AN INHUMAN CAPTAIN.

NZ Truth, Issue 68, 6 October 1906, Page 8

AN INHUMAN CAPTAIN.

TO THE EDITOR.

.Sir, --May I trespass on the space of your valuable paper to v bring under public notice one of the most disgraceful scenes that has ever been witnessed at any British port. On Tuesday last the -bar-<i.ue Brunnel was lying 'm the, stream, -m , Wellington Harbor waiting to proceed to sea, but cc-uld not do so on .account of being short-handed. ..Two seamen who were m the Hospital m a helpless condition were: carried out of their beds and put m a cab and brought down, to the wharf to be talflen aboard so as to allow the coldblooded and heartless captain, one McLean, to go to , sea.- These poor, unfortunate men were allowed to lie on the wharf for ;nearly two hours, with about fifty men' crowded around them. When asked by the captain whether they intended going aboard one of them handed him a certificate from the doctor of the Hospital showing that they were not fit for duty. The captain next referred to a gentleman whom I believe to be the Shipping Master but without result, as the men refused td go aboard. Mr Young, the secretary of the Seamen's Union, then hailed a cab and had the men removed back to the Hospital. I hope, sir, that sonic other eye-witness more able to ventilate this inhuman act than I will supply you with further and" fuller particulars.-— I am, &c,

AN OLD SAILOR Wellington, .October 2. '06.