Year: 1869




can Ship Richard Robinson.


STATEMENT OF ONE OF TEE OFFICERS.


In addition to the chapter Of horrors which was
recently published in relation to the treatment ex
perienced by the crew OF the American ship Richard
Robinson, on her voyage from Liverpool TO New
York. we now have the sworn statement OF the
ships carpenter, Waldemer b. Deeck, who has beer
stopping at the Seamens' Home since the arrival OF
the vessel at this port. This man having received
better treatment from Captain Robinson and the first
mate during their drunken carnival OF brutality
ct the beginning OF the voyage. did not come forward
with the crew TO- aid in the apprehension and prose-
cuton of the fugitive officers but 1t now appearing
improbable that these officers will be arrested, he
has made an afiidavIt containing many new and in
teresting facts illustrative of the fantastic and
brutal freaks practsed by the captain and first mate.
The statement of this comparatively dsinterested
person, an intelligent officer Of the ship, will GER
tainy command some consideration.


Deeck states that he joined the ship while she was
lying at Holyhead, she having put back from
Queenstown, as alleged by the captain for repairs
she renamed at that port for fourteen days. when
she was towed out TO sea to little below Tuscan In
complete repair. When the tug parted from the ship
sne took the captains wife, who could no longer en-
dure witnessing the savage brutalites OF her hus-
band and his first mate. While the tug leaving
the ship the inebriated captain compelled the crew
TO man the rigging and cneer his wife, who was
standing on the deck OF the tug. The snip was
kept under sail during the following night
and on the next morning the captain nailed tug
TO tow the ship back to Holyhead while the snip
was being towed back the captain and mate
ordered Deeck, rs he alleges to cut away the bob.
stays which caused the f0remast head to be sprung.
The mate then ordered him to go alolt and do some
thing to the topsal yards, so they could down
by the run ana be destroyed. Deeck told the mate
that he could not consent TO do such thing. When
the vessel arrived back at Hoyhead, the captain
ordered n new main lower tODSall ward.
excuse for putting back. The one on board
he had condemned and ordered 1t taken
down and ali the iron work taken OF.
The same day the captain went to Liv-
erpool and returned on steamer, BRING
Deeck told him that two OF the seameu had jumped
overheard and got on Shore and that they had re-
ported the snip to the police authorities. The cap
tam then went ashore To secure the men, but found
they were being held by the authorities. who told
the captain and mate that they must appear before
a justice the next morning. The captain then
came back to the ship and hurried her or
TO sea again. The old yard which had
and ana put IN use again, as the captain did not have
time To get his new one In order. The tug which
took the ship out On leaving her took OF the cap
to man the rigging aud cheer her as the tug was
leaving IL was rather rough while the ship was
coming down the Irish Channel and the pumps
worked rather heavy and the captain then said tine
pumps had gone. rhe ship put into Queenstown,
claiming to be IN distress, the captains excuse be.
ing that the pumps were bad, when In fact they
were in good order; but the captain wanted new
ones and told Deeck 10 70 down In the pump well
and break aud batter the pumps with a
tap maui while they were being hosted
out, which Deeck says he did. when tney
and battered the eadwork OF the pumps all to pieces
slowing the fragments away iIsthe hold. New pumps
were nut In ut Queenstown The captains wife came
on board again az queenstown and remained TIL the
ship arrived at New YORK. she did much towards
protecting the crew from the captain and mate. and
finally put stop to the crueities by tossing all the
liquor overheard The mate, as Deeck alleges, COM
PEELED him during the voyage to break open por-
ton OF the cargo, consisting of Of very beau
ful cinawarc, which he took AFT TO the cabin and
presented ~ the captain. Deeck alleges that he as
compelled to do all these things by the captain
and mate. who threatened that n he did
not do t they would Kill him. The mate
also often compelled hun TO beat the seairren
with ciuD. the made standing over them and say
ing that II Deeck did not beat them he would club
him. The crew were fearfully beaten during the pas
sage from Holyhead 10 queenstown, aud one man, TO
escape these brutalities, jumped overheard as tue
ship was leaving lIolyhead the last time. Is was
blowing astrong breeze at that time and the weather
was bitter cold. 70 effort was male to rescue th e
drowning man, who could not possibly have reached
the shore, US he was very weak from the effecs of
having been badly beaten by the mate with an axe
handle which was broken by the force Of the blows
aud he had just previously been couaned to his
bunk from the effects OF his injuries, unable
to raise hnnsclf without assistance. It was
Thought at one time that a seaman named
Brown lad jumped overheard. but about
three weeks afterwards Inc was found IN the noltl
almost dad, and when brought on deck the captain
tied him mp 70 the forward yaIleys Keeping him
there for long time together with seaman, VINO,
IL was ascertaihed, had cared for Brown and gwen
hmf0Id while the lat err was secretcd IN tue hpld
In cunciusion peeck states that the crew frequently