Year: 1860

Sheath-hnives at Sen.


Almost every month We hear of men using sheath
knives against their officers for trivial causes.
few hasty words lead to an encounter, in which
sheath-kniyes and pistols are freely used. The
last case is recorded in the English papers, which
seem to take special pains to show up our system
of discipline atl0at in rather dark eolors. What
ever their motives may be we have no doubt the
exposure will result in good. Tyranny and insub-
ordination must be met and crushed. Let both
officers and men feel that they shall not be permit
ted to violate the laws with impunity; and fear,
II no higher consideration, will teach them to
do their duty.


The case of stabbing to which we allude occurred
on board the ship Ocean Pearl, Capt. Chandler. at
the 5. W. Pass of the Mississippi. man named
Smith had some words with the captain, who prob
ably either struck or threatened him, whereupOn
the sailor attempted to use his sheath-knife upon
the captain, who instantly drew a revolver and
fired. The first shot missed, but the second took
effect, lodging itself in the mans hip. A revenue
cutter came alongside, but for some unaccountable
reason the man was not put on board of her, but
carried to Bordeaux. OF course the wounded man
was not able to work, yet the mate insisted that
he should get up, and accordingly turned him out
of bed. In self-defenee the wounded sailor rushed
at and stabbed him with q sheath-knife, swearing
he would kill him. He was overcome, put in irons
and kept prisoner until the ship arrived at Bor-
deaux, when he was put in charge of the police.
He joined the ship again when she was ready for
sea. She touched at Plymouth where the circum-
stances connected with his being a prisoner were
brought into court. The captain stated that he
was afraid to release the prisoner, who was hand
cuted. Speaking of him, the captain said He
has had his knife into the mate in two places and
into me in one." The English magistrates sur
rendered the case into the hands of the American
Consul stating that it was beyond their jurisdiction.


In fbaf
the English papers, it is not our purpose to de-
nounce the captain as tyrant or the sailor as
mutneer, but to show the evil effects of permitting
sailors to wear sheath-knives board of ships,
and the danger Of officers going among sailors arm
ed with reyolyers. There is, however, some show
of necessity for officers arming to defend themselves
against men who may at any moment, and upon
some trivial pretext, draw and stab them. Yet, if
men have reason to believe that their officers
always armed, they will be apt to give the first
blow A sailor, under such circumstances will
be likely to reason in this wise If | don't kill
him (the oficer), he will kill me therefore, he
who kills first is the best man.


We believe that the sheath-knife is one of the
principal causes Of disturbances on board of
ships. 1t is perpetual menace to the officers, and
often compels them to have recourse to measures
which appear cruel to enable them to maintain
proper subOrdinatiOn. Let shipOwners and ship
masters, therefore, set themselves sterny against
its in their ships and also, let them urge Con-
gress to enact law to enable them to carry out
their measures. A man-of- war 's-man is always
required to do his work quickly, without a sheath
knite-a good jacknife with square blade answers
his purpose, and it is just well adapted for
in the merchant service in the navy.


Since the foregoing was written, we have found
another case of stabbing ON board of an American
vessel. James Smith, seaman in the George
West, was charged before the Liverpool Police
Court with having stabbed Mr.. John Richards, her
chief mate, on the passage from New Orleans. In
hauling up the mainsail the mate urged the men
to bear a hand, to which Smith replied they were
not strong enough to haul faster and while the
mate coming to aid, Smith took out sheath
knife and stabbed him under the breast. The knife
crossed two Of the ribs and such was the force of
the blow that the point of the knife was bent upon
the bone. The mate was carried below and had
the wound dressed, and Smith was put in irons.
These facts having been proved the court surrender
ed the prisoner, under the International Extradi-
tion Act, to the Amirican Consul, who would send
him to the United States to be tried on charge of
intent to murder.


But it is not always that sailors use their dead
ly weapons upon their officers, in petty quarrels
among themselves they frequently have recourse to
their knives, with murderOus results. These facts
are so notorious that there is no reason why they
should not be acted on without delay. The reme-
dy is simple. Employ no man who wears a sheath
knife, difk-knife or other pointed weapon.-BOstOn
Commercial Bulletin.