The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-29
CALL 1T CRUEL.
The Treatment of the Crew of the
Clipper Cakes.
Unlocking Story of Alleged Inhumanity al
sea-The Sequel to the Thrilling Tale
of the Voyage,

yhoShfAk StOfy VI AiicSou ~
sea-The Sequel to the Thrilling Tale
of the Voyage.
New York, March GA shocking story
Of alleged cruelty at sea, told by the sur
siying bers of the crew of the clip
per ship L. f. Cakes, is being put into
legal form by representatives of the sea-
mems union. 1t will be used, 1t is stated,
IN actions soon to be brought against
Capt. Reed and tho owners of the ship.
An investigation into charges against
Capt. Reed was to have been started by
shipping Commissioner Maurice j.
Powers yesterday, but it was delayed
temporarily. However, the emaciated
searnen now lying in the marine hospital
Pm Staten Island gave out a general idea
Pf their complaints against Capt. Reed.
ghey allege that he Is directly responsible
FOR the illness of all but two of the crew,
Shat they were kept ON half rations dur
lnS tho greater part of the trip, and that
the vessel could have made New York
bar Dor much sooner II the captain had
taken advantage of favorable conditions
which prevailed during much of the niue
mont tbs they were on the water.
Joseph Robinson made the statement
which will be used by the union, and the
other eleven survivors, who are with him
In the hospital, will subscribe to it.
"We were forced to complain about our
food before we had been week out from
Hong Kong" said Rob! nson, land the
entire Grew went to Capt. Reed on July
2, only to be refused better provisions.
Our condition became such by the end of
July that we determined to make another
demand, aud again the entire crew conf
planned. From July 81 to September 81
there was an improvement. but on the lat
ter date we we're all placed on half .ra-
tions. and 10 continued to the end Of the
long journey.
"The captain did not supply the ship
with enough provisions before leaving
Hong Kong. We had been out "a days
before we got any fresh meat, and we
told the captain that 1t was Illegal for
him to make no better allowances to the
crew. To this he replied:
I am not afraid OF the law. The
law can't do anything to me.
"There was no reason why we should
have been SO long in coming to New York
from Hong Kong. We had favorable
winds much { the time, but the captain
would not b. ct sails to take the fullest
advantage of them. In good sailing
weather he often hoisted only such sails
"a mn tn
He said be took this course because he
was conservative.
"While the men in the crew were grow
ing weak from a lack of proper food, the
captain was living on chickens and other
good things. He had two crates we'll
filed with chickens when we left port
and when the Cakes got into New Yor k
harbor several chickens were still left.
II the captain had killed them and made
soup for the crew, even giving it to us
but once week, the men would have
been able to retain their strength, instead
of coming in i'll and helpless.
"We were SO weak from hunger that
hold OF the ratings to keep from falling
on the deck. 1t was next to impossible
for US to climb the masts. Our condition
was such that three OF US could hardly
do the work that one properly fed seaman
should have done. The chicken soup
that we might have had would have kept
the sourvy away.
"I have been in some pretty hard
American ships but never was starved
ss we we're OH this trip"
The last statement of Robinson was
ono which the other men were pnrticu-
larry positive in reiterating. Nearly
every man III the crew is an old seaman,
all having aerved from nine to 81 years. \
The IL survivors, although they have
gained much strength since they reached
port last Sunday. still show in their
pinched faces the ordeal through which
they have passed. Benson, whose case is
most serious is a living skeleton, weigh
Ing little more than 80 pounds.
All Of these charges are denied by the
captain Of the Cakes. He says the men
were treated with every consideration.
Livermore Falls to Jay Bridge.
Livernore Falls, March 27.-Eastman