The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-08-27
UNION AGAIN
TROUBLE FOR AMERICAN BARK
FOoHNG sUEY.
All the Men Desert Her Without Or
ders and the Captain Proposes to
Prosecute Them.

Captain Willett of the American
bark Foohng Suey called on United
States District Attorney Baird this
morning to ask instructions as to how
to deal with his crew, who all deserted
the vessel yesterday afternoon, dis
obeying orders. 1t is claimed that
they were persuaded to do so by run
ners for the Coast Seamen's Union, who
boarded the vessel as soon as she ar
rived here. Captain Willett decided to
prosecute the men if othere was any
law under which he could do so.
The Foohng Suey arrived yesterday,
after trip of 121 days from New York.
Inc men said they wanted to be paid
off here, and the captain agreed to pay
Inem on. In the meantime the Union
runners got among them and, accord
ing to the master, caused the Trouble
At o'clock in the afternoon the men
quit work. They had been ordered to
unbend sails, etc, the ship having just
arrived and not being in condition for
staying in port. Captain Willett OBJ
served his crew stopping work and
preparing to leave the vessel and want
ed to know what was the matter.
IT'S . o'clock" said one of the crew.
whats that?" asked the astonished
captain, who had never heard of the
sailor o'clock proposition before.
rive o ClOCh-We KNOW WIdl lie
rules are" said sailor, and the whole
crew of eleven men proceeded to leave.
The Foohng Suey was left without a
sailor on board, with sails uD and there
was no one to shift the vessel this
morning. Captain Willett decided to
see the United States attorney and
find out what he could do in the mat
ter.
The Foohng Suey was formerly a
Hawaiian vessel, and got American re
glster by virtue of annexation of Ha-
wall. Captain Willett says he never
had any trouble until American laws
applied; and sea-lawyers and Union
runners began to tackle him.
81 curse the day the vessel was ever
put under the American nag said the
captain this morning. TT is impossi-
bic to run a ship under the laws as
they are, without trouble all the time.
Whoever heard of seamen quitting be
cause o'clock came. with the vessel
just arrived and needing to be straight
ened out? I told my men I would pay
them off here if they wanted me to. and
was going to do so, but l told them
that they must first straighten out the
tvessei MY orCie were that they mus
obey the mates orders till things were
put i'm shape. and then | would pay
them off.
"Honolulu is worse than New York
for sea-captains. If a crew can do like
mine did a captain has no authority al
all. The men signed the usual articles
and were in duty bound to stay by the
: vessel and work.
"If there is any way to do 1t, l Will
go after them to the limit The first
thing this morning l had to shift the
vessel and was without crew to. dc
1t. I propose to fight to a finish If there
is any way to fight"
ITS the Union again" said oscar
| Lewis, who helped the captain to gel
| some men to work his. vessel. "As
! soon as the FoohnF Suey arrived the
union runners were aboard and they go
| the men to leave the vessel to make
trouble for the captain, just the same
as they got other captains into trou
BILE. The Foohng Suey is fine vessel
has been coming here for years anC
/ has a good reputation for treatment o
men and supply of food"
A number of the sailors also calle
on District Attorney Baird, to max
charges against chief mate Lund. AS
result of their statements to Baird
Lund will be charged with assault an
battery on the high sea, upon one of tn
sailors.