The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-29
Statements by Witnesses for Cap.
tain Healy and Against
Him.
A GAY AFFAIR AT UNALAsKA
Story of the Man Who Saved the Old
Sea Dog From an Unmarked,
Watery Grave.

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testimony at the Healy investigation wa:
nominally on the side of the prosecution
the defense might have Jared far worse
The t1rst witness at the morning session
was Chief Engineer A. L. Broadbent of the
United States revenue cutter Corwin, for
merly employed in the same capacity or
the Bear under Captain Healy. He testi.
fed that OH the night of a social aboard the
Pheasant the captain had imbibed quite
freely of the cup that cheers and fre
| quently inebriates as we'll; but the witness
did not think he drank more than the
other officers present. When asked
whether he was on friendly terms with the
captain, Mr.. Broadbent replied that there
had been slight misunderstanding be-
tween them on the evening of the social at
Unalaska, but it had been satisfactorily
explained. He had seen the captain appa-
rently intoxicated at a reception given by
the officers of the Alaska Commercial
Company at Unalaska on the night after
the Pheasant affair and again on the fol-
lowing night at social event aboard the
Corwin, but never when on duty.
Regarding the captains efficiency, the
witness stated that on occasions of danger,
when afraid to entrust tie management of
the vessel to his subordinates, he had
known him to pass from thirty to sixty
hours on deck and spend as much as two
days and nights consecutively in the
crows nest. He characterized the captain
as severe disciplinarian, but said he
could find no fault with him beyond q
rather despotic demeanor toward his SUBJ
ordinates.
A vision in broadcloth, gold lace and
white gloves then took the stand, and re-
ssponded in gentle terms to the name of
Dorry. lie said he was assistant engineer
on the Bear and had known the accused
during a period covering about twenty
months. He said the captain was never,
to his knowledge, under the influence of
liquor while at sea, but that at the social
events mentioned by the preceding witness
the veteran officers language had been far
from enthusiastically insulting, in fact.
He had heard no one criticize the captain
except during the Bears last cruise.
Executive Officer Albert Buhner, also of
the Bear. testified that in his opinion
Captain Healy's behavior on the Pleas
ant was no worse than that of the other
participants in the festive reunion. He
did not recollect having seen him intoxi-
Gated on any other occasion. He consid-
cred the captain too strict in his method
of conducting the vessel, and said there
was some ill-feeling among the officers in
consequence.
William C. Meyers, second engineer of
the Bear, corroborated the testimony of
the other witnesses regarding Captain
Healy's hilarity on the occasions cited,
but did not feel competent to criticize him
as an officer. Personally he would trust
him in command of any vessel in any sea.
He had felt rather sore toward the captain
Tor having refused to shake hands with
him on one or two occasions before others,
but cherished no resentment against him
on that account.
Chief i,
prosecution's last witness. He confirmed
the assertions of his predecessors, and
stated in addition that he had made two
cruises with Captain Healy and had had
differences with him, but nothing
serious.''
The defense opened at the afternoon ses-
sion by recalling the witness Coffin. He tes-
titled that the captain had injured his back
quite severely when he fell from the wharf
at Unalaska. He could not say whether
the captain was under the influence of
spirits on that occasion or not. He had
never seen him drunk at sea.
George G. Cornell, first lieutenant of the
he had known Captain Healy for six years
and had made two cruises in his company.
He had never seen him drunk, but had
heard rumors to that effect.
Captain Hooper. senior officer of the
fleet, testified that he had been present for
snort Wnlle at the whisky and tobacco"
event aboard the Pheasant, and had not
noticed any undue exhilaration on Cap
tain Healy's part during that time When
asked whether he thought it probable that
the captain succumbed to the potent
charms of the flowing bowl at a later hour,
he said:
well, perhaps he did. 1 would be
much surprised if | heard that one of the
men present at the social went away sober.
don't see that there's anything so dread
fully scandalous in man getting little
happy when he's off duty. any how
Patrick Hutton, former master-at-arms
of the United States revenue cutter Grant,
said he had rescued the captain from a
watery grave at Unalaska. The Grant
was casting off and Captain Healy and a
number of other officers and civilians were
standing on the edge of the wharf waving
adieux to friends on the departing vessel.
Captain Healy was on the bulwark and
lost his balance. The witness saw him fall
and jumped into the water after him. A
boat was let down from the Grant and the
captain and his rescuer taken aboard that
vessel. The captain complained of a
severe strain in his back, but sat upright
in the boat and assembled the cutters gang
plank without assistance. If he was
drunk when he fell off the wharf the cold
water had evidently sobered him, for after
the rescue he manifested no indications of
intoXica ton.
The investigation will continue TODAY.
1t is understood the defense is making
strong efforts to have the charges against
the veteran captain dismissed.
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