Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1918-03-06
SAILOR HASA
TOUGH EXPERIENCE

something more than three years
ago Edward Wilson, an American
citizen, sailed from Pensacola, Fla,
on a three-masted schooner bound for
South America, according to the
story he tells Of his experiences. Lat
er he shipped on other vessels and at
length took service on a line plying
between Liverpool and the west
coast of South America. Some time
after this he was taken sick and put
ashore in a hospital at Talachauana,
Chile. Upon his dismissal from this
institution two months later he went
to the British consul in the town and
asked that his pay and his belongings
him that nothing at all had been left
for him.
Under a provision of the seaman's
act of England's board of trade he
should have been sent back to Liver
pool but when he asked this privilege
it was denied him on the ground that
he was an>American citizen. He then
repaired to the American consulate
but the consul after hearing his story
refused to render him any assistance,
giving as a reason the fact that he
had been signed as sailor under
British articles.
AS he was without funds he was
obliged to remain in South America
for some time. At length he went to
Valparaiso where he signed articles
with a British steampship in South
American. trade. When the ship ar
rived at Antofagasta, Chile, the MEM
bers of the crew were told that they
would be expected to remain aboard
az Volnorioon ht,f haxyspor haaxx rr.xya,,
his pay, Wilson wanted to get ashore
and finally at an early hour managed
to get away from the ship in a small
boat. He then called on the Ameri-
can consul to whom he related his
story. The consul simply advised him
to return to his ship.
Wilson replied that he did not want
to sail on a British ship again and
demanded his rights as an American
citizen. This aroused the consul's
anger and he called his negro porter
to throw the sailor out of the con-
sulate Office. When he came Wilson
threw him out and informed the con-
sui that unless he accorded him
more courteous hearing he would
handle him the same way.
When Wilson went out on the street
a short time later the Chilean police
arrested him as a deserter but he
proved in court that he had right to
leave the ship. For some time he re-
manned in Valparaiso. Then, when
his money was once more gone, he
signed for service on another British
ship. A short time later he learned
that war had begun in Europe and
declined to sail with the British yes
sci. He was then arrested, placed
aboard the ship in irons and held
prisoner below decks.
Three. days out from shore he was
taken before the captain who told him
to do his work and he did as ordered.
Upon the arrival of the ship at Liver
pool Wilson was taken before the
board of trade and placed on record
as a British subject trying to avoid
service for the British sovereign. He
protested that he was an American
citizen but the British authorities
turned a deaf ear to all his argu-
ments. After using up all his funds
and trying vainly to get passage back
to America he went before the board
Of trade and was told to go to work
on a commercial vessel bound for the
west coast of South America. He did
so. When the vessel arrived at a
South American port he tried to es-
cape but was unsuccessful and was
obliged to return to England.
At the end of this round-trip the
crew was granted a ten-day leave of
absence. When, the sailors returned
at the end of this period they found
six 12-inch guns and two three-inch
guns mounted on the ship. Wilson
tried to get away but failed. The
ship sailed from London, took on
stores at Glasgow and sailed from
there under sealed orders.
For a month and a half the vessel
was on patrol duty on the North sea.
In this time she sank one submarine
and sighted two others which escaped.
A vessel flying the American flag and
bound for New York was sighted and
fired on by the British vessel and
when Wilson protested against firing
on her he was placed in irons and
kept prisoner until the ship reached
Glasgow shortly before Christmas.
The ship returned to patrol duty on
the North sea on Christmas eve.
Twelve days out, she was sighted by
and torpedoed. Wilson
was one of the 81 men saved out of a
total of crew of 249 when the vessel
sank. A trawler picked up the sur
vivors and carried them to England.
There Wilson was paid $50 for the
loss Of his belongings. He again as
serted that he was an American citi-
zen and this time the officials prom
ounced him lunatic. He then went
to the American Ambassador seeking
assistance and was referred by him