The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1894-11-03
A BURNING OUTRAGE.
The Notorious Turk Outfit Again Work
ing Their Old Tricks.
HaIf-Clad Sailors and Greenhorns
Shipped on the Iroquois Under
Deception.

Snlpped on the Iroquois Under
Deception.
Yesterday morning when the o. r
and N. Co.'S steamer Thompson came
in on her regular run from Portland
she steamed by the company's wharf
and went alongside the American shir
Iroquois, which was lying at anchor
opposlte the Hollywood dock. After
remaining there for half an hour, she
moved over to her dock, and landed her
cargo and passengers. Just why the
Thompson went alongside the Iroquois
without first going to her dock, re-
mained a mystery to those along the
waterfront who were watching her.
until she had run out her Agang plank,
and headed by Frank Turk, of Port
land, one Of the notorious sailor board
Ing house gang of that name, nineteen
men, apparently sailors, filed upon the
wharf. 1t soon spread abroad that
the men had been taken to the Iro-
quois and told to go aboard, but stub
bornly refused to do so until Turk had
made coed his promises regarding their
outfit. The captain soon wearied of
the loud-mouthed threats of Turk to
the men, and headed his steamer tow
ard the dock, where they were landed.
For several hours 1t looked very
much as though the Iroquois would
have to look elsewhere for a. crew
but in groups of twos and threes the
men were finally persuaded to go
aboard until only three remained
ashore. OF this trio, two were colored,
and 1t was not until Captain Nickels
had the men arrested by United States
Deputy Marshal Smith and taken be-
fore United States Commissioner c. r.
Thomson that he was able to get them
to the vessel. The commissioner held
that there was but one thing for the
men to do, and that was to accompany
the officer to the ship that they had
signed for.
OF the nineteen men whom Turk in
veigled into shipping on the Iroquois,
eight had never set foot on board
ship until they were taken out to the
vessel yesterday In the rigging they
were like lot of clumsy schoolboys,
and the look on their faces as they
tremblingly obeyed the gruff commands
of the mate, showed that they were
half paralyzed with fear. OF the nine
teen but few were more than half-clad,
nearly all of. them being without blan-
kets and mattresses.
Deputy Smith stated that the two
negroes, L. d. Clayton and F. G. lHus-
band, by name, had been sent from
Tacoma, where they had been inmates
of Jim Turks sailor boarding house for
four days only. They were forced to
beat their way as far as Kelso, and
then walk distance Of "a miles to |
Kalama, where they were met by one
of Turks runners and taken to Port
land, and brought hence with the re-
nainder of the crew who were picked |
up in the latter place. He further
stated that there were but sevenrmat,
tresscs among the nineteen men, and |
but very few blankets. Several of the
men had but the scantiest clt thing
to go to sea with, many of them having
no underclothes.
One of the sailors who was inter-
viewed stated that Turk had told the
men that he owned a clothing store
In Astoria, and when he reached this
place he would fit them out with cloth
Ing and other things usually furnish
ed the men before starting on the
long trip around the Horn. Up to the
time of starting from Portland they
had been provided with a ten cent
package of tobacco each, and bar OF
common washing soap. When the ras-
,ally boarding house master attempted
% run them aboard the Iroquois with
'ut fulfilling his promises to the men,
hey rebelled, and it was only after
from outside parties that
hey would have justice done them,
hat they We're finally persuaded to
EMBARK.
The officer that conducted the men to
he ship. notified the captain that II
lie did not straighten the matter out,
he insurance companies would be made
ware OF the nature of the men shipped
md would result in the cancelle ton of
he insurance. This Captain Nickels
greed to do, and furthermore to wire
sutton & Beebe to hold out a portion
4 the money to be paid the Turk !.
utft for shipping the crew. He came
shore at once and wired the shipping
rm at Portland. and will probably see =
hat the men are properly provided
'ith clothing before going to sea. Turk =
fas to receive $S6 for each man shipp-
d, but he will have to fill his contract
D the letter before he gets It. Cap "
ain Nickels is highly indignant at the it
manner in which he has been imposed
pom and will remain in port until the
len have justice done them. n
The Turk sailor boarding house gang s.
re tough set. and are known
throughout the shipping circles of the
hole world as being among the lowest ;,
nd vilest OF their class. Yesterdays
utrage was but a repetition Of what
hey have done many times in the I.
asst, but the respectable people OF AS
'ria win not tolerate its continuance.
ublic sentiment waxed warm yester. Is
nv Uhan fho xuholo t,,,th = rr,