The record-union., 1895-04-27
Charges of a Deserter Against
Officers of the Olympia.
STARVE ON THE DESERT
THAN GO ABOARD THE SHIP.
The New Treaty OF Peace Between
Japan and China Now Before the
Emperor of the Latter Country
France, Russia and Germany Raise
Objections to the Cession of Corr
Special to the REcoRD-U MON.
tain Lands.

NJ
SAN DIEGO, April 2G.-The cruiser
Olympia sailed this evening for San
Francisco. The funeral OF Coxswain
Johnson yesterday afternoon was at
tended by about seventy men, in charge
of one officer from the ship. On the way
out TO the cemetery seven sailors sud-
denly broke ranks and fled. One of
them was seen on the streets about IL
o'clock this morning. He had been in
hiding all night and until that hour, and
was under the impression that the ship
had just sailed. When informed that he
was wrong, and that the sailing hour had
been changed to this evening, he at once
prepared to get out of sight again. say
ing: Il would rather 20 to the desert
and starve than go aboard the ship
again."
He was not asked for his name, but
stated that be was an American, and had
entered the navy at Detroit. He had
been on four or five different cruisers,
but never had met with experience like
this on the Olympia. The situation was
little short of open mutiny. He charges
all the trouble to the First Lieutenant
and Executive officer +. w. Sturdy, and
because he does not interfere with Sturdy
in behalf OF the men. All the officers
but one dislike Sturdy more or less, but
of course they have not been oppressed
like the mon, and their dislike is, there
fore, less active.
The mans further statement more fully
indicated the gravity of the situation.
He said the understanding among the
crew, as obtained variously from the otli-
GERS, was that when the Olympia LETT
Santa Barbara she was to come to this port,
and, after remaining few days, to leis-
urely proceed down the coast alter the
Monterey, her mission being similar TO
that OF the Monterey, in the event of
needed demonstration in southern waters.
But by the time the Olympia reached
/ here the turmoil and dissatisfaction was
so great that the Captain saw at once it
would not only not be safe to proceed
! further on long voyage, but that il
would not even be safe 10 enter the har-
bOr, as he knew the men would desert at
the first opportunity. That was the real
reason lie did not bring the cruiser into
port. and why he did not proceed as Origi-
nally intended.
From here, the sailors said, it is be-
| Iieyed by the crew, the Captain sent to
Washington a statement Of the condition
OF affairs, and asked tor orders to return
to Mare Island Tor the express purpose of
holding an investigation aud court
martial, it being understood that he pre-
terred that course rather than to take the
responsibility of removing sturdy on his
own authority.
THE SAILORS STORY DENIED.
SAN DIEGO, April 26.-Officers of the
cruiser Olympia to-day denied the reports
of the sailors that there was an insult
fCiency of food on the ship. They said
the complaints regarding the quantity or
quality Of food were entirely unwar-
ranted, and that they personally inspect
the food given to the men. The officers
as well as men regretted that the ship
could not enter the ha rDor. They ex-
planned that Captain Reed was under or
ders from the Secretary of the Navy to
anchor of Coronado, and that the com
mander had no discretion in the matter.