The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-02-11
CRUELTY AT SEA
\ Tacoma Crews Complaint in New
York


James =. keeaan, deputy United States
shipping commissioner. spent nearly two
hours yesterday hearing testimony Of the
{ crew OF the American ship Willie RuSsn-
feld, who accuse the officers OF the vessel
I of cruelty. They also declare that they
{ we're swindled out OF portion of their
I wages They said they signed the ship's
articles before a deputy shipping COM
missioner. with the understanding that
their wages were to he 500 month. while
the captain declares they were &C be paid
SIS That sum appears in the articles
which Captain William H. Duuphy pro
duced yesterday, but several men swor,
that the figures had not been written in
the articles. All who testified were sure
they were to receive so a month Mr.
Keenan, did not give the matter OF wages
so much attention as that OF the alleged
brutality.
According to the testimony OF the men
before the mast who gathered at the
shipping commissioners room I'm the
Barge Office building yeslerday-and the
entire crew appeared ready to swear toI
ill-treatmeEt on the voyage-nearlyI
everything from q marlinspike TO heavy
double block was used On the seamen by
the officers, Some had bruises on their
faces. and declared they had mere onl
their bodies. Ons man displayed a So
we're scalp wound. which was stu oDen.
although received nearly five months ago
from a heavy block in the hands OF an (
officer. This the captain admitted. butI
said he discharged the officer in ChileanI
port for the offense.
The Willie Resented sailed from Ta-
coma. Wash. on March = last for this
port On the passage down the western
coast she carried as officers. besides the
captain. Mr.. Gillespie, first mate Mr..
Sullivan, second mate, and Nr, Gilman.
third nate The latter was a Corslcan
and the crew say he was "ths biggest
7rute ahoat"
Thomas Gavin's testimony was the
most important taken yesterday. ne
aid that on October he was ordered
,loft by Gilman. While he was doing
What he supposed was his duty, H. was
ordered b. the third mate to come down.
Ind was told that he knew tco much for
. common sailor. When Gavin reached
he deck Gilman grabbed an iron double ,
'lock. the sailor says. and struck him
n the face with It, until blood flowed
rom his nose and mouth
Gavin started aft to appeal to the cap
ain. Then Gilman brought the block
Town on the sailors head, inhlcting the
wound. which still appears. Gavin added
hat when he told Captain Dunphy OF
he serious nature Of the wound the skip
Der told him he needed Draining" Gavin
declared that the captain witnessed the
occurrence. but Captain Dunphy said he {
1nly heard the row from the quarter deck
and went forward to stop IT, lie said ]
I was for this offense that he discharged Z
Gilman.
There was a complaint from al hands {
about the food, and the sailors asserted {
hat they were short Of all fresh pro-
'isions during the passage around the !
Horn.
Captain Dunphy denied in general tael ,
.harges Of the men. admitting only that d
savin's story was partially true. Wnenl e
he question OF provisions was preached
he captain declared that there were =
lenty on board, and that HIS cock. who
vas present would swear 10 the fact
Where is the COOKE" said Mr.. keenan, p
\ little Jamaica negro was hustled /
rom among the onlookers. His testi- o
aony corrOborated that Of the men. y
After the testimony 3lr. keenan, ad- :
ourned the examination until today. 4