Evening journal., 1914-01-08
SAILORS ON
STAND TELL OF
SHORT RATIONS
Trouble Aboard Manga ReVa
Came After Food Supply
Had Been Cut
DECLARE CAPTAIN
ABUSED THE CREW

The afternoon session of United
States Court yesterday was devoted to
hearing witnesses for the defense in
the Manga Reva mutiny case. Six Of
the alleged mutineers took the stand
during the afternoon and testified to
incidents that occurred leading up to
the mutiny. When the session be-
san Charles II. Lyons, one OF the two
American members of the crew, was
recalled TO the stand, he having been
about half way through his testimony
when court took a recess for dinner.
The witness continued his tale Of
the alleged inhuman treatment re-
ceived by the crew at the hands OF
Captain Henry c. Townsend and First
Mate j. S. Trip. He declared that
when the officers gave orders to the
foreign members of the crew, who
could not understand them, they
would accompany them with kicks,
blows and other forms of abuse.
The witness told of the manner in
which their food and water had been
cut down and stated that what little
food was given them was not tit for a
pig to eat.
In speaking Of the molasses they re-
ceived. the witness said the cask in
which it was contained was lined
with dead flies and said emphatically
that it was not At TO eat. Witness de-
clared that only about eight quarts
or water was served to ten men.
to last for twenty-four hours.
Witness said this continued privation
greatly weakened him and made him
sick. He related that on the day be-
fore the mutiny one Of the men stole
several heads of cabbage and he
helped him TO eat them. He declared
ne was so hungry that he ate two or
three heads of raw cabbage. He de-
elared that he was starving and
feared for his life. His only reason
for taking part in the mutiny and re-
turning the ship to port was to try to
get justice.
William Joyce was recalled to the
stand and at request Of Mr.. Ball, he
told of the course the ship would have
to take to make the voyage from
Philadelphia to San Francisco.
Albert Johnson, another member of
the alleged mutineer crew, was next
called to the stand. His story cor
roborated in every detail the stories
told by his companions who were pre-
viously on the stand. Johnson is
one of the youngest members of the
crew and he told a pitiful tale of the
brutality he had received at the hands
Of the officers of the Manga Reva.
Witness said that one day while he
was at the wheel steering .he vessel.
Captain Townsend came up TO him
and said: "YoH long-legged -
of --, why don't you keep this
boat steady" Witness explained It
was a big, heavy wheel and said it
was impossible to hold the boat
steady all the time. The captain then
STRUCK him a brutal blow in the back
Of the head while he had his two
hands on the wheel.
Johnson told of the manner in
which the rations were cut down. and
he said the pork was rotten, having a
green scum on il, and the men we're
not able to eat it.
Witness said he helped to bring the
vessel back TO port in order that they
might obtain justice. William Engels,
another very young sailor, told his story
Of the events that happened on the bark
Manga Reva leading up to the mutiny
on October 20. His story was similar to
that told by tie previous defendant Wit
nesses.
Jos IN Horsfall s i'll another young
member OF the crew, was the next wit