New-York tribune., 1901-02-07

this city where they would be lodged in the
Ludlow Street Jail. Nj Ruprecht said he had
already made arrangements for a new crew 10
be shipped
He was asked concerning rumor that there
had been bloodshed board the Astral He
replied that so far as he knew there had heen
none,
The letter / received from Captain Dunham
did not say So" said Mr. Ruprecht. 1t con-
tained an appeal for help. and stated that the
crew had mutinied, but gave no cause. The let
ter said that the men refused duty, but said they
were willing to take the vessel hack TO port
At the sailors Home il was said the men
had all shipped as able seamen. and it was de
clared that if there had been mutiny it was not
because Of the men being landuhbers.
The statement was made yesterday afternoon
by Commissioner Shields, who It is supposed
received the information from a trustworthy
source, that after the twenty-three seamen
bearded the Astral at Williamsburg the day
she dropped down the stream 10 go 20 sea it
vas learned that only eight Of the number had
the faintest conception Of what the duties Of
an ablebodied seaman were. This discovery
not made, however. until after the tugs
taking the Astral out had dropped their hawsers
and left the big steel ship 70 her own head. The
eight men are then reported TO have refused to
do duty with fifteen who knew nothing 10
their work. yet who received the same wages
they. Captain Dunham made repeated de-
mands that all hands go TO work They
fused. il is said. and then he read the law con-
cernng mutiny 10 them. but they still refused
The men came from sailors boarding houses
in this city and in Brooklyn. They were sup
posed TO know how 10 do everything called for
in the sailors line and were TO receive the high
est rate Of wages
NOT EXPECTED HERE TILL MORNING
Mr.. DaIzell Of the towing company. said that
the two tugs sent down TO tow the Astral into
Gravesend Bay would probably not reach her
before o'clock last evening Then. he said II
would take until this morning before the tugs
could get back 10 this city. in case the mutt
neers were arrested and brought up TO be placed
in the Ludlow Street Jail
Mr.. Dalzell said the Astral was towed out by
one Of his company's boats early Sunday morn
ing. The tug cast its hawsers loose just out
side the Scotland lightship, ana at that time the
storm was beginning 10 lash the sea into great
breakers. 1t was only short time after that
ii is said. before the crew refused 10 obey com
mands
The Astral is one Of the largest Of the Standard
on Company's fleet She was launched from the
shipyards Of Arthur Sewau & Co, at Bath, Me-,
on December Q. Her rigging, sails and ropes are
new and unused. They are stiff and unwieldy,
and ii Was said 10y old seamen last night that
TINS fact may, and in all probability did have
much 10 do with the reluctance Of the eight
seamen to continue the long and necessarily
hard voyage with fifteen sailors who had little
idea OF their duties board ship. The breaking
In Of vessel such as the Astral is alwavs n
diihcult task. owing 20 the unwiedness Of her
rigging.
1t was reported by the pilot who brought in
the steamship Astoria late last evening that
the trouble on the Astral caused by the
refusal OF the men 10 weigh anchor. He had
heard that the men had refused 10 take I'D
the anchor without the assistance Of a tug
owing to the gale the assistance of a tug had
been necessary 10 keep the vessel well mn
while they took the anchor in
The revenue cutter which was reported TO
nave been alongside the Astral returned to
Tompknsvie at a late hour
The deputy United States rnarshals who went
down 10 Quarantine on the Revenue cutter Hud-
son win warrants for the alleged mutineers re-
turned 10 the city about 80 p. m They were
unable to get out 10 the ship or board the cutter
Gresham 1t was said that another effort 10
arrest the men would be made to-day.
RUMoR OF INCITEMENT.
Among the theories advanced as TO the cause
of the trouble is 10 the effect that the men
were melted to mutiny by the agents of an as
sociation for supplying sailors 20 vessels which
was rival Of the association which did fur
nish the crew Of the Astral II is said that the
agents Of the rival association went among the
'" VI the Asual ana represented TO them
mat the Astral was unseaworthy and that II
had been loaded much beyond it's capacitv
This. IL is said, frightened the sailors and
caused them to refuse to continue the voyage
In a ship they considered to be doomed
IL was also rumored that the chief officer who
came with the ship from Bath Ne IA this nor,
refused TO continue the voyage and left her AT
thls port. giving the same reasons for doiDc e. !
that are said 10 have been given in ~ a,.e 50 -
10 persuade the sailors TO refuse Ia san P'
IL was reported late last nigbt ~. -,
Tefenne cutter Gresham had gone TO C;oyernor,s
lslshe ana taken on board body OF soldiers