New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-24
THE O4KES SAILORS BETTER.

rr-prIrp CRITICISM OF CAPTAIN REED
The condition Of the twelve scurvy-stricKeh saii-
ors Of the beated ship 7. F. Cakes VINO are AZ pres
ent confined in the Marine Hospital on staten ISL
and is rapidly improving and before the end OF tne
u,oek the greater number of them will probably he
discharged. The were visited by many people
Yesterday afternoon and replying to inquiries as 10
the treatment they received on board the OaKes'
they unite in saving that they were l-fed ana that
Captan Reed neglected to provide them Win ireSh
meat vegetables and lime juice in suiicieht guam
titles to keep away the scurvy. The physicians at
the Marine Hosplta, do not hesitate 10 say that
with the present cheapness Of good canned meats
and vegetables there can be no excuse TOR an out
break OF sc,irvy unless there is criminal negh-
gence either on the part Of the captain or owners
OF a ship
The daily rations to be served to sailors on deep
sea vessels are fixed by an act OF congress- ana
the quantity and nature OF the food thus PROVIDED
for sufices 10 maintain the health and strength OK
the crew Another statute enacts that lime juice
or other antscorbutics must ne served 10 every sea-
man at stated intervals. Both these laws were
broken by Captain Reed apparently, ana from the
fact that scurvy broke out among the men before
the VOYAGE was hundred days cd It is clear that
the ship was not sufficiently provisioned for even
an average voyage. Knowing this and with his men
diving off one after another the refusal OF Captain
Reed to nut into some of the Southern ports TO
resocl the ships arder ought certainly to be made
the subject Of INVESTIGATION. ~, -, -.
ON two occasions at least Captain Reed mas peen
on trial for brutality-thc first time was in May 1888
I'm San Francisco. and again i'm the same ciiy TWO
years he charged with so cruelty il-treat
ing seaman as 10 cause ms death. Botn cases
were however. dismissed 1t Is significant also
that the crew that shipped on the OakeS at New
York deserted her arriving at Shanghai
Moreover. interviews with the men now In the
hospital go To show that Mrs. Reed was not the
heroine and considerate woman 10 the crew her
own accounts made out. Unless the sailors indivd-
uay bring action against the captain II Is prooanle
that no legal steps will be taken against him. The
United states District Attorney will not act with
ont further evidence the owners OF the Cakes are
perfectly satisfied with the shippers conduct. and
the Seamens Union, through its agent. James H.
Williams. says that cases of cruelty on American
ships are TOO common to allow OF legal proceedings
being taken upon the various cases Of inhumane
treatment that are constantly brought to the at
tention Of the officers Of the union. The organiza-
ton considers that It will best the interests
of the sailors by dcvOng its energies TO securing
the passage OF the bill now before Congress for the
amelioration OF the state OF things under which sea-
mon are now forced to live D. r. Dearborn. the
Oakes's agent refused yesterday 10 discuss the
plants Of the sailors other than say that Cap
tain and Mrs. Reed had done all in their power
for the men and that most OF the reports which
had been published were inspired by the Seamen's
Union