LIFE ON AN AMERICAN WHALER. (FROM "STAR" SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Russell, June 10.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 156, 12 June 1886, Page 2

LIFE ON AN AMERICAN WHALER. (FROM "STAR" SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Russell, June 10.

A consular Inquiry into the charges of cruelty brought by the crew of the American whaleship Petrel is proceeding, and has disclosed * state of things which calls for more serious investigation. It may be hard to conceive of an entire ship's crew conspiring to give false testimony against the officer*.; but on the other hand it is utterly inconceivable that any person —even the traditionary " Yankee skipper " of nautical lore - could be guilty of euch fieodijh jKcts of cruelty as'are epoken to. The Bret inkling of the accusations which are now being formulated in sue!) terious ftbape was only obtained when four deserters from the Petrel —Henry Kenny, F. A. GUI, Henry Swarm and C..A. Baulcg —were aDprehended here. They then made allegations to the following effe- 1 to the police, and these they have eince substantially repeated to the American Consul.

Why the Police Took Action. On Wednesday last Mr Bailey reported to the police that whilst he was on board Hutchison told him that on the evening when the cooper died the first officer informed the captain of the man's dying condition. The captain was lying on a couch, and in replying, was heard to say, " 1 have a good mind giving him (cooper) what will put him out of his misery," or words to that effect.

Statement by Third Officer. Manuel Gonzales, third officer, was interviewed on. Monday evening, aud the foregoing statement was read over to him. He replied that he would be willing at any time to give evidence respecting the ilitreatmeut. Uo abo asserted that he saw the first officer scrubbing the deceased "cooper on ihe morning referred to by the other por^iun ot the crew. Tbat he had been six yearn in different ships, and, never saw such illtrtatment as on, the l'etrel. In answer to a question witness said the most injurious illtreataiet.t to the cooper was the process of scrubbing him in an intensely c 'Id climate. Nicholas Lawrenson also testified to the illtreatment of the cooper and others of the crew. Gill, attendant on the cooper, "William Briton, says:—"Two days before the cooper died, Swum and myeelt saw deceased sittiug on the hatch. We saw the second mate lift the cooper tip and throw him across to the starboard c-ide ot the ship, then stamping his heel on t/he cooper's stomach. On another occasion, we sa«v* the first mate fasteo a rope around the cooper's neck in the forecastle* by which he pulled the man on deck." John D. Reid also states in connection with the cooper's case that he saw the first mate chasing the cooper with a knife in his band stabbing him behind, so that he kept running from one end of the ship to tne other.

Why the Deserters Did not Repor to the Consul. The four deeertere pay that the reason why they did not go to the Consul immediately on arrival atKussellwas because the captain frequently told them it was no uso their repori ing anything to the Magistrate or Consul at Russell, as they were particular friends of his He always made them nice presents. The captain also threatened that if they deserted and were brought back they would be killed.