Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-20
CREW OF A BRITISH BARK MOST
INHUMANLY TREATED.
OFFICERS ACCUSED OF MURDER
MEN STRAPPED, BEATEN, CLUBBED
AND STARVED.
They Reached New York Yesterday
intsofry Condition-Br1fsed,w Weak,
Some With Broken Bones,
and Some AFFLICTED
With Scurvy.

New York, March 1s.-The sorriest look
ing crew that ever sailed into the harbol
of New York came in on the British barl
Ancyra, 126 days from Hong Kong. bruised
blackened, weak from lack OF food. some
having broken bones and others touched by
scurvy. They tell a story Of hardship anG
brutality. They charge even worse agains
the captain of the craft, I. B. Norris an6
say that as soon as they reach land they
will make affidavits of the facts to the
British consul.
found several berths in the forecastle oc-
cued by men, who called piteously for a
doctor. Most of them were covered with
unhealed wounds and running sores, and
several with the signs of Scurvy. The men
charge this state of affairs to Captain Nor
ris. the first mate, P. C. Robinson: the Sec
ond mate. N. Cuno. and the boatswain. Ed
ward Shellnur. Alexander McCausland
said:
From the day We left Hong Kong we
have been strapped and beaten. 1 have.
without provocation. been struck again and
again by the captain and second mate. We
have had no fresh vegetables. our daily
rations being two sea biscuits and a little
meat. If We asked for better food we were
dubbed. I have seen every sailor on the
ship struck by one officer or another.
1.-The implements used were a chain, a
long bamboo club. an oak club. the han
die Of a mop or broom. I have seen as
many as five men with black eyes at the
same time. We did not dare strike back
lest we be shot"
Edward Simpson said: peter Hansen
was killed by brutality and starvation. The
second mate seemed to have q particular
grudge against him. and SO did the captain.
nv, xo1,A ~
about. Then they would do 1t together.
Hansen finally got sick and feverish. He
was covered with black and blue marks
and was weak from lack of food.
THE officers said that Hansen was sham
ming. They went to his bunk and called
him, but he was too weak to get up.
You're sick are your calling him vile
names. D-n you, I'll make you sicker.
When speak to you, move, and move
quick
Then the captain slammed him down on
the deck again. This he repeated three
times. cursing violently all the while. Han
sen groaned. but made no answer. In half
an hour he was dead. This was last Sun
day."
The truthfulness of this narrative was
vouched for by Sailors William Smith: Ed,
ward Thompson. Pierre Daniel. Fre:ld
declared that they would swear to the facts
as soon as they had an opportunity. Fred
Landstrom, who was also one Of the bed
ridden men, and whose right arm was in a
splint, said:
II have got three broken ribs. and think
my arm is useless. have been to sea for
forty years, and 1 never saw officers so
brutal as those on this ship. We have just
been bullied and starved the entire voyage.
II have seen scurvy before, and know
that Thompson has it. The Frenchman.
Pierre Daniel. and McCausland have every
symptom of it"
First Mate Robinson, who was in charge
of the bark, the captain being absent.
when asked what he had to say about the
charges made by the men, said 1t was true
he had been forced to strike the French
man and others. but never when they did
not need It, The crew were a Quarrelsome
lot, and continually fighting among them
selves"
"How about the charge that they did not
get enough to eat?" asked the reporter.
II have nothing to say as to that" said
Mr.. Robinson, evasively. Captain Morris
could not be found.