The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-03-05
COfRCfD WITH PISTOLS.
OUTRAGEOUS TREATMENT
ACCORDED NINE MEN.
Riyersdale Puts to Sea With q
Crew Which IL Predicted
VIII Mmtiny.

Huddlei together Ike cattle and pro-
testing against the outrageous action.
nine men from San Francisco were
yesterday driven aboard the British
ship RIversdale at the point OF re-
vo1yers, and two hours later the yesr
sci was out at sea. No other case OF
such slaring injustice has occurred
sinee the baImy days OF the shanghaier
whose depreda;ions rendered unsafe
the lifsAof any man who dared 60 along
the waterfront
Ever since the British ship Rivers
dale reached Dort TO load grain for
Australia, her master, captaIp Porter,
has been In trouble. He has always
been in trouble on the coast, and in
variabiy the trouble has been. Of his
own making. He declined to take men
from the sailor clearinghouse mast
ers at Portland when his ship was
ready to leave down the river, but In
steal picked up IA men on the streets
OF that city and sent to San Fran
cisco for IA others.
Captain Porter's agents at San Fran
CISCO who are boarding house men.
secured the II men. but they were any
thing but sailors. The men had been
picked up on the streets of San Fran
cisco and not one had ever been at
sea. The Dollar changed from one
dock to another at San Francisco, and
four Of the men made their escape dur
ing stampede. The sailors stated to
the captain OF the Dollar. Johnson.
that they would not go aboard the shso
until they were provided with cloth
ing. They said the rags on their
backs represented their worldly pos
sessions. and they would not go to
sea unless they received their outfits.
Present at the time were Attorney
Hume OF Portland. a deputy United
States marshal who has been on the
ship since she left Portland, and two
other deputies who had come down
with Hume
On the refusal OF the men 10 go
aboard Captain johnson OF the Dollar
drew his revolver and told the men he
would shoot any one who refused TO
obey his command. The sailors again
protested. but the pistol that the cap
tain held admitted OF no further argu-
ment When the men were mustered
on deck there were only nine in the
crowd. The impression seemd TO pre-
vail that the tenth man had fallen In
to the river as the men were hastened
over the steamers side, but he was
snugly hidden away in the bunkers
below.
Without any effort whatever to pre-
ven. the outrage that was being en-
acted before their very eyes, the mar
shals stood quietly by and allowed
Captain johnson to drive the men
aboard.
The stamer proceeded to her dock
in this city and Captain Porter order
ed his crew to heave anchor. The men
refused absolutely to turn to-" and
Captain Porter found 1t necessary to
send up to the city for stevedores to
hoist the anchor When this had been
done the shop was picked up by tug
and taken to sea.
Captain Porter stated to residents of
this city that the San Francico con-
tingent aboard was without clothing
other than which they wore on their
backs. but he declared his intention
to sail with them IF he sent the ship
TO the bottom"
1t was freely predicted yesterday the
Riversdale would not go far before
trouble would break out, and mutiny
is regarded as almost certain,