THE TRIANGLE ON THE CHILE.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1206, 5 December 1873, Page 2

THE TRIANGLE ON THE CHILE.

We have much pleasure in giving insertion to the following letter from a seaman on board the Chile, who appeara to have been an impartial witness and a fair narrator of tho incidents on board that vessel, which are now the subject of investigation. The writer thinks we " have received a very distorted vieAV of the transaction," and we are very glad to have the testimony of an eye-witness, although we must say that a very careful perusal of his communication has not enabled us to see anything "distorted" in the account which Aye have giA'en. That the doctor was labouring under intense provocation and great difficulties we feel quite confident ; and as illustrative of that fact our correspondent's letter is valuable. But the Avriter does not deny, and of course admits, that the woman in question was slung up by the hands, and left in this position heavily ironed for twelve hours exposed to a broiling sun. This we ventured to think Avas at least an unusual proceeding among English people in these days, but feeling confident that the matter would be judicially investigated Aye refrained from any extreme remark, and carefully abstained from that style Avhich is usual with the SxAJt- when treating of anything " unusual " in the assertion of the power of strength over weakness. Our correspondent desires to place the matter in a "more favourable light." His success in that respect will be estimated by our readers. For obvious reasons we suppress the names of the females of whom he Avrites in so strong terms, substituting numbers for the sui> names.

" Ship Chile, "Auckland, Decembersth, 1873. (To the Editor of the Evening Star.) " Sir, —Will you be kind enough to insert in the next issue of your valuable paper the following article:—While reading your edition of Thursday evening, December 4. my attention was directed to the paragraph which treats of the " horrible depravity" practised by the surgeon of the Chile to one of the female emigrants. Being an eye-witness of the affair 1 am compelled to admit that it was one of the moat disgusting and revolting spectacles I have ever beheld, and it is greatly to be deplored that such extreme measures had to be resorted to. But inferring from the tone of the paragraph in question that you haA-e received a very distorted view of the transaction I Avill give it you in a true and more favourable light. Not being a party interested on either side I am only animated to do this from a sense of justice to those who may—although unintentionally—be wronged by any misrepresentation. And here allow1 me to remark that if the married emigrants who came here in the Chile are a fair specimen of all Avho arrive in these colonies I cannot congratulate the colonists on the acquisition. A more debased or more degraded lot it is impossible to conceive. Lost to all sense of moral responsibility, even before their own children, their open vice and immorality Avas too horrible to be described. The language in common use among them was such as would degrade the loAvest blackguard, and if there was any difference in this respect between the males and females it Avas certainly in favour of the former, as the females seemed lost entirely to any aenae of modestyorevencommondecency. Quarrels between men and their wives, and general quarrels in which all the passengers took one side or the other, were very prevalent, and called for the continual interference of the doctor. His desire was to be as kind to thorn aa possible, but his remonstrances were unavailing, and his leniency Avas very frequently the cause of his being actually affronted. Hia deA'otion to duty could not be surpassed, and by day or night he was ever ready to attend to any case, no matter how trivial. At length a dispute arose from a very small matter, the real anger being the product of those depreciatory reflections Avhich provoked females of the lower class are accustomed to make upon each other's appearance, antecedents, and morals. One of them, Mrs (1), no worse than the rest, but more demonstrative displayed a spirit of insubordination, and the doctor Avas compelled against his will to make an example of her, though the rough usage she received was owing to the desperate resistance she made. The woman (1) had been greatly aggravated by a Mrs (2) and her partisans, Mrs (2) being without doubt the most depraved woman in the ship and Ayho made it a daily boast that she would rid herself of her husband on their arrival in New Zealand. Thus was Mrs (1) the scapegoat for others, and thus far only is she to be pitied. The others, more sly and cunning, escaped by becoming her accusers, the doctor not being aware of any under-current 1 believe there is to be an examination of this affair to-day by the authorities, who will doubtless soon sift truth from falsehood. Ihere Avill be more witnesses in favour of the surgeon than for the other party • but I can assure yon that not one of them is worthy of credence. The exaggerated statements on both sides, and the venom which will be displayed, will doubtless convince all that no reliance is to be placed in any statement they make. Two of the most notable profligate characters are a Mrs (3) and the Mis (2) before mentioned, who will be for the doctor, only actuated by the hatred they bear Mrs (1), Avho is at least superior to these. They sowed dissension aboard, promulgate it ashore, and Avill do the same wheresoever they go. In fact there is little choice among them, and their presence will contaminate any society to which they may gam an entrance. The doctor, lam peisuaded, has always acted from the best of motives He has always conducted himself as a gentleman, and he had no alternative

■>ufc to act aa he did, otherwise all discipline among s-» degraded a set would have been at !■ cu<l.—l am, &c, , seaman on !....„.d the Chili.