The Washington herald., 1907-05-12
NOT HAPPY
Crew of Cruiser st. Louis De-
serting in DrOyes.
CALL OFFICERS MARTINETs
Complain that They Cannot Play
Cards or ''DO Things that Fellows
Like to Do" on Duty-spokesman
for Captain Says Men Enjoy All
Privileges OF Other Vessels.

New York, May l.-Jnrest among some
Of the crew Of the United States cruiser
ST. Louis. now coallng at the Cob dock
in the Brooklyn navy yard. was disclosed
to-day, following the announcement that
two Of the crew had been arrested at the
yard gate this week while trying to
desert, wearing the garb Of workmen,
Several sailors were more successful re-
Gently IN leaving the ship for parts un-
known to the Navy Department.
The cause assigned for the desertions
was that on May Is the cruiser will leave
for the Pacific station. a cruise involving
a trip around the Horn, which the enlist
ed men do not care TO make.
But some seamen themselves declare
that the st. Louis is a bad ship. which
is 70 say that men and officers are not on
terms sufficiently happy to make long
voyage an agreeable prospect. The men
declare that they are not allowed to play
cards in their quarters, or to purchase
fresh milk, and that there are many petty
restrictions which they regard as irk-
some and unnecessary not
applied on other ships on which they
have served.
Large Number of Deserffons.
It is alleged that. instead Of several
desertions recently, the disappearances OF
sesmen have been wholesale. Out Of a
recent shore-leave contingent of $50. 1t
was asserted that at least 70 failed TO re-
join the ship. It was also said the crew
had talked of Ming a protest TO the Navy
Department, but that they had abandoned
the project because OF the belief that il
would Go no good.
When seen aboard the 81. Louis this
morning, Mr.. Hutchinson the executive
officer, speaking in the absence Of Capt
Nathaniel r. Usher, laughed heartily at
the charges. saying that, FAR from being
an unpopular vessel, the yard Office was
deluged with petitions for place among
the crew Of the st. Louis from sailors in
the yard attached 70 other craft
There is no ban on card-playing, he
said, "and We allow the men 20 bring
milk aboard. after it has been inspected
by the surgeon. This ship is all right,
and the crew is all right. Every crew has
its kickers, and We are no exception 1t
Is not true that a great number Of men
have deserted. Il is true that a number
have overstayed their leave. but they are
coming in every day. L was simply that
they had a lot OF money 70 spend and a
big city 10 see
Check on Gambling
Another officer said that there had been
a ban on card-playlHg, and that it was
issued because Of gambling fever which
seemed 10 have broken out among the
crew. There were constant quarrels and
fights, It was said and the order against
any further gambling was the result
I'VE don't mind the long trip, said one
sailor. bat we do mind making a long
voyage when we cant play cards or do
anything else that fellows Ike to do on
duty-things that don't hurt any one, and
I keep the men in good spirits. Now there &
I the milk, Lots Of us are milk drinkers
but We can't buy any from the cart that
comes along here. Now We must go "a
1 the canteen and buy the condensed mllB
I they keep there. You can imagine how
I that stun tastes when you are looking
I for good. fresh milk. The officers handle
Hen as though they We're convicts OF
/ school children. and that's the cause OF
/ the deseFti0ns II any one should ask you.