New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-14
BLUEJACKETS BEATEN
admiral EU0Hs Complains of Treat
ment Of Sailors at Portland


Washington. Sept ls-Rear Admiral Evans has
sent 20 the Secretary OF the Navy a renort an
whieh he vigorously crlticises the ,reatueDt the
sailors Of his feet received - Portland Ne He
charges that they were beaten by the roUc. and
were not admitted 20 places OF amusement because
they wore their uniform. The report is dated on
the flagship Maine, at Bar Harbor. September s.
and Is follows:
and second torpedo notilla 20 Portland Ne Whish
Nlslt was MADE az me suggestion of the residents
or Maine. many OF the men Of the Indiana We're
treated with great brutality by the police ana by
n civilian IN tho presence Of the police, from
which | may mir that he was policeman in
These men, who were without a doubt. rarfao,lr
sober ana ana going In the direction OF the wharf at
Niaeh me SHIPS oeats landed. were dubbed and
civilian. in The presence OF the police. drew re-
Nothing hut commendation be SAID Of these
hluelaokets foy their moderation in submitting
they outnumbered the police and without a doubt
they eouid have, have taken them In charge.
we've obliged to submit took place az skating
ing ring on Peaks Island and then skates We're
refused them on the ground that they were dressed
lance 70 other entertainments that were places Of
common amusement ana 10 which civilians regard
less OF their character Of the condition OF their
oothes, admitted II they had the price Of sd-
| presume the owners or managers Of places Of
amusement are not compelled 20 sell tickets, but
citizens OF Portland e say that they objected to
sitting beside sober, honest ana industrious men
w ,I are IN a professlon among the most honor
concerned the report Of the eommsnGin s eosr n
and the correspondence with the mayor ~ Portland
mss cannot be undertaken by the USited states
men who So bT,a 11sfs5 bs man S'e ana ponce zee
civilian who drew revolver on them. have To
tho department that such publicity be given to this
Incident as may tend to bring. about change in
consideration may Be shown to the men OF the
naval service when they are shore
have 70 inform The department that, except
when otherwise instructed by the department..
visit Portland.
The enlisted men I'm their statement 90 the CON-
handing officer say that while they in the
streets OF Portland they were repeatedly ordered
10 move although they were simply standing
IN the street in conversation. Those who were
present when the incident referred by Admiral
Evans occurred say that the policemen ordered
them 20 move on. but without giving the party
time 20 move the police officers started 20 club
and kick those I'm the rear. and that they drove
them about two blocks in this manner. Captain
Tnley called the affair 20 the attention al The
Mayor OF Portland. who promised to investigate IT,
The day before the ships sailed from Portland, he
says the Mayor came board the Iowa and said
that he had arranged that the men should have
the privilege Of the skating Kinks and other places
= amusement. Captain Tiey also forwards a let
ter from she Mayor OF Portland. dated August %
and rat II the ships return the men would be
properly treated. Captain Tilley says the general
feeling Of unfTiendiness in Portland toward the
men was because they were sailors IN uniform.
Commenting the report. Secretary BOnsparte
said that ne would make recommendations TO Con
gress for legislation 10 meet sv"h conditions and
that II would not be the policy OF the department
go out Of It's way send vessels 10 places wher
seamen III treated. The inference Is that al
ports OF this kind viii be avoided unless il is
sary for vessels go there in the course OF bust
ness. Mr.. BoEaparte Is not that the Civil
Rights act, such part OF Il as has not been de
clared uDcOnstitUton would meet the condition
that exist and IS also doubtful about applying
a Jaw designed for wholly different purpose u
meet conditicrs which have since arisen. he be
! Heyes that a law can be passed which viii protec
the men OF the navy and army against II treatment
Portland. Ne. Sept. 13.-Concerning the report o.
Rear Admiral Evans with reference TO ST treatment
OF sailors. Mayor clifford said to-day that IN
vestigaton at the time indicated that the men hat
suffered no injustice. The Mayor said that h,
personally directed that marines have as much lee
way the police could possibly give. Only on
arrest was made and that was for intoxication anC
disturbance. Mayor Clifford said also that ne mad
arrangements for the admission OF marines 10
skating rink at q pleasure resort, which tn
only place refusing 20 let them IN. and that IN,
oil Gen hat INV ma bgd ed