Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-06-08
few NOR. words left of my own free

will.
IT was arrested upon the street by the
Chilean police as deserter and proved
in court my right to leave the ship
then remained in Valparaiso when, be,
ling once more without funds. l signed
with the British ship Myrtle Branch on
August l. After signing the articles.
discovered that war had been declared
and declined to go. / was arrested by
IL, police. placed on board a.d IN irons ron,
and kept a prisoner belo~ oechs uh'ii
we went to sea.
Three days out from shore was
released. brought on deck before capt.
Williams and told by him to do my
work 1 did as ordered and on Septem-
her 20 we arrived at Liverpool. where
/ was taken before the board or trace
and placed on record as a BRUSH SUP,
ject who Is trying to avoid II. NJ. >;
service. All my protestatlohs tnat
was an American citizen proved fruit
less and after using up all the money
had and trying to get ship 10 me
United States, | went PACK u tIe
board Of trade and was tod py theIh
to go to work on the indla, com1te ~
ciai ship bound for the west coast OF
South America. I made the round trlg
voyage with this ship. though urea
to escape at a South American port.
Torpedoed In the North Sea.
"A ten-day leave Of absence was
granted the crew when we returned TO
England, and when I came back to the
ship after this period found that she
had been equipped with six twelve-inch
and two three-inch guns l tried to
get away, but could not. and we left
London on the 18th of October. took on
stores at Glasgow and sailed out under
sealed orders.
THE North sea was our destination
and for forty-two days we did patrol
duty. in the course of which we sank
one submarine and sighted two which
got away We also sighted the Annie
NJ Reed. flying the American nag:
bark bound for New York city, which
stop. I protested against firing: was
locked up in irons and not released
until we returned to Glasgow, Decem-
Der IS.
"On Christmas eve we went out
again to the North sea patrol duty.
Twelve days out we were sighted by
two submarines. torpedoed and were
sunk in latitude Sc north II west
southwest. 1 was one of the twenty
one saved out of a total crew of ?ia
souls. We were picked up by a trawler
ind taken by her to England. where !
was paid $50 for the loss OF my be-
lonEinks Once more I insisted that I
was an American citizen. and this time
L
the American ambassador seeking as
sistance and was referred by him to
the consul at Liverpool.
Left to His Fate in London.
"Thi. representative of the United
States informed me he could not help
me- Seated in a saloon with some sail
or friends, I was despairing of ever
getting back to America, when a Brit
ish officer came in and referred to all
Americans in violent profane language
I knocked him down and was forthwith
arrested and maltreated by the po-
lice. asked that the American consul
be sent to me and was refused. I was
tried, and when I told the Judge that
II he or the King of England used
similar terms in reference to Ameri-
cans as were employed by the British
officer I would attempt to stop them In
the same way I was knocked senseless
10y court attendant standing behind
me.
When 1 came to ] found that had
been sentenced to three months hard
labor for striking an officer. 1 again
demanded to see. the American consul
and was refused. / served out my three
months. was discharged, went to the
consul at Liverpool to express doubt
as to whether I was an American or
not. and he told me he had no 5uris-
diction in my case. / convinced him I
was an American and demanded my
rights. was then ordered out Of the
ONCE as a nuisance and threatened with
arrest.
bound for Norfolk, Va, and arrived in
that port on the 2ed Of May 1 then
came to Washington to see Senator
Taggart Of Indiana and also Senator
received my rights as an American cit
izen.
Il have seen Senator Taggert, who
has promised to take the matter up
He says he does not think did get my
rights. What do you Think