The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1901-05-15
SAILORS MAKE COMPLAINT
Brutal Treatment Alleged on ,hc Ais
lersthwIn's Trip.

Sailors oh he German ship Alstor-
schwnn. which recently arrived in the
Columbia from New York via YOko-
hama tell iurid tale Of brutality on
the trip that seems almost Incredible.
According TO the Telegram soon after
m" AistersrhwAn arrived IN Portland
hnrbor several members of the crsw
appeared az the Office of an attorney
an t"ld him their tale. The shp had
sailed from New York around the
HON. To Yokohama and from thence to
Portland. on leaving quantity of
dried peas and beans were taken aboard
with which 20 make soup. In the
course OF the voyage the fare BECAME
slim. and the supply of bean and pea
soup was cut on. The crew declare
they were given composition coffee and
maggo:ty sea biscuits for breakfast. and
weak tea and more wOrmy hardtack
for supper. Meat Was do!ed out twice
a week.
on board there are three apprentices.
Tn h'se bows are Germans and We're lhlp-
ped bv their parents. one Of the lads,
according 10 the deposition, was shame
fully abused and left the vessel there.
He IN vaid 10 ntve written 10 his par
ents telling " his treatment and took
the letter all to BE- mailed NJ the prop
cr time The mate. II Il alleged. open
81 he bows mail and hnding that he
had Informed his relatives of the abuses
showcr,d upon him. he called the ap-
prentice 10 him and Administered a
cruel beating The crew then saw the
captain and told him they wanted 10
se' The German consul when the ship
should arrive AZ Yokohama and eX-
plain n few things to that representa-.
Tive, To this the master replied that
he would see the consul first and that
after his visit he ga not care how
many ~ his crew visited the officer.
AZ Yokohama, he apprentice left the
Alterschwan. hs dill about dozen Japs
More laps were shipped 20 till the va
cancies. After leaving Yokohama the
mates and captain turned their otten-
,Ion TO the remaining apprentices The
mate. according 10 the statements taken
by the stenographer freQuetly expec-
,orated In the faces " the boys and also
had habit " throwing the ashes OF
hia pipe in;o their faces. The lads were
often whipped One lay he mate beat
one ot the apprentices, and when he
was through he was called afr by the
captain. AS a result ~ this interview
both the captain and the mate returned
t. the boy and knocked him abou, and
Nelahored him until the deck was COW
cred with blood within a radius of
several .e't The sailors who with 'ssAi
this brutality were sickened with the
sight,
When Astoria was reached the cap
tain gave a boarding house master
small sum OF money and requested him
10 take the japanese members Of the
crew ashore ana ship them on another
vessel. One OF these laps was in Por,-
land and made statement, A sea-
man says he overheard the captain tell
ing some one what neat rick he
turned In getting rid OF the Japs, as he
might have had trouble with the United
States government over the pauper act
In landing them In this country, practic-
ally penniless. The Jap who came to
Portland said he was glad to leave the
vessel, even though wages were due
him, He declared that his countrymen
and himself were knocked about and
beaten continually and that although
he was sick. he was made to work IS
out Of the - hours. He understands
English, but says he does not know why
Nt WIS Nhu'Hptl Sus 1 MS Jdp tIillhH
;hr captain sent his countrymen and
himself ashore 1t Astoria fearing the
Japs would go to thar consul II they
reached Portland and relate the story
Of their harsh treatment.
Armed with these alleged facts and
accompanied by q seaman. Lawyer
Dltchburn visited the German consul
To make a statement
This sailor asked me to come here
with him TO explain his treatment" be-
gan the attornev
He had no right to see lawyer be-
fore coming 10 see me. the consul" said
Germany's representative.
"tie says he has been mistreated en-
board"
"Has he a certificate from his cap
tain"
mo"
Then he must return To his ship"
The attorney managed 10 squeeze in
a few sentences covering the case, hut
was repeatedly Interrupted by the con-
sui who would hear nothing and sav
beyond that the sailor must re-
turn on board at once. Under the
Mr. Dftchburn saws he
fails to see what can be done for the
men.
The sailors were expected to appear
before the consul In a body Monday
afternoon, but changed their plans later.
declaring that they could secure no sat
isfaction from the consul. and that the
ship was so bad a number OF the men
deserted, and others left yesterday.