Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-10-03
CLUBBED
OFF THE
SHIP
Martinique LabOrerS Refuse
to 60 Ashore at
Panama

Six hundred and fifty laboreTs from
Martinique, taken 10 Colon Friday or
the French steamer Versailles, under
contract TO work on the canal, refused
TO disembark or TO submit to vaccina.
tion, which is imperative under the
American sanitary regulations. They
elamored TO be taken back 10 Martin.
ique, asserting that they had been mis-.
informed as to the conditions here be-
fore they embarked. and that later
they learned these conditions were in.
tolerable and deadly.
Yesterday morning, however, 500 Of
them were with difficulty persuaded 70
land, and these were sent TO points
along the line Of the canal. One hun.
dred and fifty remained on board and
declined 10 leave the ship under any
consideration. These were foreibly
elected from the vessel this afternoon
by Panaman and Canal Zone police
men, but not until nearly every one Of
them had been clubbed and several
were bleeding from nasty wounds.
All yesterday and last night the Yer
saillcs was guarded by Panaman po-
lieemen. Early this morning. the
French consul at Colon. NJ. Bonhenry.
appealed TO the men to listen TO rea.
son, explaining that they had left
Martinique under contract with the
Canal Zone emigration agent, guaran.
tecing the payment Of their passage
here, and that while working on the
canal, they would have, In addition 20
their wages, the guarantee Of free
quarters and free medical attendance.
The men, however, were not answer.
able to this reasoning. Notwithstand-
ing the efforts Of the consul, Of the
Pauaman and American officials, and
despite the information given them by
several OF their countrymen that
health and other conditions on the
isthknus were satisfactory, and that
the terms Of their employment would
enable them 10 save money, they per.
sistently refused TO leave the ship.
barring their breasts and invoking
death in preference to going ashore
The captain Of the Versailles, who.
an through the trouble, displayed an
extraordinary amount Of patience,
told the men that he was ready 70
take back 20 Martinique all those who
were able 10 pay their passage, but
the men argued that the French gov.
eminent would be willing 70 reimburse
the steamship company and that they
themselves we're penniless.
Before noon. at the instance Of NJ.
Raver. the agent Of the company, and
the French consul, with a squad Of Il
police went on board the vessel and
told the men that force would be used
II they persisted in their refusal 20
disembark. Seeing that the police
were armed with bayonets and guns,
the men again barred their breasts and
said they preferred death rather than
be taken ashore. Governor Melendez
Mayor Allron, the chief Of police and
others urged the men, but again with
out effect.
Ten additional policemen arrived az
the wharf, but the governor, wishing
to avoid bloodshed, and considering
that the police force was insufficient
telegTaphed 20 President Amador, ask
ing permission 10 use the Canal Zone
police, 10 which the president cont
sented. Meantime IL policemen from
the Zone had arrived at the dock, and
were being held in readiness
AT Q o'clock the laborers were in
formed that they would be given two
hours to reconsider their decision, and
at o'clock three Of them consented
to disembark, the others holding out
Then the Panaman police, armed with
clubs, approached the labOEers, aud on