Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-27
THE GUNNERY GLASS
Investigating the Charges of Haz:ng on
Account of Color.
Testimony Taken Today by the Court
CT Inquiry Mt the Navy
Yard.

The court of inquiry that is in session at
the navy yard to investigate charges of
hazing and the maltreatment of the >colored
seamen in the gunnery class was continued
to day, and some interesting testimony was
brought out.
The most important witness examined up
to this morning was Gunner Gilmartin, who
was on the stand for more than two hours
yes terday. He is the instructor of the
class in gunnery. Speaking of the feeling
that is evident in the class, he said that one
of the white members refused to take the
examinations preferring to go back as in
competent rather than graduate from a
class which had colored men in it. The
man was one of the most promising men,
hers of the class, all of whom are selected
On account of their brightness. and the
general opinion was that he would pass the
examinations with credit. He said that he
would rather drop back as mentally dis
qualified and buy his discharge from the
navy.
How far race feeling went in this par
ticular case will be understood when one
knows that the salary of gunner is 81 ,20O
year. working up gradually to Sl,S01.
with retirement at three-foruthS full pay.
The position is generally regarded as a
most desirable one in the modern navy,
and Is not particularly onerous.
Action of the Captain.
With reference to the charges that the
name plate of one of the colored men in
the class was wantonly destroyed by his
white associates. Gunner Gilmartin .esti-
fled that the colored man, Thompson, came
to him and showed him his name plate all
battered and bent. Gilmartin told him to
make new one but he said he could not,
as the mold or model had been destroyed.
He called up one of the captains of the
class and told him about it. and shortly al
terWard the captain came back and gave
him the model intact. While he was not
absolutely certain of it. he had every rea-
son to believe that it was in the possession
of the captain all the time.
The first witness today was Chief Master
alarms Henry w. Alver. who was for
three years on the receiving ship Dale, but
Is now on duty at the seamen's quarters in
the yard He also does his trick as officer
of the day with the class under instruction
He said that his official position prevented
him from being on terms of intimacy with
the men bers of the class, but he believed
that they regard him generally in friendly
manner. He said that he did not know it
as d matter of common rumor that some of
the members are being hazed. During his
hours of duty he would be likely to know
of any acts of haz!ng, if any were commit
ted. but he is not in the building all the
time.
COlOred Men at Table.
separate table, but occupy one end of the
big table in the dining hall, where all men,
bers of the class sit. When Johnson entered
the class there were some of his old ship
mates present, and they gave him a warm
welcome. The witness said he had never
heard any of the members hooted or jeered
at, although at times the young men get
rather noisy and boisterous from sheer ami
NAL spirits, but this is never at the expense
of the colored men, On one occasion Thomp-
son reported that the mattress and bedding
had been removed from his bed.
Il am unable to say continued the wit
ness, what white men are least friendly
toward the colored men, nor am l aware of
any conspiracy on foot to drive out the col
ored members CT the class.
Il have served in connection with the
class under ordnance ir rstruction since Oc-
tober 2S, 1891. Once there were three col
orcd men in the class and at another time
there was one, but no cases of hazing were
ever reported to me. About the same feel
ing has been evident in the present as in
other classes and about the same pre-
walls throughout the service generally"
state what this feeling is?" This was
a question asked by the court
"A feeling of dislike for the colored men,
bers."
After some other testimony, which de-
veloped nothing new, the court took a re-
cess until later in the afternoon.