The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-01

| partment has received a cablegram
| from Commander Wood of the Dixie
| at Havana transmitting a report from
| Commander Tappan of the gunboat
| Tacoma, now lying at Santiago, Cuba,
| stating that trouble had occurred be-
| tween some of the sailors of that ship
| on shore leave and the local authori-
| ties The dispatch promises details
| later.
While fuller report of the affray
| at Santiago is not at hand yet, it is
| learned at the navy department that
Commander Tappan has cabled that
ten of the personnel of the Tacoma
were injured in the attack by the po-
lice of Santiago. These were: Henry
L. Lee, fireman, second class, fracture
of skull, gunshot wound in lung; con-
dition serious; Ensign A. T. Brisbin;
Frank Leghorn, electrician, first class;
Elmer F. Anders, apprentice seaman;
Charles B. Shackelton, machinistS
mate. first class; Glen Lavender, sea-
man; Harry ]. Sturdevant, electrician,
first class. and Louis Cline. ordinary
seaman. cuts and bruises but not seri-
Gus; Leslie B. B. Dustin, seaman,
compound fracture of left forearm,
serious injury; Claude J. Pember, cleo
trician, third class. incised wound of
left forearm "a severe injury.
Commander Tappan's dispatch
states that these men. with the excep-
ton of the ensign. composed a liberty
party of the Tacoma, and were attack
ed by the police while returning to
their ship at half past O'Clock yes
terday morning.
No cause is assigned for the attack
but it is supposed that the men were
perhaps singing, as sailors are apt to
do when they have had happy evening
ashore and on returning to their ship.
In almost all large ports, unless the
men are absolutely disorderly or are
destroying property or interfering with
citizens, the police let them proceed on
tot nT06
perhaps a friendly warning to refrain
from disorder. So far as the naval Off
GERS here know this has been the Gus
tom at Santiago ever since the Amerl-
can ships have made that station port
Indeed, the sailors are believed to have
been welcome visitors, for they spent
great deal of money in the native shops
and markets and contributed much to
the social life of the town The OFFICIALS
at the navy department are at loss to
conceive what may have been the rea-
son for this change of attitude on the
part of the Santiago police.
They can scarcely believe that the
men were much to blame and they are
certain they would not be aggressors |
because Commander Tappan reports |
that they were attacked by the police
and the character Of the injuries sus-
tanned by the men is an indication that |
thew were assaulted with clubs and |
swords or bayonets. No mention is |
made of any injury inflicted upon the |
police, which is not surprising In view
of the fact, that the strictest watch is |
kept upon the liberty men to make |
sure that they carry ashore no wea-
pons.
In the absence of an explanation to
the contrary it is believed at the navy
that either Ensign Brisbin
GOT into trouble through interfering in
behalf of mis- men when they were as
saulted, or that the sailors became in
yolved through attempting to succor
heir officer when he had fallen into the
hands of the police.
According to stote department ad-
ices, Ross E. Holiday, the American
consul at Santiago. is assisting in the
Investigation which will be made by
the civilian authorities by order of
Tovernor Magoon, supplementing the
INQUIRY that is being made by Com
harder Tappan. The naval officials
lere have no doubt if these inquiries
disclose the fact that the police have
,een guilty of unwarranted attack
lpon the American sailors, the civil
authorities of Santiago will mete out
he proper punishment.