New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-26
KIDNAPPED FOR A SAILOR.
DARING CASE OF SHANGHAI" COMES
TO LIGHT IN THIS PORT

DRUNKEN UNITED STATES SEAMAN FROM THE
DOLPHIN AwAKEs ABOARD AN OUTWARD
BOUND MERcEANTMAN JUMPS OVER
BOARD AND IS FOUND INcAsED IN
ICE IN AN OPEN BOAT
Through the regulations governing the ship
ping OF sailors and the precautions taken TO-
sailors boarding-houses the custom Of shipping
the men on vessels without their own sober con-
sent has been practically done away with. but
yesterday an apparently fragrant case Of
genuine "shanghaling" came to the knowledge
OF the shipping officials. and it will be thor
oughly Investigated. The case seems TO be an
especially daring attempt to reap the reward
PAID Tor furnishing sailors 10 ships on long voy-
ages. for the man who thus captured and
put on board merchantmen one of Uncle
Sans bluejackets. who had come home to spend
Thanksgiving with his relatives in Brooklyn.
Like many Of the other sailors this one found
that Shore leave" was a most enjoyable thing
after confinement on board ship and he pro-
ceeded to enjoy 1t on reaching New-York In true
sailor fashion He only realized that his ex-
periences were not TO he all enjoyment when he
woke up early yesterday morning on a vessel
bound for Yokohama. and found that he had
been signed one Of the crew Of that vessel
and stood a chance Of being classed as de-
serter from the Navy.
The story OF the sailors adventures first came
out when the tug Edward NJ. Timmins put in to
Pier a. North River, and landed man who, 1t
was thought would die from exposure. Captain
Roche Of the tug. while she was bound 10 quar-
antine from the city. had seen a small boat
floating in the Bay off Sixty-ffth-st., Bay Ridge.
He changed his course to come up with this
small boat and soon saw sailor sitting in the
stern. The man was almost completely cov-
cred with a coating Of Ice and snow. He
taken on board the tug. and il was found that
he was completely stupefed by the cold. In the
cabin Of the tug they gave him hot drinks and
he was eventually restored to consciousness.
He then said that he was John Wilson, twenty
nine years old, sailor on the United states
ship Dolphin and told a strange tale.
THE SAILORS STORY.
A few days ago. the sailor said he had OBJ
tained shore leave from the Dolphin. which is
now al Washington and came to New-York to
spend Thanksgiving with his mother, at no. -
Fayette-st, Brooklyn. He soon found some
companions whom he had known ever since he
entered the service. and with them started out
to have a good time. The last he remembered
until early Friday morning was that he was still
having good time He woke up then TO find
himself on board the ship Tam o Shanter, bound
for Yokohama. He then realized that he had
been shanshaied and determined to escape from
the vessel
Conferring with several members Of the crew
he found another man who said that he had
been put on board against his will. This man
expressed desire TO escape while the ship was
still in the Bay. Two other members of the
crew also expressed their willingness to desert
about ] o'clock yesterday morning while the
mate was below. They lowered the ships boat
over the side. and Wilson got into IT, The sec
ond man to 20 down the rope however. upset
the tiny craft. and with Wilson fell into the
water What became of the other two men
neither Wilson nor his companion could tell
As was learned afterward from the captain Of
the ship. however they got away. Wilson held
on to the upturned boat which drifted with the
tide away from the ship. and AT last succeeded
in righting il. Ills companion. whose name Is
John Leesey, held on to the anchor chain, and
was ter on rescued and taken aboard the Tam
O Shanter.
The captain Of the ship is Thomas Ballard.
He came TO the city yesterday afternoon from
Quarantine TO ship four new men in place of
Wilson ana Leescy and the other two sailors.
He brought Lecsey W to the city. and allowed
him to 60 as soon he found out that the man
had been placed on board without knowing
where he going. In tho mean time the
story told by Wilson had been investigated by
the harbor police and found to he correct y
policeman from the station took Wilson 10 the
brooklyn Navy Yard and there found that ne
was a sailor from the Dolphin The policeman
left him there, and he was At once put on board
the receiving ship Vermont H was told that
II he wanted 10 return to the Dolphin n" would
have to arrange TO pay his own transportation:
He said that he did not want to he considered
a doserter and AT once sent ~ friends Tor the
money 20 pay his way 10 Washington.
CAPTAIN SAYS HE IS INNOCENT.
Captain Ballard Of the Tam o Shanter said,
when seen yesterday that lie knew nothing
about the "shanghaiine" Of the sailors, and that
h. had obtained them in the regular way
through a boarding house. All he knew was
that four of his men had gone, and that he had
come ashore for four more. At tho Office oi tle
Shipping Commissioner. in the CheSeprouSh
BUILDING Commissioner Maurice j. Power Whrn
asked about the case. said that ne hardiy pc
lievcd .'shanghaiing" was possible uudtr the
present system or signing stH"iS' u a. -: ~:
however he SAID thai sometimes a sailor might
be impersonated by boariInS-hous dummy
who would answer 10 the sailors name before
the Commissioner.
The records of the Shipping Commissioners
onira ehoy, that Wilson was signed under the
nanc az Wilson On November 80. and was sup
nosed 70 have answered rOllcai on board snip
The same afternoon Whether dummy was
used 10 answer to the name on the snip the rec
ords Of course cannot show. The man was put
on board the ship by Richari Murphy. a Doaru-
tnp-houso keeper - No. Isl Chcrry-st. VINO
eaid that Wilson owed him SD for board. rms
amount was paid 10 Murphy OUT Of the sailor :
advance money. The boarding house Keeper
denies all knowledge Of the attempt 70 snans-
hal" Wilson.
MANY NARROWLY ESCAPE DEATH.
NEARLY REPETITION OF The CHARITY BAZAAR