Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-24
DEMANDS WOODEN CRAFT
AND ADDITIONAL SEAMEN
Attempt to Induce All Hands to Quit
Baked by Officials.
SHIP ABLE TO LEAVE DOCK
Substitute Engine Room Hand,
Pressed Into Service to Get Her
Out of Port-1,4OO Passen-
gers on Board.

SOUTHAMPTON, England, April a.
Three hundred of the fremen and
greasers belonging to the crew OF the
olympic struck five minutes before the
White Star liner was due to sail today
for New York. The men deserted the
ship In body. They gave as their rea-
sons for striking that the collapsible life
boats installed on the vessel were unsea-
worthy.
A deputation Of men employed in the
engine room Of the Olympic waited on
the officers of the ship. and on Com
mander Clarke, the chief Of the enigra-
ton ONCE in Southampton. to whom they
declared that the collapsible craft on the
Olympic were flimsy. They refused to
sail unless wooden lifeboats were substi-
tuted for the collapsible ones. and also
demanded that two additional seamen be
signed for each boat
Refuse Offer Of Test.
Commander Clarke argued with the
men, explaining that 1t was impossible
to procure wooden lifeboats in time. He
assured them that he had previously Of
ficially examined all the collapsible boats
and was perfectly satisfied with them.
Commander Clarke offered to take the
Olympic to the Cowee roads and ailorv
any Of the crew to select any boat or
boats on board and he would prove by
demonstration that they were absolutely
safe.
The men refused to be convinced. and
left the ship In a body. They attempted
to get all the seamen also to leave the
liner. but this move was oheckmated by
= kInT to "A l0 M al
the gangways.
Put His Thumb Through Canvas.
BY pressing into service all the avail
able engine room hands on the White
Star and American liners In port the
Olympic was able to leave dock just be-
fore 2 o'clock this afternoon and proceed
down Southampton water, where she
awaits a fresh batch Of firemen and
greasers.
One of the strikers alleged that he put
his thumb through the canvas Of one of
the new collapsible boats.
The White Star officials declared that
the requisite complement OF firemen,
greasers and crew Is aboard the Olympic
and that the vessel will shortly proceed
The Olympic has 1,4oo passengers on
board.
Revolt Causes Excitement.
The revolt of the f1remen and greas-
ers Of the Olympic aroused immense
excitement at the dockside. whore
great throngs had gathered to see the
liner depart for America.
All the passengers were already on
board and the gangways from the dock
to the ship, with. the exception Of one.
had been withdrawn. As eight bells
struck a perfect rain Of firemen's kit
bags suddenly dropped over the ships
forecastle onto the quay land a few
moments later the whole Of the fire.
men and greasers filed down the single
gangway.
All the arguments of the local White
Star manager. Mr.. Curry, and OF Com
mander Clarke proved futile to induce
the men to return to the ship. Most of
them expressed the fear that IL they
accepted the offer of Commander
Clarke to go with them to Cowes and
there to test the ships boats they
would not be allowed to leave the yes
sci II they desired to do so. All the
passengers remained on board.