The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1907-11-25
NUIINEtR ABOARD
SHIP {. N. PHELPS
REFUSES TO GO OVER SIDE IN A
CALM SEA AND is SENT TO BRIG
ON BREAD AND WATER.

SEATTLE, Dec THE voyage of
the American ship Erskine M. Phelps,
from Philadelphia to Seattle, was
marked with several Incidents w.
McAvoy, sailor and what
sailors call sea lawyer" ac-
cording to Capt. Graham, spent sew.
eral days in irons The log book Of
the vessel also shows that the ships
cook monkeyed with the provisions.
Under date of June "a the log book
first mentions W. McAvoy and gives
him the cognomen of a sea lawyer. 20
On this date the entry says, the star
board watch refused to turn out, in
fluenced by the eXhortations of Nc
Avoy After an interview with Capt.
Graham the members of the watch de-
cided it was best to obey orders.
McAvoy apparently did not relish
ship discipline. July 70, while the
ship was in latitude 80 degrees 81 min
utes north, at about 3 o'clock in the
afternoon, Mr.. Johnson, the acting
second mate, ordered McAvoy to GO
over the side and touch up some OF
the paint about the bulwarks. A stag
ing had been rugged for the men tc
work from.
McAvoy refused to go to work I'M
less a boat was put over for him
Capt Graham was called upon to set.
tie the difficulty. He states in the
log, that as the weather was fine anC
the sea smooth as glass and a number
of the crew were over the side fishing
on their own acQ0unt, the mans OBJ
lection seemed preposterous. He there
fore ordered MvAvoy to go to work
McAvoy refused to obey He tolC
Capt. Graham he would make hin
sorry for his action when the shiT
reached Seattle. The interview oc
Cured on the quarter deck. Capt. Ora
ham at once got a pair of wrist irons
81 want to ask you once more if yor
will do as you are told?" he said. Nc.
Avoy again refused and backed III
against the rail, moving his hand be-
hind him as if to draw a knife or seizC
a Delaying pin. At the same time he
commenced to curse violently. Capt
Graham called on the sailmaker anC
several sailors and McAvOy was put il
irons. The mutineer was lodged frs
in the winch engine room and latte
in the ships brig, where he was sup
piled pillows and bedding. He had ;
diet of bread and water.
July 10 McAvoy is entered as still
mutinOus. July IA the log book re
cords his capitulation. In a statemen
to the captain the sailor denied an.
intent to draw a knife or use a be
laying pin on the captain. He promis
ed to be peaceable and his watch wal
changed in the hope of getting hin
into better habits.
Following the McAvoy incident thu
log book records the misdeeds of thu
ships cook. First it was noticed tina
the lime juice sent to the forecastlt
was remarkably weak. Capt. Graham
suspected the cook and mixed the lime
juice himself thereafter.
Later the crew complained of thu
quality of the butter The butter cam,
packed in tins and the same butter
was served to the officers mess anC
the sailors Capt. Graham was puzzled
over the complaint. Investigation
showed that when the butter had beer
delivered on the ship it had been sen
to the galley. The cook is accused o
removing the butter, placing white
lard in the tin and filling the top witt
layer of good butter. The cook wal
evidently careful that the butter fol
the officers mess should not be tam
pered with Capt Graham has made
no charges against the cook other thar
those entered in the vessels log, evi
IDENTIFY dropping the matter and tn,
crew regard the McAvoy incident al
closed.