Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-03-23
SAILORS ILL-TREATED.
Captain and Mates Of a British
Bark Alleged to Have
Abused the Crew.

New York, March 19.-The sorriest-
looking crew that ever sailed into the
harbor of New York came in on the Brit
ish bark ADcyra, 126 days from Hong
Kong, bruised, blackened, weak from lack
of food, some having broken bones and
others touched by scurvy. They tell
story of hardship and brutality.
They charge even worse against the
captain of the craft l. 3. Morris, and
say that as soon as they reach land they
will make aftidavits of the facts to the
British consul A reporter who went on
board the vessel found several berths in
the forecastle occupied by men who called
piteously for doctor. Most Of them
were covered with unhealed wounds and
running sores and several had signs of
scurvy. The men charge this state of af-
fairs to Capt. Morris; the first mate, z. c.
Robinson; the second mate, n Cuno, and
the boatswain, Edward Shellnur.
Alexander McCausland said: From
the day that we left Hong Kong we have
been strapped and beaten. l have, with
out prOvOcatiOn, been struck again and
again by the captain and second mate.
We have had no fresh vegetables, our
a little meat. If we asked for better
food we were dubbed. / have seen every
sailor on the ship struck by one officer or
another.
THE implements used were a chain, q
long bamboo club, a bucket, an oak
club, the handle of a mop or broom. |
have seen as many as five men with
black eyes at the same time. We did
not dare to strike back lest we be shot"
Edward Simpson said: "Peter Han
sen was killed by brutality and starva-
ton. The second mate seemed to have a
particular grudge against him and so did
the captain. They used to take turns
lyrn yirlCr how
do it together. Hansen finally got sick
and feverish. He was covered with black
and blue marks and was weak from lack
of food.
1.-THE officers said that Hansen was
shamming. They went to his bunk and
called him, but he was toe weak to get
up. SO the captain yanked him out Of
bed and dragged him out on deck in the
presence of second mate and boatswain
Then the captain picked him up. You're
sick, are you?' calling him vile names
d you, I'll make you sicker
When l speak to you move, and that
Then the captain slammed him down
on the deck again. This he repeated three
times, cursing violently all the while.
In half an hour he was dead. This was
last Sunday"
The truthfulness Of this narrative was
vouched for by Sailors William Smith.
EDWARD i thompson, Pierre Daniel, Fred
Landstrom and Fritz Streecy, all of
whom declared that they would swear to
the facts as soon as they had an oppor-
tunity.
Fred Landstrom, who was also one of
the bedridden men and whose right arm
was in a splint, said: 81 have got three
broken ribs, | think, and my arm is use
less. | have been to sea for forty years
and | never saw officers so brutal as
those on this ship. We have just been
bullied and starved the entire voyage.
Il have seen scurvy before and | know
that Thompson has it. The Frenchman,
Pierre Daniel, and McCausland have ev-
cry symptoms of it,
First Mate Robinson, who was in
charge of the bark, the captain being alb
sent, when asked what he had to say
about the charges made by the men,
said it was true he had been forced to
strike the Frenchman and others, but
never when they did not need it, No
particular violence. he said, was done TO
the man who died. The crew were
Quarrelsome lot and continually fighting
among themselves.
How about the charge that they did
not have enough to eat?" asked the re-
porter.
Il have nothing to say as to that"
said Mr.. Robinson, evasiveiy.
Capt Morris could not be found.