New-York tribune., 1896-01-31
BRUTALITY ABOARD SHIP.
A STARTLING STORY TOLD BY THE WILLIE
ROsENFELD's CREW.
SAILORS HORRIBLY TREATED ACCORDING TO TIL
TESTIMONY GIVEN AT HEARING
BEFORE DEPUTY SHIPPING COM
MISSIONER KEENAN,.

BEFORE DEPUTY SllFPlNt ,oh-
MISSIONER KEENAN,
Sailors are constitutional and inveterate kick
ers. but the constant complaints of those who are
shipped aboard American boats is beginning to
bear fruit. and the brutality Of many Yankee
sKippers. say the sailors. is fast driving from the
ships which fly the American flag the seasoned
men who would be servlceable on the warshps
in case Of necessity.
The American ship Willie Rosenfeld. which ar
rived here several days ago and beat into port
the British ship Allerton. furnishes the latest
evidences Of brutality The entire crew TO
man appeared before Deputy Shipping Commits
sioner Keenan, yesterday and the story told by
each Of the men who appeared on the stand was
astounding in It's details OF inhuman treatment.
Not only were the men robbed Of their legltl-
mate wages according to their testimony. but
| they were beaten. kicked and starved by the
officers and triced up driven overheard on the
slightest provocation.
DETAILS OF BRUTALITY.
| It Is seldom that crew can be found who will
stick together and spin connected yarn. but
such one appeared at the Barge Office yester-
! day, and their stories. which similar In
! character showed a state Of affairs aboard the
Rosenfeld which would scarcely be tolerated
anywhere except on a Yankee boat The crew.
fourteen in number. appeared yesterday before
the Deputy Shipping Commissioner. headed by
| Second Mate Nelmeyer
The first witness called was Richard Gyles. able
seaman. little slender sailor. who said that he
had signed on March "a at Port Townsend and
| had been so badly beaten by the boarding house
runners that ne did not know what he was sign
| ing He said that between Port Townsend and
Caleta Buena he had been maltreated and as
/
each watch He had appealed to the skipper
| Captain Dunphy several times without avail he
said
James FitzsmmOrs. another little sailor, with
| black hair and a fierce black mustache. said that
! one day about y m ne was at the wheel and the
skipper approached and asked how the ships
head was and what was the time. Il suppose
| my answer didn't suit him" said the sailor. for
/ ne said II can. fight myself will get one
/ who can Then he left me and soon after the big
fret mate Gilman. came aft and he kicked and
| punched me around. and finally struck me be-
tween the shoulders with Delaying pin. Half
sensclesa | was dragged forward 10y seyera, ship
/ mates have been going to sea for thirty years" ."
Fitzsimmono added. and Captain Dunrhy Is the
! most inhu:1an brute ever sail-i with
lie knew the captain had ordered Gilman to
assist him. and the mate was only too willing
10 do So he said.
HIS HEAD CIT OPEN.
Perhaps the worst looking man Of the lot. all
OF whom bore marks more or less severe. TO tell
u the brutality. was Thomas Gavin He told
/ m. Deputy Commissioner that he was the
m. deck v p q Imam ordered him aloft 10 the
MAYNARD 10 send rome blocks down. and then
20 eo 10 the topsail-yaris. AS the sailor was
| going up the topmast rigging. he says. Gilman
shouted string Of foul oaths 1T nim and
ordered him ON deck Then Gilman and Sui-
| van. another mate. sprang upon him and sph,
n,s head op.n with an iron bound block. and
kicked him numerically When he had escaped
| from their tender rnercies he tried 10 struggle
| forward. but the inhuman brutes ordered MIN
>, may. some tarpauns and. wiplng the blood
from hls eyes. Gavin attempted u obey orders
whom hs was knocked senseless by Gilman.
Gavlns wound In the head is still wide open.
All for Ave months he has received no medical
attention when he appealed to Captain Dun
phy. he was told. with n string Of oaihs that
he deserved Draining" At the Marine Hos
pral II was said the sailors wounds were serl-
| Gus
uora,Io Could another sailor testified that
one dav when I'm the harlor of Caleta Buena
n. cnrno an deck WITH coat on. he had a
the cont, Gilman then belabored him with n
scantlug and 10 escape. he jumped o'oroo u"
and swan 70 the British ship Allerton. lie was
! taken ON board and hts wounds dressed put '"''
| next day "A policeman and Mate Su'iiEH" .h'ii ~
| ON board ana took hrl back TO thr Si''p'
! he was treated wors. than eNe'. ne s".u -. 90. a.,
,h. sou,rs uore treated horribly ana that II
| was no use appealing 10 the shl - r''n
! cours. OF the examination lh' u'So was
| missioner asked Captain buhpns, H,t ha
4
declined.
GILMAN DISCHARGED.
4, c,,o,o nucoa Gilman was discharged 10
-, ,aIoo arrsstel in this port. the crew
- 49,, cu,rIvon Vas made first mate and Me
! oov.r ..cond Gulespic. who was hrst '""'e
,or q ,,oe went aboard the ship In Naipara'so -
| ,ok. tho mace Of n skipper who had dien' "''
rho sailors testified t. having been buhcoeu ou'
| ., ,he,r money They said the crew were SIN
from scurvy and sea boils. an. ."ei dar,ed but
lime Juice aboard This the p.a, capnn,n ~ other
| I, wos horne out by the testimony Vi ''N
! sailors.
TOUCH or COMEDY.
Tho farce .comedy part Of the proceedings was
,,ro,e,.d bv Phlip Cameron. The ships COOK
-, wau-eved bandy-legged darkey' VINO was al
most deaf. ,.,. .s.od
mo air." answered Phil. Il didn't have n aul,e
.nough 'tnters. and VIZ little short OF a moar'
| n little short of beans. meat SAT- anu '"e"
| Had plenty lime Juice ,oir,a wit
The darkev was considered the captain wv, WV,
s ne .mH ga nv. testimony he gave will insure MN
| n lively time aboard ship. ,.a
.Dld the men complain" was d askea =, DAT
"Ye, sir Why. dey even kicked At u''
cracker stew made. which am luxury hard
| Cracker stew consists OF rnlN.uie Ton,ain =,
| tack water and little sat-hors,e,a ,,, rh II, a
Dunphy was considerably disconcsr.eaa oy HI >
Eueless testimony and plainly showed e',,sd H. and
When examined. the captain was nme,.,ent 70
| when asked II fourteen men were suh.,e.. ,st y. =
work 28o0ton ship he replied tha' ne s"U' =" sea
| ~. t,aw rio husinesp He J ad been going W oea