The morning times., 1895-11-21
KICKED AGAINST ORDERS
Class Of Gunners at Navy Yard
Under Arrest.
CAUSED BY RACE PREJUDICE
White Sea men Objected to Eating and
Sleeping With Their COiored Col
leagues In the Same Quarters.
Threw Two of Them Into the River.
Whole Class May BE Sent 10 Sea.

The entire class of seamen-gunners under
instruction at the Washington navy yard
is uuder arrest The class has been cut
off from shore leave since the 11th
instant, and there is n possibility that
the class maybe deprived OF the advantages
or its special COURSE aud sent TO sea Il
is also possible that the men may be re-
turned TO the general service OF the navy.
There Is halo OF haze around the case.
but The offense alleged against the class
Is serious enough to have warranted in
vestieation by its officers. A report was
made to the comma udant of tue yard and
by him referred 70 the Secretary of the Navy.
the decision OF the Secretary is now being
awaited.
RACE PREJUDICE CAUSED TROUBLE.
The troubles grew out of race prejudice
among the white members OF the class
against the colored members. In some
quarters at the gard 1t is alleged that the
coiored classnen were roughly handled,
that they were thrown into the river while
the temperature of the water was uncom-
fortably low. They did this as symbolic
OF keel hauling the men whom they cid
not like.
The class officers deny this and say that
the whites simply objected to association
with the blacks and that they made nlurmers
OF dissatisfaction and as this is considered
detrimental to discipline il was thought
judicious to bring the Gaze TO the attention
OF the authorities, which was done.
The seamen gunners under instruction
are picked from the general service of
The Navy, because OF gIeiF intelligence.
Afler service aboard ship. where they
become familiar witt the practical working
OF the modern guns, If adjudged competent,
they are recommended by their command
ing officers for tie course OF instruction
prescribed. This course covers n period
or four months at the Washington yard.
Beside theory taught in this class room,
ihc students work in the gun shop.
EAT AND SLEEP TOGETHER.
AT present this class numbers thirty
six. or thls number tbirty-two are
white and four coiured. The men sleep
in the same dornitory and mess at the
same board. This class was exclusively
white till two months ago, when a Young
colored seaman named johnson came
down from the North, recommended by
his commanding officer for the course
OF instruction in gunnery. He was ac-
ocpted by the class officers, but his re-
ceptlon by Ills white classmates was not
cordial. Six weeks ago another colored
sailor named Thompson came. and his
ADVENT increased the discomfort among
tie white men.
They made complaint 90 the class Off
GERS of what they considered an injustice.
They were toldthat this condition of fairs
and blacks mes sed together. They must do
would not he changed. In the navy, whites
the same In the class room.
The white students, or some OF them. on
the night of November II. caught Thomp-
son and johnson. carried them TO the river
aud did their utmost to persuade the two
colored men to leave the gunncry class and
return TO the general service of tn navy.
The persuasion would not work and the
two men. 1t is said. were repeatedly thrown
in the river and hauled out.
II has not been practicable for the in
vestiga.ors to leGrn who the men were
who actually engaged III the tcstlties.
because the whites of thcstlass stiE1 firmly
together aud refCse 10 testify against the
guilty ones. .,Herce il is thought that
maybe the Whole class VIII be returned to
sea.
The class was put in qrIira E;ine and for
hidden To play games, sing or dance in
their quarters. The ratfous were not
curtailed. The decision OF the Secretary
OF the Navy was expected on Saturday. but
ithad not reached the yard when The Times
called there last night.