The record-union., 1898-01-02
HOW A GREAT CHARITY WAS
ABUSED.


Robert Richard Randall founded
the Sailors Snug Harbor, now one of
the most beautiful show places in the
vicinity of New York The fund for
its support yields so handsomely that
it is difficult to find use for all the
money, and hence it has been literally
expended in beautifying the Snug Har-
Dor at Brighton, in erecting marble
buildings and fine walls, in laying out
drives walks, and generally in adding
to the comforts and beauties of the
spot where old salts can rest until the
call Of the last watch
Captain Trask, stern, old-time COM
mander Of ships and steamers, was
made Governor of Snug Harbor as far
back as 1884. But ever since that
time his method of discipline and ad-
1ninistration has been the source of
complaints. These have grown in fire.
quency and seriousness, until now it
has been found that the scandals at
tachfng to his rule are too grave to be
passed by. 1t is charged that the rest
full asylum has become a veritable pen
al colclny; and that men are impris-
oned there and punished as if they had
been convicted of heinous offenses; that
one or several have met their death be-
cause of brutal treatment by the sub
ordinates of the Governor, who are in
spired by the example of their superior
officer.
SO an inquiry was entered upon in
October, and as it has just been con-
cluded the Eastern public is awaiting
the verdict with anxiety. The investi-
cation grew out of the resignation of
DIR. Richardson of the medical staff of
the institution, who handed in his COM
mission because, as he declared, he
could no longer bear with the incompe-
1ency and brutality of the administra-
tion, the unsanitary surroundings and
the shameful treatment of patients in
the hospitals Of the Harbor. His
charges against the Governor were am
plified in those Of Captain Armstrong
through creation of unnecessary offices;
inhuman treatment Of inmates; incom-
potency of the Governor; sustaining a
theater for the convenience and enjoy
ment of himself and immediate friends;
tabooing inmates without cause; sys-
tenatic tyranny; denial Of religious
freedom; confscating wages by placing
employees on the taboo list; employment
OF unskilled men as nurses: supplying
the inmates with poor food.
There are many other charges of SIM
Iar character. including allegations
that paid spy system Is maintained
and a padrone system Of labor and ex-
travagance in the general management
Captain Armstrong mustered no less
than eighty-four retired sea Captains
and mates as witnesses to sustain his
charges, and DR.. Richardson and Head
Nurse McEmbhill came to the front
with another formidable list. To show
hom some men when dressed with lit
tie brief authority make Of themselves
autocrats and arbiters of life and
death, some of the things proved
against Captain Trask's administration
may be mentioned.
One inmate, once commander Of q
Pacific mail steamer, picked two pears
from the ground beneath a tree and
was hafed before the Governor and
branded as a thief, and was severely
sfSh hot . fa4n 81
paralytic of 50 years was permitted tc
lie in his hospital bunk seven weeks
without his position being changed. One
old Captain had his ribs broken by e
watchman jumping on him when he
had a fit. One old salt came In one
evening three sheets in the wind. and
was promptly knocked down and beat
en-, and the next day died.
One witness described how he was
fied down IN bed. for days. with ropes
made Of his sheets. under the charge
that he was in delirium, when he was
not A dozen witnesses told how a
legless old sailor was compelled TO &C
out when the thermometer was at zero
6t was a fearful sight to see the poor
fellow hobbling along on his stumpS
serving the masons. One assistant
nurse was docl<ed his salary for nine
months out of fourteen, though he hac
no black mark against him. One ole
tar was sent to shovel snow when 9