The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-08
Officer Paul to Be
Court Martialed.
He. INSULTED HIS SUPERIOR
"SPLICED THE MAIN BRACE
ONCE TOO OFTEN"
Second Engineer Runs Amuck Aboard
Ship and Attempts to Strike the
Executive Officer, Lieu
tenant Dodge.

Second Engineer G. II. Paul Of the rev.
enue cutter Rush, who, according to the
statements Of the crew, has been il dis
turting element on the ship ever since he
became attached to her, is to be court
martialed for disobeying orders and at
fempting to assault the executive officer,
lieutenant F. G. Dodge
The man, who is now practically in
disgrace among his fellow officers and for
whom the jolly tars and the marines on
the Rush have no kind word. is accused
of being too fond Of the cup that cheers,
fand the story goes that he "spliced the
main brace once too often" While the
lofficer5 Of the revenue cutter are bound
by the customs of their position not to
discuss such matters for publication,
enough has been learned Of the trouble
ITO state positively that the situation is
serious one.
On one occasion since the Rush re-
turned to port PauPs unQuenchable thirst
assumed control over his better judg
ment and he went on the warpath His
belligerent disposition did not break out
until he returned TO the ship one night
while she was lying in the stream. After
disturbing most Of the crew, il is stated,
he ran into the executive officer for
whom the sailors say he had no great
amount of affection. He was ordered
TO his quarters but refused to obey the
command. He is said to have lost com
plete control of himself and TO have made
an attempt to strike his superior. Several
members Of the crew, who were near by,
grabbed him before he could carry his
threat into execution.
The result of the affair is that charges
against Paul were compiled and forward
ed to Washington October "a. They were
made by the executive officer, Lieutenant
Dodge. The following board has been
appointed to try the offending officer:
Captain c. /. Hooper, president Captain
W. &. Caulson, Chief Engineers J. A
Doyle and J. II. Chalker, and Second
Lieutenant S. NJ. Landrey Of the revenue
service. Second Lieutenant c. S. Coch-
ran was named as recorder of the board
and First Lieutenant D. J. Foley has been
selected to prosecute the offender.
The Court-martial will be held on board
Of the Rush as soon as Captain Hooper,
who IS stationed at Seattle, selects the
day and can arrange to come here.
Lieutenant Dodge when seen last even
ing on the Rush refused to enter into
detailed discussion of the trouble He
eaid that the charges had been fled but
would not state the nature Of them.
From members of the crew, however,
II is learned that Paul has not been a
popular man aboard ship. He has been
dOmlneering over the members of the
crew whose stations were beneath his,
and to the officers and his superiOrs ne
has been a source Of continual trouble.
No sympathy is expressed for him in his
present difficulty, and the crew state that
IF he had received his just deserts he
would have been Court-martialed long ago.
Captain Hooper was in Oakland Mon
day on his way to Seattle. When seen by
q representative Of The Call he denied
by inference that there was any trouble
on the Rush, that any of the officers had
been contaminated or that he had been
appointed president Of the board that
would try the charges.