The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-02-12
SAILORS MUTINY
AND DESERT SHIP
Forcibly Take Possession of a
Boat and Row to
Seattle.
FRENCH BARK CLAIMED
TO BE SHY OF BALLAST
Crew and Officers Clash, but the
Seamen Win and Remain
on Shore.


French bark Admiral Courbot lying oft
Port Townsend. mutlnicd today, and aft
or forcibly taking a boat, pulled ashore.
declaring they would not proceed to sea
in the vessel owing to her lightened con-
dltion. N w, Rear OF Port Townsend,
who arrived In the city today. said that
the sailors were afraid to go to sea with
the vessel in light ballast
For the last two days" said Mr..
O Rear, Launches have been busy run
ming out to the ship. putting on ballast
Yesterday morning the vessel was ready
TO go TO sea and a tug arrived to take
her out. Her owners had ordered her to
Sydney. Australia.
Whole Crew Deserts.
shortly after tho tug arrived people
ashore noticed q commotion aboard There
was n good deal OF shouting in French
and wild gesticulating. Then one of the
boats was lowered and practically the
entire crew, with the exception of the
officers, pulled ashore Even the cook
left.
After landing they stated that the
ship was not fit TO leave the sound and
that they would not go out In her. The
men were rcttcent regarding the trouble.
Under the French laws this Is n seri
Gus ofrense. and they arc, l believe, IL
able for mutiny when they return 10
Nuell OWl country
Not Fit to Leave Port
The men told me that one experience
In the Courbet with ballast was enough.
When the ship was recently being towed
up from San Francisco In ballast she
broke adrift from the tug, She was so
light that only her topsails could be used.
In heavy weather the chances were all
against her. She was blown far out TO
n nd frIN h. 10
but finally managed TO work back and
was picked up by tug sent to Took for
her. There was a great deal OF COM
plant among the men when she arrived
They stated that the ship was not ut
to leave port with 80 light a ballast
Row With Officers.
There has been moro or less hard feel
ing between the officers and crew since
the vessel arrived The crew claims that
the officers are endangoring their lives
and the safety OF the ship by their pc
nuriousness. The officers Of the ship. on
tho other hand. assert that the ship is
perfectly safe with 250 tons of ballast
aboard
The fact that the sailors have signed
on the vessel makes 1t probable that the
men Will have to return to the ship and
make the voyage even If the captain saw
Mt to proceed TO sea without any ballast
at all."
First Mutiny in Years.
This is the first time for a number Of
years that any crew has seen At to take
matters In their hands and forcibly leave
ship. Sailors state that $50 tons OF
ballast for a ship the size OF the Cour-
bet is not sufficient. They also state that
1t was only by good luck that she was
picked up after she broke adrift from
the tug on her way up here from San
Francisco.
The loss OF the Pass OF Mefort Is at
tributcd TO the lack of sufficient ballast
Ships In a liGhtened condition arc unabl
to beat of a lee shore They are also
liable TO turn turtle if strdck by a sud
den squall For this reason the French
sailors have the sympathy Of all sea-
faring men. The matter Will most prob
ably come up before the United States
Commissioner tomorrow.