MORE ONEGA EXPERIENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 4050, 5 November 1874, Page 3

MORE ONEGA EXPERIENCES.

[FROM THE " OT-VOO GUARDIAN."] Ir will be remembered that, during the examination of Dodds, the second mate of the Oneca, one of the witnesses (Frederick Travers) asked the magistrate if he might say something "on his own account." And, this being objected to by counsel, he expressed a desire to be allowed to come ashore next day in interview the magistrate. This was acceded to, and, after hearing the lad's story and ascertaining his bodily condition, Mr. Mansford sent him to the Dunedin Hospital. One of our reporters visited Travers there, and obtained from him a statement of his treatment on board the ship. Whilst the trial of Dodds was pendiug we suppressed this ; but there no longer exists any reason for withholding it from publication. The following is the STATEMENT OF FREDERICK TRAVERS. I left New York (in the Oneco.) on June G. I shipped as an ordinary seaman. It was my first time to sail with Captain Henry. The ship did not call at any port on tile way. About two days after leaving Isew York the captain hit me with a rope. I was pulling at a rope, but he said I 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 day. I asked him to let me down, but when I did so lie used to reply, "Get up there, you young devil." I struck on a rail, and was nearly going overboard. He then told me I could go below. The captain and his wife came on deck while I was on the backstays. They laughed at me. He hit me every day with the rope's-end. Some time after the Ist September I hid myself away in the chain-locker for three d.-n-s and four nights. The second mate had threatened to club me, and to cut my heart out. It was fear of the captain and second mate which led me to hide myself in the chain-locker. When the second mate came down from aloft on a cold day, he used to say to me, "You son of a , I will warm myself on you." He would then get hold of me. and jerk and kick me round ; and when that would not satisfy him, he would take the rope's-end, and knock me round for awhile. It was the second mate's treatment, rather than the captain's, which caused me to hide myself away. I never complained to the captain of the treatment I received from the second mate. I was nearly starved to death in the chain-locker. John Green saved my life. While he was engaged making a canvas bucket on the deck, he heard me hollaing, and came and drew me out. I had tried to get out before myself, but I could not. It was dark in the cha'v-locker. When I came up I had to hang on to the rail before I could walk. No one knew that I was in the cliain-locker until Green heard me liollaiu . The first mate came to the scuttle withalaiuern, .mdlooked down and saw me. Green than reached down and lifted me lip. I saw no daylight until I came up. One day subsequent to September 10, I and Robert Sharp were folding up the niaiuroyals. The oapta'i "jd us down, and beat us with a long piece of ratline stuff—thai; is, a rope'send about 4ft. long. He hit us wit it around the body and legs. He hit mo live or six] times. Wc both ran away. Wo had to go up again. The second inar,c came up with a and beat us over the head and arouru the body. Hebeat me first, and then ! Sharp. He kicked meinthe rib? and breast. It was blowing a gale of wind at the time, and the captain said that big fellows like us ought to be able to fold so small a sail. When the second mate came up with the strap T slid down. This was not quite a week before we got into port. Sharpe was beaten around the deck. One day 1 could not get my boots, and the second mate called me iu my stocking feet. I asked him to let mo go below to get them and put them on. He said that he would put a pair of Maai'la boots on me. By that he meant the rope. He then sent mo to the look-out, where I remained four hours. I have said-o the second mate, " Please, sir, stop licking me but he than clubbed me worse, so I asked him no more. I have asked the captain, also, not to " lick" me, but he used then to " lick" me, harder. I used then to run away. I got clubbed ouee so that the clothes fell oft" my back. The second mate onoc hit me with his shut-list, and blackened both my eyes. I was reeving the middle staysr.il-shect. He spoke to me. I said, " Sir." He than hit me between the eyes, and the blood began to spurt. I bled all over the ropes and poop, and on the deck. This took place about two days before I went into the chain-locker. He skinned my nose, besides blackening my eyes. The captain let me go below on our arrival at Port Chalmers, because, I suppose, he was frightened that 1 would tell. 'I he first mate always treated me well. Ido not know of anything else. I have witnesses to prove my statements. T can assign no reason why the captain and mate ill-used me.