Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-27
SEAkEN OF OLYMPIC STRIKE
Refuse to Work with Nonunion Men
and Are Charged with Mutiny.
VESSEL ABANDoNs VOYAGE
Passengers VIII he Sent by Baltic
and Mails by Lusitania--Strike
Repudiated by National
Organization.

SOUTHAMPTON. England. April ~
The White star liner Olympic. which had
been held off Ryde. Isle Of Wight. since
Wednesday by a strike OF its firemen,
today abandoned the scheduled trip to
New York and returned to port. This
course was made necessary by the deser-
tion OF its seamen this morning. when
the line attempted to replace the strik-
ing firemen with nonunlon men
One hundred and twenty-one passengers
who were awaiting the Olympic at
Queenstown. have been transferred to
the Baltic. which will leave here today
for New York. Fourteen hundred sacks
Of mail which were TO have been for
warded by the olympic will be held at
Queenstown. for the Cunard liner Lus-
itania. sailing from Liverpool tomorrow
for New York and due here on Sunday.
The cunader is likely to reach New York
the mail will be intrusted to It,
The strike has serious aspect be-
yond the matter Of inconvenience 10
transatlaitIc travel. as the seamen. hav-
ing signed for the voyage, have now laid
themselves open TO the charge OF mutiny.
Immediately following the walkout the
White Star officials appealed to the au-
thorlties with the result that the oiym-
pies whole complement Of seamen. nlim-
bering fifty-four. we're arrested when
they came ashore. They will be ar
raigned IN police court at Portsmouth
this afternoon, charged with mutiny
The White Star officials appealed to the
government to support them in their ef.
forts to obtain adequate punishment for
the mutinous crew. adding that unless
firfnness was shown now the company
would. despair OF being able to restore
discipline and maintain Its sailing
schedules.
strikers Are Repudiated.
The National Sailors and Firemen's
union repudiates the action of the strik-
ers. who are said to have been advised
by the seafarers organization, which re-
Gently withdrew from the parent body.
The firemen of the olympic struck
Wednesday. five minutes before the yes
sci was due to sail for New York. Their
grievance was the alleged failure OF the
company TO properly equip the steamer
with lifeboats. Subsequently a deputation
OF union firemen witnessed test Of the
iife-savlng apparatus and. being satisfied
with the same. agreed TO return to work.
Meantime. however. their fellows had dis
persed, leaving word that they would not
reJoln the ship unless eighteen firemen
who had remained aboard when the 9TH
ers left were discharged. This concession
was refused by the company, which
stated that il would lay up the olympic
rather. than suffer coercion.
Officials OF the line forthwith began to
recruit new force of firemen from Shelf
terday announced the Olympic would sail
at daybreak today. This morning tugs
containing 80 firemen. to replace the
strikers. came alongside the olympic, and
were putting the new men aboard when
the seamen struck. They declared that
they would not work with nonunion men
and promptly clambered over the ships
side into the waiting tugs.
seamen Are Arrested.
Captain Haddock appealed for assist
ance to the cruiser coehrahe, whose
commander boarded the steamer and
warned the crew that any OF them tax
ing part in the strike after having signed
for the trip would be guilty Of mutiny.
This had no effect upon the seamen. who
proceeded to shore. Here they were met
BY strong force Of police and placed
under arrest on the ground that their
presence In town under the circumstances
might lead TO disorders. Later the strik-
ers were hailed Into court at Portsmouth.
When the helplessness of the olympic
became known. steamer was dispatched
from here for Ryde to take of the saloon
passengers. who were brought here pend
ing Arrangements for their transfer to
other vessels.