The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-07-01
oRHWs WoN,F 90 UNDHn Our TExo.
Thrss Bri,l.h shlps We Nave nsuEhs 70 ,,
Neatly Newly r1.nncS.

Three British ships we Nlnva meuEhs - ne
NtsstIy Newly nsanned.
ny order of Major summerhayos. Assistant
Depot Quartermastcr at Now York, the Ameri.
can flag was raised on Wednesday afternoon at
tho peaks Of the English ships Mississippi and
Mohawk. purchased by tho Government from
the Atlantic Transport line; OF the British tramp
stcamer Port Victor, and Of the Spanish ship
Panama, taken as n prize in Cuban waters. The
raising Of tho new flag over these ships was the
signal for an immediate strike on the part of tho
English crews Of the Mississippi, Mohawk. and
Port Victor. 1t ls probable that the only reason
why the crow Of the Panama did not strike was
because they nre prisoners and couldn't.
1t was shortly before noon on Wednesday
that Major Summerhnyes gave tho order at
Pier 80 East River. whore the ships are being
RENTED. The flags went up all riRht, and then,
as the Major was going aboard one Of tho ships,
tho Captains Of tho Mohawk, Mississippi and
Port Victor came to him and said:
Major Summerhayes. we have to report that
every man on the ships Of which we arc the
Captains has refused to sail under tho Ameri-
can flag"
Major Summerhayes was somewhat surprised,
because at a conference between the officers and
petty offlcers Of the British ships and Col. Kim
bali, the Depot Quartermaster. that morning
the officers had all agreed to go. and vouched
for the crews. When Major Summcrhayes be-
gan to make inquiries he found that the Cap
tains of the Mississippi and Mohawk were quite
willing to servo under the American flag, and
would stick by their ships. The engine room
forco and tho petty officers Of each ship, how
over. refused absolutely to co. AS for tho Port
Victor, neither Captain. engineers, petty Off.
GERS. nor crew would serve.
Having got o clear understanding Of the sit.
uation, Major Summerhayes told the Captains
to clear out the whole crowd on board each OF
the ships then and thore, as he proposed immo-
diately to assign new officers and crows. Hav'
ing made this statement, he returned to his
office in the Army building and got to work on
that job. He was getting along fairly we'll
whom the chief engineers Of the Mississippi and
Mohawk came around to see him.. They had
been talking only n few minutes whom 1t be
camo clear to Major Summerhayes just why
they had struck. Thoy wanted higher wagos
Major Summerhayes heard them all through
and then reported to Col. Kimball. The result
Of 1t all was that the Captain and engineer o.
the Mohawk were engaged Mt q salary agreoC
upon. The first assistant engineer of tho Mis-
Bissippi was promoted to be chief engineer, th,
second assistant to first assistant, and the thirc
assistant engineer has boon engaged. The chic
engineer of the Mississippi is out of a job.
The Captain and petty officers and crew of tn
Port Victor stuck to their original determine
ton. Before the day was out, however, o neV
Captain was secured as we'll as an engineer, an,
the petty officers and crews Of all three ship
are now nearly all secured. The ships will sail
as was originally intended, on Sunday.
The Mississippi will be rehtted 30 as to carr
800 horses. 800 men and 1900 tons Of 0xtr
coal. Her complement of officers ana men IL n
She Is supplied with electric fans, electric light
in the quarters of the men and live stock and
distilling plant The Mohawk will carry LOO
horses and 1000 men. storage tanks for STORM
$4,000 gallons of distilled water. 1.6oo tons {
extra coal and $50 tons of commissary store
Her complement of officers and mon Is s5.
The Lampasas and the Nueces, ohRrtere
from the Mallory line and rehtted into tran
ports, will leave for Port Tampa to-day.