The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-12-15
NARROWING TALE
! Of BRUTE FORCE.
Starved and Deaiea On q Oyster
M Sleep
HUNGRY AND 1 PRISONER
staggered Into Washington Police
Court VIA Hands Cut ana Bleed.
hg FroF Eaects 81 Ice and
Salt Water In which he
Had Been Working.
Starved and Beaiea On q Oyster

Washington. Dec. 13.--Blue Tipped
his hands cut and bleeding from the
effects Of the ice cold salt water In
which he had been working for weeks
and his feet frostbitten, Walter Haley
a young white man from Richmond
Va. staggered into the police court
yesterday to seek warmth and shelter.
When able u speak he begged for
something to eat. saying that he had
had nothing for - hours.
Refreshed BY food. Haley told a
story Of being held prisoner on the
Potomac on an oyster sloop which
riyalled In pathetic and revolving de-
tails the sensational expose Of the
peonage system on the oyster boats
which figured In the local courts
about two years, ago, and which re-
suited in the imprisonment Of two
Baltimore captains for IS years each.
Haley told Probation Oficer Massie
of having gone on board the schooner
about October Is. and added that he
was not shanghaied.
mo. wasn't kidnapped or anythin'
OF that kind said he in response to a
question from the probation oficer. Il
went Of my own free will. and that's
what made 1t all the harder afterward
when couldn't get away.
II wasn't there more than two
weeks when saw that was really a
prisoner. There wasn't any guard
over us. but there wasn't any need for
that-they kept the boat well on shore
at night and in the day time we we're
watched too closely for US to beat II.
They made ~ get up At $3.50 In
the morning and work for an hour or
50 before breakfast, and then II wasn't
any thing more than two Irish pota-
toes with the skins on and half cup
Of ecnee II weaskef for anything
more somebody cursed as OF. threaten
ed to beat Ms and we soon shut up.
After breakfast we worked hard
until noon pulling oysters and trying
TO sell them at the little towns along
the river. and then at dinner time they
gave US some hot water for soup. and
more potatoes-neyer a bit OF meat.
and only little OF the rest. We had
to work until e:30 before We got any
supper. and II was the same thing over
again. and then we scrubbed down the
decks and fell into our wet hunks
about .. only TO be routed out again
at midnight to attend 10 the sails and
then more sleep-if we could get it,
until 3 in the morning.
Then when II came to clothes, all
We got we're taken out Of our wages
|-si2 month-most Of which we
never got, aud they wouldn't give US
any boots. only these old things.
tHaley held out pair OF broken. salt
incrusted shoesl and for the last four
weeks have been working in the icy
salt water without any socks--only
these shoes on my feet. This pair OF
socks I've got on now | got yestcr-
day.
Once about a month ago, tried
TO run away. but they caught me Just
as ! got 70 shore and they brought
me back and the FIRST mate kicked me
In the head and cursed me and said
that " had been negro they'd have
killed me, but that they we're afraid
Of what the police would do 20 them
Il they hurt a white man. After that
I couldn't get anywhere near the
shore without being told to come
back.
Sometimes begged the captain to
LET me go, but he only cursed and said
that I'd stay until be was - ready
20 let me go and not minute before.
All got for my two months work
outside OF this coat and the shoes was
~, for he made US all give him $3.50
for letting US on three days before the
month was 40. We had to pay our
own way up here yesterday. and just
got 10 bere this AorninEs and police
man brought me In here. I don't
know howl got here from the station
but here I am
And Haley crept closer 70 ihr rs-
diator, trying TO obtain some addi-
tional warmth from II. white be was
waiting for the ambulance. hhIch was
to take him 70 the hospital where his
feet and hands would be treated.
With regard 10 this case probation
oflcer, Massie said ii,st II would be
impossible 10 do anything 10 the oys-
terman IN, Washington. because Of the
fact that the alleged ofFense occurred
In the Virginia waters. and Haley
would have 10 60 there 10 make bis
complaint
= raised $500 couple OF years ago
and sent two captains 70 jail for 1s
years apiece. and ] think its time
We started another crusade Of the
same kind" s