SHOCKING CRUELTIES AT SEA.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2711, 25 October 1871, Page 3

SHOCKING CRUELTIES AT SEA.

A New York paper of August 11 publishes the following statement of cruelties committed by the captain of the ship Sardio, en the voyage of that vessel from San Francisco to Liverpool: — The Sardio carried a crew of sixteen, shipped in San Francisco for the round trip. Five of them arrived in this port iu the ship Prussians on Tuesday last, and are at the new Sailors’ Home in Pearl street. One of this number, Charles H. Swords, says that during the first thirty days out the crew were treated with humanity by the captain, who seemed to spare no pains to make them comfortable; but after this, Cunningham be«an ids cruelties by knocking one of the crew on the head with the butt of his revolver. The men were put in irons, fed on sea biscuit and salt water, and not allowed to remove their clothing 0. Johnston, John ; Henning, and Tourny Williams were placed in double irons, their hands behind their backs, and thus they were triced up for . twelve hours. When taken down they were unable to stand, and their shoulders were out of joint; but the captain, with a billet of -wood, beat them to compel them to rise. Finding that they were unable to do so, he jerked them up by the assistance of the boatswain. Hammond put their shoulders into their proper position, and compelled them to man the pumps. He stood over them with a ratan, laying it on their bare backs whenever they slackened their speed. They were kept at tide until they fell to the deck senseless. Swords and the cook interfered, backed by three or four more of the crew, whereupon the Captain drew his revolver, and threatened to shoot them down for mutiny if they did pot go forward. Tjps they refused to do until they had taken care of the men who had been so shockingly maltreated. The Captain called his mates, and put the whole watch in irons, and shut them up in the hold. After this, as each watch was called, the watch below was put in irons At first they were put on short allowance, and then bread and water, and finally, before reaching Liverpool, they were given nothing but raw wheat to eat. They were compelled to work and lie in irons, each alternate four hours during the remainder of the voyage. Another sickening tale is told of the ship Mary Brune, Captajn Arthur, from San h'ruuciqco for Hongkong. The crefv of the Mary Brune (numbered eighteen) arrived at Hongkong about’April Ist. From the time the ship got out of sight of land, the captain opened on the crew. A. Jackson, one of those who deserted the ship at Hongkong, arrived at this port about a week ago from San Francisco, and is also now at the new Sailor’s Home. A reporter saw him yesterday aiid obtained the following story Captain Arthur beat every man in the ship before they had been out three days, and then began a reign of terror. The men were beaten miscellaneously with belaying pins, capstan bars, and clubs. On the Ist of January, the captain gouged out Alfred Kelson’s eyes, and threw him overboard. Next day he triced the cook up by the feet, head down, and kept him there until dead. He then threw him overboard. Gaorge Hammon said ho should sweat for that murder wf-jp pe reached port. Procuring a rep hot iron, the captain pierced Harmon’s topgue and burned him in the fayc until he was unable to artipufate. Hannon was then triced up by on,e wrist clear of the peck and kept iu that position until his hand turned black. Silas Wilson was forced to, jump overboard from the I)QW of the ship at the instancy pf »hp captain, who gave him a phpice bet\veen having his brains blown oiit and drowning. Another man panned Jackson was taken sick, and the captain forced him to commit suicide by taking arsenic, threatening as a n alternative that he should have his throat cut. He took arsenic and died.