New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-05-19
Cuban Cunboat
Grew Accused
In Ship Mutiny
Boarded us. Liner katahdin
at Santiago and Joined
Suckers in Clubbing Off
GERS, Ships Master Charges
Dragged OFF Second Mate
Inquiry Begun on Arrest
of Man Who Shot to Save
Lives of Two Engineers

A mutiny of Cuban stokers on the
Clyde liner Katahdin at Santiago,
Cuba, was revealed yesterday when
Michael r. Matteo. Assistant United
States District Attorney, began an IN
vestigation into the arrest of Thornton
A. Sullivan, second officer on the yes
sci, for the shooting of Francesca Rod
riguez. a fireman, on the night OF
April 10.
Government advices from Santiago
indicate that the grand jury, to which
the case was presented there, refused
to consider the testimony of the other
officers that Sulivan's act alone saved
| the lives of the first and second engln-
GERS. and the ships captain has de-
clared that q fair trial is not to be
expected in tho Cuban port.
The police were sent for immediately
after the outbreak. according to the
masters report to his owners. but be-
| fore the civil authorities could arrive
members Of the crew of Cuban gun.
| boat swarmcd aboard with rifles and
| fixed bayonets.
| Says Officers Were Clubbed
"Ther actions were disgrace to
any navy" the captain continues brief
| ly. "as they seemed to be without lead
ors of any kind. The first thing they
did was to start clubbing the officers
with their rife butts Later they
took the whole crew off, leaving the
engine room without any one in
charge"
Sullivan's own version of what fol-
lowed was given in sworn statement
before Mr. Matteo yesterday.
"The sailors came into my room with
out saying anything he declared, put
gun to my back and forced me to go
ashore against the masters orders.
was taken to the police station and
there made to sign my name to piece
of paper, against my protest, for | do
not understand Spanish. After the
! other members of the crew had been
| released | was sent to the city deten-
ton jail, where was held incommuni-
cado until the American consul came
to see me-"
Sullivan finally was released under
$500 bond, after being compelled to
sign another statement under protest
and rejoined the Katahdin.
Five Injured in Mutiny
Statements covering the mutiny have
been taken from all the officers of the
Katahdin and placed in Mr.. Matteos
hhands, showing that before the sailors
from the gunboat started using their
rifle butts four officers and an oiler,
all Americans, had been stabbed or
dubbed by the disaffected Cuban
stokers. No reason for the discomfort
in the freroom is given, and apparently
the outbreak came as a complete sur
prise to those in charge Of the YES
sci.
The first warning came with the
stabbing of James Downes, an oler on
shore leave, who was attacked in the
streets of the town by two fremen
The first and third engineers heard his
cries and rushed to his assistance, only
to be severely dubbed before the po-
lice could intervene. Their assailants
we're recognized as Vasquez and Bar
| rlero, but have not yet been apprehend-
ed by the Cuban authorities
Hardly had the first engineer M. J.
Hamon, been able to regain the vessel
and take his place on watch in the
engine room when Rodriguez, Lopez
and Labo, all stokers, rushed at him
with clubs. Shouting for help, he
fought his way to the. deck before be-
| ing Knocked unconscious by a blow
over the head. BY this time Harry Nc
Guire, the second engineer, had reached
| his side, holding his assailants back
| for a minute before he too was knocked
to the deck.
Sullivan To the Rescue
1t was at this moment that Sullivan
arrived brandishing a revolver. Nc
| Guire was still conscious and declares
| that only the second officers action
prevented the men from killing him and
| Harmon
! 81 gave the men an order to so to
their quarters" Sullivan declared yes
terday. "No attention was paid to it
and they came to attack me- fired
and hit Rodriguez. who was in the
thick of the fight with club. Then
tripped over a pipe OH deck. and as
did so second shot went off, hitting
the same man. Rodriguez was the
| leader Of the mutiny."