Year: 1874

from the New Zealand Dunedin Times Oct 22l


We commented. a lew days ago, on the nature
OF the evidence given before The magistrate at
Port Chalmers in the preliminary inquiry into the
supposed murder OF a seaman by the second mate
(Dodd) on BOARD the bark Oneca. The allegations
then made and the hints OF further revelations
such to lead to the belief that the state OF
matters on board that SHIP and The conduct OF the
master throughout the voyage were such as to call
for a very scrutinizing inquiry by the American
Consul II not by the British authorities. The full
report more than confirms the impression con.
veyed by that forwarded by telegraph. There
not the slightest doubt, II the violence Is true
and upon 1t, as given before a higher court, the
prisoner has been convicted OF manslaughter--
that the master OF the vessel is OF those nhu.
man brutes who have disgraced the mercantile
navy in time past. who have all but disappeared
from the British marine, but are still to be found
In number too great under the American flag. He
seems to have resorted TO systematic Ill treatment
OF his crew, to have forced the second oricer to
follow up his system OF treatment and to have
been quite prepared for more than one murder
The CHIEF ofcer. the cook, the stewardess, several
OF the seamen and one or more OF the appren-
tices all have given evidence OF the most serious
character-ev1dence whicn, we trust, the auth0ri-
ties Will see 1t impossible to overlook So fright
iui case has never IN our recollection. come be-
fore the public OF New Zealand.


SAILOR BOYS EXPERIENCES.


1t will be remembered that during the examine
ton oil Dodd, the second mate OF the Oneca, one
OF the Witnesses Frederick Travers) asked the
magistrate II he might say something ION his own
account" And, this being objected to by counsel,
he expressed desire to be allowed TO come
ashore next day to interview the magistrate This
was acceded to: and, after hearing the lads story
and aScertatn1nR his bodily condition, Mr.. Mans
ford sent him to the Dunedin Hospital One OF our
reporters visited Travers there, and obtained from
him statement OF his treatment on board the
snip. While the trial OF DOdd was pending we
suppressed this, but there no longer exists any
reason for Withholding 1T from publication. The fol.
lowing is the


STATEMENT OF FREDERICK TRAvERs.


I left New York In the Oneca on June O. I
shipped as an ordinary seaman. 1t was my nrst
time to sail with Captain Henry. The ship did not
call at any port on the way. About two days after
ropes. was pulling at rope, but he said that
was not pulling hard enough. He hit me once
over the head and once round the body. He also
made me climb the backstays for two hours one
80 he used to reply, '9Get up there, you young
devil" struck on rail and was nearly going
overheard. He then told me that l could
go below. The captain and his wife came on
deck while was on the Dackstays They laughed
at me-. He hit me every day with the ropes end.
Some time after the 1st OF September hid myself
away In the chain-locker for three DAYS ana four
nights. The second mate had threatened to club
me and to cut my heart out 1t was fear OF the
captain and second mate which led me to hide my
came down from aloft on cold day he used to say
TO me, "You damned con OF q b-h, will warm
myself on your He would then get hold or me
and jerk and kick me around; and when that
and knock me around Tor awhile. 1t was the second
mates treatment rather than the captains,
which caused me to hide myself away / never
complained to the captain OF the treatment re-
ceved from the second mate. was nearly starved
TO death IN the chainlocKer. John Green saved
my life.