The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-04-17
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BRUTALITY AT SEA.
Sailors of the Orinoco Say
That Firemen Saeger Of
Hoboken Was Kicked
to Death.
Ill AND UNABLE TO WORK
United States officials Ask the
English Authorities to Inyes-
tigate the Matter.
ILL AND UNABLE TO WORK

The stories told of terrible cruelties in
ficted upon sailors while at sea by thelr
superior officers are put down as De-
ing greatly exaggerated, and OFTEN tod
for the purpose of keeping home adyen-
furious boys who nave a desire TO go,
seafaring. But the story told by Hans
Jansen and Herman Heydrich. two Ger
mans, who are sailors upon the steam
ship Orinoco of the Quebec line, which
ply between New York and Bermuda,
bears strong evidence of truth, and is
one of the worst cases of brutality on
record.
william NJ. Saeger was a fireman on
the Orinoco during its trip previous
to the one it is now on.
1t seems that Saeger, who lived at
No. 21 Park avenue, Hoboken, with his
wife and three children. had been out
of employment for the past several
m the posit }aal on oasv b o sH and af
Zines it was all he could do to supply
food enough for his family. When ne
well, being weak for the want Of proper
food. Although the work was new 70
him, he accepted the position because II
would enable him to keep the TWoll
According to the story told by the
German sailors. Saeger was taken sick
whenSabout one day out at sea and was
unable to leave his bunk. The mates on
board ordered him around, however, and
compelled him to attend to his dufiss
When within eighteen hours of Bermu-
da, Saeger was so i'll that when he
attempted to dress he fell down In q
KICKED AND CURSED HIM.
When he recovered consciousness he
u was unable aas p to gss w %hs and Re haa fa lHins
o Mhil Say lyi cRie Il h EhaI eero koeehl srs came anne
s as9ng time dma e gi0fng him INN a iI RICK and = cu uae
inc. him for being behind time. II was
useless, however as Saeger could not
several times. but as often fell down
again. The engineer ,swore at him.
and said he was only shamming, and
his iandbobbers' actions, and if he didn't
get up at once he would drag him on
deck. 1E@ Ef3EE
and Koechler. so the sailors say. put his
threat into execution. When he had got
ten THE poor unfortunate man upon deck
oafuiiy. At first Saegsr tried to crawl
away but after one or two futile at
tempts he gave up the attempt and in a
few moments it was noticed thai he
did not move.
When Koechler first began to kick him
Inc pleaded with tears streaming down
mercy upon him. If only for his poor
wife and children at home. His tplead-
dngs. like an the nest. however. We're in
vain.
When 1t WAS noticed that Saeger did
not move. Koechler turned him over
once or twice with his foot. then he
felt of Saeger's heart with his hand. and
in a gruff voice muttered=
GUESS HE' DEAD"
"HuMpf. guess hes dead" The sailors
say the engineer then wen below and
brought up a burial bag. in which. with
their ASSISTANCE. he put Saeger's body.
The engineer then ordered them to help
fffIn throw the body into h sea which
they did
When the brutal affair was all over.
Koechler threatened the lives of Jansen
and Heydrich if they dared breathe a
word of what they had Witnessed.
If the story is true. Koechler is not
only guilty of murder. but the ships cap
tain is also guilty of violating the law
pertaining to burials at sea. Tne law
lroyides that no burial shall take place
at sea if the death occurs within twenty
four hours of the boats destination.
According to Jansen and Heydrich, when
Jaeger died, the Orinoco was within
eighteen hours of Bermuda.
Through Senator William D. Daily, Mrs.
Saeger has applied to the Quebec Steam
ship Company for redress. The United
States District Attorney of New York
was made acquainted with the case yes
ishorities at Bermuda, with Instructions
10 place Koechler under arrest and hold
him upon the charge of murder aThe
rinoco sails under the British flag and
Koeehler wild be tried by the English
Government.