The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-08-27
RALEIGH CREW
HAVE Bic
KICK
Complain of Captain
and Grow SurIy
at Orders.

The situation on board the cruiser
Raleigh, at present in this harbor, is
ffar from pleasant. The men, who have
= been on duty which has kept them at
sea for the past two months, and who
have only been in harbor for less than
a week in that space of time, have been
allowed no shore liberty. They have
had no leave since they left Chefoo
about two months ago and are being
kept at work coaling ship here and
cannot get away from the ship.
AS the result of this there is what
practically corresponds to minor form
of mutiny going on at the naval slip.
The crew of the Raleigh is coaling the
ship and there are 45O tons of fuel to
be put on board. If it goes on the same
way which it did yesterday afternoon
the Raleigh may stay here indefinitely,
as she can burn fuel nearly as fast as
the wheelbarrows place it in her bunk
ers. A shovelful of coal to a load and
not big shovelful at that, is about
what the order of things calls for,
though about ten of the men are work
ing as If they wanted higher rating,
according to one of the officers, and are
really doing hard work.
During the morning the men held a
caucus, and committee was selected
fwho drafted letter which has been
mailed to the Secretary of the Navy,
complaining against the treatment
which they are receiving, in being kept
on board ship when there is no real
reason for it. Captain Peters is blamed
for the entire trouble and to say that
he is unpopular on board the Raleigh
is going very easy on the matter.
The reason that the sailors are not
allowed liberty is rather involved,
through the different statements made
by those who have to do with the mat
Ter. When asked what action he had
taken in the matter DIR. Ramus, in
charge of the Marine Hospital Service
in this port, during the absence of Dr.
Cofer, said;
This morning I held a conference
with Dr. Wheeler of the Raleigh and
DR.. Smith of the Naval Station. We
talked the matter over and told them
that, while in the case of a cruiser I
had practically no orders to give, as
the case is naturally different from a
merchant vessel, I would do everything
that 1 could to assist them. stated
that if the men were allowed to go
ashore I would write to the quaran-
tine officials in San Francisco stating,
in case there were no cases of con-
tagious sickness on the trip, if it
lasted for seven days, which would
give the germs time to appear if any
disease was caught here, 1 would rec
s,mmend that they be allowed pratique.
NJ expect that the men win be al
lowed to go ashore without trouble.
AS far as our office is concerned there
are no objections to the men coming
ashore
When he was asked if the men
would be allowed liberty, Captain Pc
ters said
When 1 first came in, the quaran-
tine officer who boarded US outside
said that we could not allow the men
ashore That is the only definite in
formation that 1 have received.
understand that DR.. Wheeler talked
with the quarantine inspector here this
morning. but no definite assurance was
given that we would not be Gu2ran-
tined in San Francisco. In the ab-
sence of a definite assurance TO thls
effect I have not allowed the men
yiber1v I am here at my ship in case
the quarantine officials should Tlsh 10
see me- -
In speaking of the matter yester-
.eay. one of the men from the RaIelsh
said:
can you blame the men for WISE
ing to desert and for not reenilstlng
.Thev have been out on the Asiatlc
coast for nearly three years, have not
-been ashore at all for nearly TWO
months. and then, because the captain
refuses to allow them liberty, on ac-
.count of some little whim eonnecleu
with his dignity, in not having quar-
antine officer get down on ms hhees
and prav to him, are going to be kept
an board for the Lord only knows li0"
huch longer It is not the nrst 'iii0
that there has been cause OF com
plaiut. There are many other tiliiis
which we have had trouble about anu
tbere is not an officer or man on the
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