THE ALLEGED CRUELTIES ON BOARD THE PETREL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7659, 9 June 1886, Page 5

THE ALLEGED CRUELTIES ON BOARD THE PETREL.

|BT OCB OWN REPOKTBR.] Russell, Tuesday. A FULL INVESTIGATION TO TAKE PLACE. Tiikre is, I find, a very considerable amount of exoitement prevalent here regarding the alleged oruelties practiced on the seamen of the whaler Petrel, and the impression is that although some of the statements made by the seamen may be exaggerated, there are grave grounds for the charges made. Mr. J. P. Campbell, of the firm of Russell and Campbell, arrived this morning by the Clansman. He is instructed by Consul Webb to leave no stone unturned td get at the bottom of the matter. He has been engaged all the morning with the local Consul, Mr. Stepheneon, going through the depositions, and he considered there were grounds for the fullest investigation, at which tho officers ami others should be present, in order that that they might cross examine. Hβ does not think it judicious that their mere statements should be published.

THE COMPLAINT OF THE SEAMEN. So far the affair stands in this way : Four of the seamen were arrested for desetjiion, and when arrested by Constables McGilp and Lamb, they made a formal complaint against the officers. Their accusations are lengthy and serious. I have seen the men, and they seem intelligent and fairly educated. The written complaint, or explanation of the causes of their leaving tbe vessel, was that they ran away with the intention of laying their complaint before the Consul at Auckland. They left New Bedford, Mass., on July 3lst, and the first night out the abusive language commenced, threatening to kill ttie first man who did not catch hold of the handepike to heave the anchor. This waa said by Foley, first mate. It was a daily occurrence to see men knocked, punched, and struck over the head or face with anything that came to hand. Soon afterwards the cooper was requested by the second mate to take the head out of the butter keg, and, not obeying the order at once, he was struck by Foley twice on the face, causing blood to flow. The captain (Reid) then came and threatened to put him in irons. Upon the cooper saying that he could not be put in irons as he had done nothing, the captain instantly ordered him into irons, and the order was executed. Kenny heard the captain say that he (the cooper) would only get a cake of hard bread and water until he was let out. He was kept in irons for three days, and then went about his work. The captain ordered him to make some meat-kits, bnt not being able to make them watertight, he was put in irons by the captain'e orders in the sail-pen, where he was given his usual food, but had irons on hands and feet. He was kept in there about three weeks, and finally his clothes smelt so bad that he was by the captain's orders brought on deck. While lying on the quarterdeck the captain tantalised him by abusing his wife's character, upon which the cooper spoke up and told the captain that he would not say that if he was iu New Bedford ; upon which the captain called him a "son of a bitch," and kicked him in the face, knocking a piece out of his nose and laying his nose open. Without dressing the wound he was thrown into the sail-pen again. Next time he was brought on deck he asked to be allowed to go on the forecastle. His irons were taken off, and he was allowed to go forward, but he was continually illtreated till he died. Kenny further stated that he was struck and ill-treated by Foley. Charles Edward Banks said he had not himielf been abused by the officers, but, having witnessed the barbarous treatment of most of the men, he resolved, together with others, to go to Auckland, if possible, and see the Consul there about having an investigation into the conduct of the officers towards the men, and to effoct this they deserted the ship, and were arrested when part of the way.

Harry W. Swain also complained of brntal ill-treatment to which he had been subjected. The complaint concluded as follows :—" We respectfully beg of you to give us an impartial consideration, and bring these officers to justice as they deserve to be. The men in the ship who are abused the most at present are: Charles Jones, James Donaldson, Sandford, Kach, Henry Langlaugh, Thomas Cook, Thomas Condon, Marion, and others who are prepared to give statements of all the brutal treatment they have received and what they have seen us suffer. THE CASE OF THE KANAKA. On receiving this complaint the constables at once went to the Consul, Mr. Stephenson, and informed him of the complaints made. The Consul proceeded with them on board the Petrel, and they called and examined three of the men named, who corroborated the statements made by the men in custody. They had been informed that there was a Kanaka on board named Harry, who wai lying eufferine from a broken leg, and on returning on deck they inquired where he was, and were informed that he had gone in the boat to Watering Bay. It is said that, while the police were below taking the seamen's statements, the poor fellow was lowered by a rope into the boat alongside. The Consul and police proceeded to the Watering Bay, and there found this Kanaka with his leg broken, and without crutches er sticks, lying helpless on the beach. He was unable to stand. With the aid of some of the seamen he was carried to the police boat, and by the Consul's orders was taken to the Pacific Hotel. He was helpless, and suffering apparently from neglect and improper treatment, so much so that his hands were almost paralysed. Tho Consul called in a doctor, who happened to be travelling through, the district. He examined the leg, and pronounced it a bad set, but said he had seen worse. Hβ recommended that he should be taken to the Auckland Hospital for treatment, it appears that the leg had been twice broken at the same place, and neither at Norfolk Island nor at Russell did ho receive medical atten- , dance. 1 THE ATTEMPT AT DESERTION. There are six prisoners now in custody, four for desertion and two others for stealing a Maori's boat and attempting to desert. Their attempt in the face of a storm, and without any knowledge of tho coast, was a most risky one, and their escape from drowning almost miracnlous. They finally effected a landing on an island, where they were captured.

THE CAPTAIN AND FIRST MATE. The first mate (Foley) has left the ship. He wae discharged before the complaints were lodged, and he openly acknowledges many acts of brutality towards the men, but statee that he was compelled by the captain to do what he did. The captain, on the other hand, says that Foley was of a most brutal disposition, and he had many times to interfere to prevent him from illtreating the men, and the other charges alleged against him he denies in toto. THE COOPER'S DEATH. The following very damaging statement has been made. On Wednesday, the 2nd, the constables interviewed Mr. Bailey, Customs officer, respecting the proceedings on the Petrel, and, on his suggestion, interviewed the steward of the ehip(Hutchinson). Mr. Bailey stated that he was on board one day when Hutchinson complained to him of the ill-treatment some of the crew were sub jected to by the officers. Hutohinson told him that on the evening on which the cooper died the first officer informed the captain of the cooper's dying condition, and, in reply to the mate's information, he heard the captain say, "I have a good mind giving him what will put him out of his misery." or words to that effect. The attendant, Frederick Gill, a seaman, now in custody for desertion, states thaff shortly before, the cooper, William Britton, died, Foley brought him down soup. The deceased refused to drink. Brittonsaid, "You are trying to poiton me." Foley then poured the stuff dowu his throat, and said, " No; 1 would not poison you, cooper, but I would soonor take 20 years' imprisonment for what I have done before I would bear the name of poisoning you." Britton said, "For God's sake, I will not say a-nything about it if you do not kill me." The captain then rame down and called the cooper twice by name, but there was no response. The captain said he would not give him anything on board ship except medicine, and left. The cooper then said to roe, "Gill, the captain ia killing me by inches," That evening at three p.m. ho took . eerioußly ill, and could bardly breathe.

} About eight p.m. he groaned, and was in greai pain. The captain and mate came below again and called him, but received no answer. In answer to the mate's question as to whether he had eny pain, there was no reply ; and the captain aaid to Gill, " I will send down medicine, see that he takes it." Shortly Foley came with medicine, and with a spoon forced the medicine down his throat. About twenty minutes afterwards he gave a long groan, black froth came from hie mouth and nose, and he expired at twenty minutes paet nine a.m. on January 29. STATEMENT OF A SEAMAN. John Reid, a eeaman at present in custody, ■tatee, in a personal interview, that Henry Lake shipped unwell, evidently from dropsy, as be was swelled, and was partly deaf. Thie led to the abuse he suffered, and he was beaten every day by all the officers—principally by the first and second mates, bnt he never saw the captain strike him. The witness further saw him taken down the forehold. wa»hed with urine, brick, canvas, and sand, and heard his pleas, " For God's aake, don't kill me !" and he was scrubbed till his body was raw on the face, breast, and lege. I naw the mate (Foley) beat him with a knotted rope about the legs and body, and causing swellings and bruises. The men were refused permission to use the round bouse, and Lake, who had been in the habit of using the round house by permission of the mate, went over , the starboard side, and a heavy sea washed him over. I was the first to see him, and a boat was lowered. 1 had previously seen Lake, when almost incapable of obeying, ordered aloft for punishment. An attempt by Foley, the first mate, to get on board just -before the Conrt sat was prevented by the officer in charge.

THE CONSULAR COURT. The Consular Court sat at two o'clock, in order to proceed with the investigation, Mr. Henry Stephenson presiding at Consul. Mr. J. P. Campbell appeared to assist the Consul in the investigation. Captain Reid and Chief Offioor Foley were also present. The Cousu' reed tho statement of complaints, and said, as the charges were grave, it was desirable that they should be investigated with the utmost completeness. Mr. Campbell said, on behalf of the Consular Agent at Auckland, for whom he appeared, he was desirous to have tho fullest investigation. He did not appear for any side or party, and the whole desire of the Consul was to get at the truth. After consultation between Mr. Stephenson and himself, it was thought desirable to take the evidence of those in the township first. H. W. Lawan, who appeared in custody, objected (on behalf of himself and the others in custody), to making any statement until a solicitor was present. The Court considered the application a reasonable one, and the inquiry was adjourned until nine o'clock to-morrow. THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE INVESTIGATION. The postponement of the investigation has caused much disappointment, although it appears to have been inevitable, for had the witnees Lawin not applied for it, tho oaptain must have done so. The captain at once telegraphed to Mr. Thomas Cotter, but received a reply that he could not come, and suggested an adjournment till the 16th. This telegram was shown to the Consul and Mr. Campbell, and I have no doubt an adjournment will be applied for in the morning. Mr. Henderson, of Kawakawa, appears for the men now in priion, at the Magistrate's Court to-morrow, and will no doubt watch their interests in the Consul's Court.

STATEMENTS OF THE CAPTAIN AND MATE. Since the adjournment I hare interviewed the mate Foley and Captain Reid. The former, although up to the present willing enough to make statements, is now very reticent, and confines himself to a denial of the accusations made. The captain also confines himself principally to a denial of the charges, but he alleges that he was for a long time an invalid, that the cruelties were perpetrated by the mate, and in express contradiction of his orders, and that further he on many occasions had to remonstrate with Foley, and on one occasion had to rmh np from hie tea to do so. In the face, however, of the fact that the offioers are now, so to speak, on their trial, their reticence is not to be wondered at. Meanwhile everything is quiet on board ship. Nothing is doing, and the men, I am told, will not resume duty until the investigation is finished. Mr. Stephenson, Consul at Russell, telegraphed yesterday toCapt. Webb:— ,, [ have gone over papers with Mr. Campbell, and wo are of opinion that facts disclosed in statement necessitate formal inquiry in presence of captain and mates, who are acensed of brutal ill-treatment of crew. Suggest formal inquiry be held." Mr. Webb immediately replied as follows :—" Of course make formal inquiry as Mr. Campbell advises, and as I have instructed you. Let all Auckland reporters be present."