The evening times., 1895-11-25

The board of inquiry appointed to inves
tigate the charges of hazing made against
the white members OF the class OF seamen
gunners at the Navy Yard met in the new
court-martial room sh ortly after 10 O'Clock
this morning. After remaining in secret
session fer an hour and a Ealf the board an
nounced that the sessions would be open
To the public.
Tie board consisted OF Commander W.
Maynard. president; Lieutenant Comman-
der Richard Wainwright, and Lieutenant
w. w. KimbalL Ensign Warren j. Ter
iiune officiaIed as recorder, and put the
questions tD tie witnesses
The subject matter OF the boards In
quiry has been fully and exclusively print
ed in The Tines. There are thirty-three
members OF the class of seamen gunners,
men advanced for special aptitude they
have shown in the duties assigned them.
-Four of the men are colored-
The men are all compelled to eat at the
same table and bunk IN the same quarters.
The whites protested and agreed, it Is
said, To ostracise their colored ciassmen.
After committing numerous outrages
upon the colored men, such as empty
ing cuspitiors upon the mattresses OF their
hunks, soaking the mattresses and cover
ing them with blankets, they finally ''keel-
hauled the negroes, IL is said, by drop
ping them in The water when 1t was
at anything but comfortable temporal ture.
-SNti III ldtt, IL Is was upflc
to drive the colored men from the class.
COLOR LINE INVOLVED
There is, therefore, much resting upon
the result OF the boards Investigation that
was begun today 1t is practically to de-
termine whether the color line shall be
drawn in the United States navy
The board IS merely an indicting body.
III IL is found that prfenses have peen cuin-
mitted and the names OF the perpetrators
OF the offehses can be learned. they viii
be held to answer before a eourt-nartial-
Upon the determination to ina Ike the pro-
ceedIngs public Commander Maynard tlok
his seat at the head OF the table Lieuten-
ant Commander wainwright sat on his
right and Lieut.. Kinball on his left. En-
sign TerhUne was seated at the other end
OF the table.
Commodore John A. Howell. command
ant Of the Navy Yard. was the first wit
ness called before the board. He knew
nothing of the matter at issue OF his per
sonal eognizance- Officially the witness
had received a report from one OF the lieu
tenants some time in October. The report
was verbal. and to the effect that col
oresl classrnan had complained to him that
he was struck over the eye by a fellow
gunner. The report was afterward en-
bodied IN writing, making complaint OF
hazing on the night Of November H. Lieut..
Bockiinger made the report 10 Commodore
Howell.
Ensign Williams had submitted one or
two memoranda. the witness said. regard
ing his views and belief concerning haZ-
ing. Certain members OF the class had dis
claimed any knowledge CT Irregularities
Witness did not reRleinD Der the names OF the
men-
Have you ever heard any hooting or
ieering OF any members of the Class by
other memberS?" asked the recorder.
Il have not" was the answer.
RUMORS WERE TRUE.
The reports of the officers were then read.
The Investigations of the officers. 3s their
reports indicated. found that the rumOrs re-
lated above were true. and that the half
had not been told. The eolored men had been
jecred at. bullets bad been thrown at them,
their lockers and beds had been despoiled.
and they had been subjects or pouiiy IN
jury The names OF the perpetrators OF the
leeds were not known
Ensign George w Williams Succepded
Howell in the witness chair.
Il know nothing personally of the al
legged hazing,' said he, except seeing the
on the face OF J. A jackson, col
pred, said to have been struck by n fellow
,lassman.~
Can you name the classmen who have
iisayowed all knowledge of the occur
,ences III question:
There were about twenty OF them, and
do not remember their names. but can
urnish them" answered the witness.
what opportunity" asked the recorder.
has the officer OF the day for observing
,onduc5 OF seamen during day and night?~
Between the hours OF $50 p N. and
l. H., said the witness, he has the oppor-
unity he wants to make. In the da ytime the
hen are i'll the shop
In answer to tire query il any extra in |
pection and watch had been made since !
he reported Outrlges, witness said an ex-
ia guard of four was on watch each night. !
Inspections are now sometimes made a after |
2 O'Clock midnight. No haZing has oc. |
urred during the hours the new watch |
TODD. from D p III. to 8 a. H., so the wit
less stated.
A report had reached witness that insult
ng language had been used toward Jackon |
n November 16.
Witness said that he obeyed an order Of
he coamaRdant in seeking to learn from
nquiry among the seamen the sentiment |
mong the ciassmen. Several seamen |
stated THAT it wasn't right that n nigger
hould BE- placed over white people,"
AT the conclusion of Ensign Williams
the board adjourned for lun-
heOn.