Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-30
MUTINEERS OF BARK
TELL THEIR SIDE OF STORY
CLAIM TO HAVE BEEN STARVED
BY CAPTAIN
Declare That Commander Of Vessel
Used Pistol in Threatening Manner.
Big Advance in San Pedro Prop
erty-capt. Truebrdee Under Ban

Special to The Herald.
SAN PEDRO Nov. 29.-The Herald
correspondent visited the bark Haddor
Hall, lying in the outer harbor with
mutnous crew, today and got their
side of the story. They are united In
their grievance and say they will stand
by what they have undertaken IL they
all have to go to Jail until it is set
tied. They say that soon after leav-
ing Tquique, Chile, the captain began
system of abuse equal to that OF
ship masters of fifty years ago; that
they were so starved at times that they
were scarcely able to do the necessary
work of the ship: that the captain
never had a word for them except
abuse and would listen to no talk that
they might offer.
Finally, not long before they came
into this port, one of the men laid
the story before him and was reward
ed for his efforts by having loaded
pistol placed at his mouth and told to
get out of there and never speak of 1t
again After this the captain seemed
to be almost crazy and a day or so
later again placed his pistol at the ear
of q sailor and told him to do some
thing or he would blow his head off.
This was more than the men would
stand and they concluded to stop work
as soon as they got into port They did
not mutiny on the high seas" but
sailed the ship into the harbor, un-
shipped the anchor and furled the sails,
then told the skipper what he might
look for by demanding their pay and
being allowed to go ashore. The cap
tain swore that he would have them
all in chains and departed for Los An
geles to lay his case before the British
consul. The consul, A. l.. Best, came
down and took the statements of the
crew and the mate, but there has been
no decision yet. The crew are mostly
armed with long knives and declare
they will stick to their post, come what
will. A load of provisions was taken
aboard today and it was with difficulty
enough men could be secured to get
| them hoisted aboard. The spokesman
of the crew is the boatswain. Edmund
| Shehan. The way the case stands now
it looks as though it would have to &C
to the United States court for settle
ment. The sailors are willing, how
ever, to give $40 apiece of their wages
| to help get a new crew. The mate OF
the vessel while not taking the part
of the crew, says that life on board
with this captain has been "hell
afloat' and he is anxious to get away
himself. The ship was built in Liver
pool for the Australian trade in 1868.
Big Advance in Property
syndicate of San Pedro capitalists
today purchased what is known as
the Niger Brown" property, consist
ing of 200 feet on the corner of Center
and Seventh streets, for $4,000. 1t has
been known for many years as a place
habitated by seafaring men and many
tales could be told of happenings
therein. Four years ago it was sold
for $625.
The steamer Olympia arrived in the
outer harbor this afternoon and it will
be the last trip of the captain, True
bridge, who is under a ban because of
previous bad conduct He will return
to San Francisco and deliver up his
masters certificate. He is well known
on the coast.