The morning call., 1894-07-01
THE STORY OF THE FIRST MATE.
Queer Proceedings at HonoIuIu-U. S.
Seamen Get the Vessel Under
Way for This Port.

Among the passengers on the steamer
Australia. which arrived from Honolulu
Yesterday, were three men belonging to
the American ship Empire. which left
Newcastle, New South Wales. for this
port on the 3OGh of last March and which
is expected to arrive here any day during
the coming week.
The men are First Mate P. Cassidy and
James Campbell and Sidney Melows.
two members of the crew. They have not
been with the ship since her arrival at
Honolulu, and the story which they have
to tell of affairs on board the snip makes
up strange romance of the sea which. II
true, places Captain Davies Of the vessel
in very uuenviable light.
Soon after leaving Australia trouble be-
gan on the vessel and it lasted until she
arrived at Honolulu. According to Mate
Cassidy the ship had not been out many
days before the trouble with the captain
began.
An insufficient supply of food had been
placed aboard for the voyage and the men
were placed on short ratons. Only SIX
pounds of meat were allowed daily for
sixteen men and the captain became very
abusive toward the seamen because they
complained that what they got was Insult
ficlent 10 appaaSe thelr appeiltes.
Then, Mate Cassidy says, the captain
asked him to assist in keeping the men
under subsection. He says that he told
Captain Davies he would carry out all
orders and see that the men performed
their regular duty, but he would not assist
in abusing the men. He also intimated
that the men were not getting enough In
the eating line.
Captain Davies" said the mate, "then
began to accuse me of standing in with the
men against him, and from that time he
began to treat me in a very unfeeling way.
His ebulitons of temper became more ag-
gravated, and several times he walked
exctedly up and down the deck and dis
charged a revolver into the air. This was
probably done to terrlfy the men.
'At last, after standing the state of
affairs as long as they could, the men In the
port watch refused to turn to and perform
their work unless they were better fed.
The seven men were at once ordered put
in irons by the captain, and the starboard
watch was called out. They also refused
to work unless the condition of things
was changed, and they, too, were ordered
iroued."
To make matters worse, about this time
the ship SpraGg leak aud began to make
three inches of water an hour.
The mate says he spoke to the captain
as to the advisability of releasing the men
done toward pumping the vessel out and
keeping the vessel under control.
''Do you think he'd do it?" said the
mate No: as We were near Honolulu,
he said if the vessel showed signs of sink
Ing be would lower the long boat and take
it with his wife and child, who were
aboard. and make for Honolulu. We
could do the best we could.
He then ordered ME to keep to my
my room, saying that l was as insubor-
dinate as his men,"
Just before reaching Honolulu the mate
was placed IN irons and left in cnnfln p
ment until outside the haTbOT. The United
States war vessel Philadelphia was lying
in the harbOr, and the captain signaed to
her for assistance. The first male and TWO
men-Campbell and Millans-weTe taken
ashore and tried for insubordnation. An
examination was held, with the result
that Cassidy and the two sailors were ac-
quilted, but wefe not allowed to return to
the Empire. 4 months pay was given to
Cassidy, and he and the men sailed for
this port
The trouble on the. Empire was by no
means settled though, and the men were
:, kept guarded. When. she was ready to
: sail they were not permitted to get her
. under way. but a detachment OF sailors
" frOn the Philadelphia went aboard and
got everything in shape. They then left
: her. and the Empire sailed eastward with
a very peculiar condition of affairs on
q board, thatis with her crew in irons and
only the captain. second and third mates,
carpenter and cook to manage her.
A very peculiar phase Of the affair is
that the men asked to be taken before the
American Consul or the admiral of the
: Pacific squadron, to either of whom they
s wanted to express their side of the situa-
tion. but they were not allowed to do so.
They also asked that the ship be sur
YeYed before they sailed any further in
her, but this request also was denied.
In his own defense Captain Davies said
that at Honolulu the mate and the
two men whom he had tried there were
guilty of gross insnbOTdination and had
made mischief among the other men. He
denied that he abused the men or made
them suffer any hardship.
Tho manner in which the Empire lef
the Islands has caused considerable CON-
meptin shipping circles here. and although
the. ship is only nineteen days out now
there are some who think that there j:
reason to fear she may never reach port il
safety.
Yesterday it was stated that about 2;
per cent insurance had been paid on be-
since the news of her predicament haC
been received.
The Australia also had 67 passengers ir
the cabin and among Der freight 652,
sacks of sugar, 1880 bags of rice, 479
punches of bananas, 1882 boxes of banana
and 234 boxes of pineapples.
The Pacific Mail steamer Acapulco ar
rived frCm Panama and Central American
ports yesterday afternoon. Among thu
passengers was John Seymour. wealth.
resident of COlima. The news from Sal
Salvador was to the effect that things hat
quieted down somewhat and are gradual,
becoming settled nnder President Gutierrez
Adherents of eX-PTesident Ezata were still
numerous, though, and occasionally ther
or 60hte ha. xua and
adherents of Gu iereZ, but othiDg seriou
ever occurred in these aft fairs.
CONS OE THE. DENAI IITION