Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-05
THRILLING TALE IS TOLD 7
AS SEAMEN ARE TRIED
captain Peterson and Son Charged
With Allowing Sailor to Drown
Unaidcd.
WATCH WITNESSES CLOSELY
Alleged Axcl Hansen, Member of
Grew, Jumped Overheard Fearing
Maltreatment and Starvation.
Witness Says Young Peterson First
Beat Victim.


Witness Says Young Peterson First
Beat Victim.
NEW YORK, June 4.-No more
thrilling tale of the sea ever flowed
from the tacile pen OF Clark Russell
'hah that untolded at the trial Of
"Hellfre" Peterson. captain of tho
barkeDt!nc Puaka and his son. Adopih
ERIC Peterson. second mate o, the
came craft. which is now proceeding
In the United States District Court be-
fore Judge fIough.
captain Peterson and his son are
charged with murder OF the nigh seas
IN having permitted Axel Hansen, a
member of the crew TO drown without
attempting TO rescucing him Hansen.
IL Is alleged. jumped overheard in fear
or desperation after having been
starved. maltreated and beaten during
the voyage Of the Barkentine from
victoria. B. g., around The Horn to
Cape Town, South Africa, last August.
Inc indictment against Peterson and
nib son was found after members of
me crew had told the story OF the
voyage 70 the United states consul al
Cape Town.
Watch Witnesses CIo.cIy.
When the trial opened, Judge HouEh,
IN accordance with ancient custom
hsd spec:a! enclosure built for the
eynn sro where they would be isolated
response 10 the protest OF Dudley
fteld Malone. counsel for tie Peder-
nIaee 'h Ias,," yer. re- hnaily assigned to
counsel.
Captain Peterson is ,ypical old
Sa!e, short and stocky Of build wl.h
powerful hands. bushy hair, sandy
mus,a ohei hard blue eyes and frm
does no, live up to the descr!p,ion 10" Of
t,he typical bucko mate. lie is slender.
p pI. % WIZ build nnas With sa!!ow com
close set eyes gives :he only hint that
ms docile appearance may be mis-
Bats father and son are keenlv
swsre OF the seriousness OF their
Dinatio T Snd watch the witnesses
He, ,hs a strndas on, on the
leans forward to listen to the rormer
members OF his crew telling Of me
Or htn t.esstment suHered at the hands
NC Jshs n " y. cf1,mpssiii apprentice SEA
stand yesterday. and for a shor, time
today told OF Hansen jumping over
20, Ioara a, after having been beaten by
ing the trailing log line and calling
70. help; The ship was brought INTO
ma lad I bnt sy lss E,i9; campbsi test,
deck and shouted back to Your STA
lions" and when told that there was
man overheard. yelled TO hell with
course" The men were forced 20 obey
with rhe dying calls OF Hansen ring
Tell of Fatal Blows.
Campbell. said no boat was lowered
ana no NE preservers thrown over
board to aid the drowning man. A
suggestion that the log line be hauled
iain. according 10 the testimony.
Erward Reilly. able seaman, follow
, ing campbell on tho stand. told a sim
Stoned and highly emotional a, tines
was standing on tho lumber load
on GEEK shortly after six O'Clock In the
WAS a sin breeze and the sea was
cnoPp|. The sky was cloudy and there
was some mist. heard the second
ma.s shout TO Hansen 60 sloft and
scurry'nE up the riss!uG, Reilly said
the second mate shouted at him again:
n nis5Fy Up; S Soi,- -; and and liansel re-
The mate then ordered Hansen 70
come down, and as the man stepped
S %. de Tan called 10 bin him again: Come
the mate. raised his clenched RICH,
hand. He had knuck !c buster on
his hand" Reilly added. lie struck
R Ransen on ne righ' temple" continued
When he sot 20 his fee; he was
knocked down again. I heard Hansen
say; cant stand this. II you beat
me any more. III have to jump over,
board: The mates reply was; Go to
IL any time, you - Then Hansen
started to walk down the deck and
ally. Hansen broke into run and
jumped over the starboard rail- into the
ssA
Says Hansen Held to Log Line.
ran along the lumber load and
/ heard the mate order the O man eAs a.,
tho whesl to bring tho shib about, but
as reached the door OF the chartroom.
Captain Peterson came out. He stood
for moment looking up at the hap-
ping sails. and turned to the wheels
man with What are you doing off tho
course" Jacky Joe, the wheelsman, told
man overheard was all the captain
said. At the same time we could hear
hansen crying: Save me Save me- All
tho log line. and l started toward the
line TO draw him in. but the captain
stepped up TO me and asked What are
you doing here. you ---?'
u told the captain l could save Axel
ny hauling In the line, but he grabbed
tiiler pin from behind the wheel box
and ordered me forward with an oath.
lines to make fast the rails could
hear Hanseh's cries grow weaker and
weaker | saw him clinging TO the
line az the ship gathered way. hut
when got aloft lie had disappeared"
"Lucky to Eat Anything"
Reilly then told OF being summoned
to the captains cabin and asked TO
sign a statement OF the affair prepared
by the second mate at the captains
dictation. When he refused to sign on.
tho ground that the statement was not
true, he said the captain drew an auto
matte pistol, pressed 1t against his
ribs. and said:
Now. will you sign or not?" Reilly
said he signed when he saw the look
in the captains eye