The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-07-06

" bled at the office of the consul he
followed the usual procedure and
picked out two men to act as spokes-
men for the crew. 1t happened that
these two We're Loomis and Fitzger-
aid. The captain heard of this and
became incensed at the action of
these two militant workers. When
the consul came aboard ship at five
that evening, the captain claimed
that he did not have the money with
which to pay off the men but that he
would pay them off the next day.
At two o'clock that morning the cap
tain made preparations to leave and
by five had pulled out, leaving
Loomis and Fitzerald on the beach.
With them was also left a fireman
by the name of GormeIy, who had
also been active in the previous eve
ning's experience.
These men had the right to go
ashore by virtue of the fact that they
were not on watch at the time of
leaving ship and were off watch for
the entire period of the night. They
had also been authorized by the chief
engineer under whose watch they
came.
Listed As "Deserters."
WHEN the "Ball Camp" arrived at
" Montreal the Captain reported to
the American Consul and listed the
three men, LOOMS, Gormely and
Fitzgerald, as deserters.. He also
took the dastardly line of hiring
three other men in their places, and
the ship left port.
In the meanwhile these three sea
men were left in Quebec without
money, food, shelter or friends to
whom they might turn in the midst
Of bitter cold weather. They wan
dered the streets penniless and hun
CRY for while and then turned their
steps to the American Consul This
worthy official, after four. days final
ly gave them their fare to Ogdens-
burg, N. Y, where they hoped to
catch the "Ball Camp" on it's way to
Detroit and the Ford works.
When the men arrived in Ogdens-
burg they found that the ship had
not yet arrived so they were forced
to make for Cornwall where they
caught up with it. Upon arrival
aboard ship they reported to the cap
tain, who told them that they would
be paid off in Ogdensburg the next
day.
During this time the marooned men
stood ready to assume their routine
duties aboard ship. The captain,
however, purposely did not allow
them to return to work on any occa-
sion, thus proving not only his preju-
dice against these militant workers
but also the fact that he had some
preconceived plan of melting out re-
venge to those who had stood up and
demanded their rights as seamen. 1t
turned out that when they did arrive
in Ogdensburg, the United States
Deputy Marshal came board the ship
and read the names of LOOMS, Fitz-
gerald and Gormely from a slip of
paper which has been furnished him
by the captain. "You are under ar
rest" the marshal told the three sea
men, "come along"
Arrested Without Warrant.
FITZGERALD demanded that he be
shown the warrant for their ar
rest, but the marshal refused to do
this saying that they must come
along; that their arrest would be ex-
planned at the proper time and that
he didn't know the reason for it.
Railroaded to Jail.
He took them to the Ogdensburg
police station where they were kept
outside of the inner door while he
talked to the chief of police who re-
fused to hold them or have anything
/ to- do with their case, on the basis of
/ there = being no specific charge
against them, but the marshal con-
tinued his bluff and took the men
along with him. This time he took
them to the Oswetachie House Hotel
in Ogdensburg. He forced them to
register and told them that they had
to stay there until the captain came
back from Detroit. Even at this
time he didn't show them any war
rant or tell them the reason for this
! arrest.
Held Three Weeks.
THEY were kept at this hotel for a
period of three weeks, during
which time the captain, on his return,
came up to see them in company with
the deputy marshal, and tried to
make them accept various sums far
under the actual amount due as the
full payment Of their wages. The
men refused to take this offer as
there was about three hundred dol
lars due them collectively and they
were legally entitled to the full
amount.
They were told to get a lawyer
and got one by the name of Waiter.
| NAN ,,vha ~ do law aVaI ,rra., A..