly untrue. Take the follow
ing, for instance, which appeared in the
Call of the 9Th:
VALLEJO, Sept, I2.-In compliance with
orders from the Navy Department at Wash
ington, another draft of seamen has been as
signed to the United States ship Adams, now
at Honolulu. This draft was detached this
morning from the receiving ship independence
at Mare Island and ordered to take passage
on the first steamer sailing from San Francisco
for Honolulu.
From naval authorities it has been ascer-
tanned to-day that the present draft makes the
fourth which has been forwarded to the Adams
since her departure from the navy yard early
in the present summer. From the same
source it is ascertained that owing to Com
mander Nelson's despotic and tyrannical
actions toward the crew OF his ship his men
are deserting at every opportunity, going in
squads Of five and six at a time.
Large rewards are Offered for their return,
| but knowing the circumstances which forced
the men to desert, the Hawaiian police refuse
| to take the men into custody or assist Com
| mander Nelson's marines in returning the
| captives to the ship. BY reference to the re-
| cords, it was learned that the Navy Depart
ment experienced the same trouble with Com
mander Nelson while he was in command of a
ship on the Asiatic staten, in consequence of
| which he was ordered home and relieved of
the command. Since the Adams has been at
| Honolulu she has received more men and
| more desertions have been recorded against
her than all the ships of the entire Pacific
| fleet.
"There is not single word Of truth
in the above; it is utterly false from
beginning to end, )" said Captain Nelson
of the Adams to STAR representa-
tive this morning while seated in his
cosy cabin on board that ship.
The first draft Of seamen sent to this
ship from Mare Island numbered four
teen men, who came to make up the
deficiency in the crew. We were that
many short OF our complement when
we left Mare Island. The other drafts
are simply made from time to time in
order to fill up the places Of men whose
time has expired The present crew
of the Adams is largely made up from
the crew of the Pensacola, who have
been away on the China station. These
are what we call short time men, that
is, they have only few months more
to serve. They are sent home when
their time expires and of course others
have to be drafted from the receiving
ship Independence at Mare Island to
supply their places"
"With regard to the actual deser-
tion," continued the captain, "here is
the official list from the time the Adams
reached Honolulu to the present day
'Cahling, A. r., ordinary seaman,
sjobborn A., seaman.
O'Brien j., ordinary seaman.
Moler N, ordinary seaman.
Joerson E, ordinary seaman.
Wood VIM, private marine corps.
Nokoth +. =, steerage cook.
"Four of the above were merchant
seaman who shipped at San Francisco
and were not used to the discipline of
a man-ofwar. They went to Hilo ex-
pecting to get on bark but when they
reached there the captain of the bark
would not have them. Marshal Hitch
cock sent some of them from Hllo
here and instead of ordering them
regularly courtmartialed as might
have done for deserving, | merely
ordered 2 summary courtmartlal for
oyerstaying leave. the punishment for