FEARFUL SUFFERINGS AT SEA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 1349, 16 January 1879, Page 3

FEARFUL SUFFERINGS AT SEA.

Captain Hodgman, of the American ship Loretta Fish, arrived m San Francisco on the 6th November, 183 days from New York, was arrested by United Marshal Poole on a charge of withholding proper food from seamen dur. ing the voyage. The story of the crew's suf . f erings is contained m a letter signed by them selves, from which we take the following itemß : — " We, the crew of the Loretta Fish, having shipped on board that vessel on the Ist of May, on a voyage from New York to San Francisco, joined the ship on the morning of tho 4th. We left the pier, and came to anchor m the river, where we worked until 7 p.m. ; knocked off work, and had supper. We were then told to chalk for watches, which we did, and kept watch till 3 p.m., it being Sunday, when we were all aroused, and hove short. Afterwards we washed decks, and were kept at work until 9 a.m., when we were sent to breakfast. We did no more work until 5 p.m., when we were called out again to reef some gear. After finishing, we had supper, and then started the anchor watch, which was kept until 3 a.m. At 4 p.m. we were called out and got ready for heaving short. We then started to wash decks, and did so until the captain came on board. Then all hands m the forecastle went aft to him and itated the [case, that whiltw* irer* at work

on the previous d.iv we were kin), ked and kicked about, and th.t we wanted to see the police authorities. He then e.dled us one by one, and asked us if m would turn to when we ull refused. Hethenwent ashore, and m a short time a boar.ling-howse ru:.st*r named Wilrle, came on board and asked us to turn to. We refused to answer, and lie told us that he would go ashore for our boardingmasters, and give us a licking, which he did. He and the captain came on board on the morning of the 7th with some thirty boarding ma.-ters, and having asked us to turn to, refusing, they comeneed with belaying pins and clubs, and used them with force until they left us bleeding and bruised. They then drove us upon the forecastle to heave the anchor, during which they kept on beating us. After we got the anchor up we were towed to sea. While the boarding-masters remained on board they stood by us with pins and clubs. They remained on' board till the pilot left. The last person that left was the man Wilde, who gets seven dollars for every man he ships. Everything went well until a fortnight out, -when the men complained of getting short of bread. We were then put on barge (?) of bread a day, which came to four biscuits a man, with a little hash for breakfast, and some evenings, a piece of soft bread for supper. During the passage we worked day and night until we came to cold weather. We were all gradually failing m strength, and one of the crew being sick, went aft for medicine, whioh was refused him, and he was called a loafing English . He was told that he could get a dose of quicksilver. Ho then went forward, and m a few days was laid up. The mate, Mr. Barret, came to him and hauled him out of his berth on deck, and left him lying m the frost and snow. He kicked him several times, and would not allow him anything to cover himself with, but left him there for the remainder of the watch. The frost then took effect m his fingers, toes and hip, also m his back, and lie was fast eating away, not being attended to m time. His, sufferings were something fearful during the time of his sickness. He lived until the 20th of September. No one can imagine the appearance of that man, as he was a perfect skeleton ; nothing but skin and bono was to be seen, and they were perfectly rotten. The rest of the watch had to sleep m the hot forecastle as they could not stand the smell. Our meals were getting smaller every day, until it came down to a few spoonfulls of cornstarch with a small piece of bread and meat, and for supper a piece of bread and meat with a pint of tea. After joining the ship, we were forty hours without anything to eat. We were treated more like dogs than men, especially since we came round the Cape, having to work all day and attend to the pumps, as the ship was making a lot of water." On llonday, twelve of the survivor 3 were taken from gaol to the office of the United States District Attorney for medical examination. They are all very -weak, and much emaciated. One only is an American, while Germany, Sweden, Norway, Russia Finland, and England are represented. Some have running sores upon their limbs as large as a trade dollar. Others are scarcely able to stand. The face of one is very badly swollen. The flesh is so dead, m some instances, that a deep indentation made with the finger remains, as if made m a piece of putty. The mind of every man seems to be so much affected that it is difficult to get a connected statement from them. In addition to the man who died after being partially frozen on deck, they state that on the morning of August 4th, when the ship was off Cape Horn, a seaman named Herman Snuter, a German, 32 years of age, was standing a lookout watch m the rigging when he fell to the deck and was killed. They say he was so weak and numb that ho could no longer keep his hold. One of the men Btates that he was compelled to do duty with one of his legs so sore and lame that he was obliged to get about on his knees. They complained bitterly of the rough usage they received from the mates' who, they allege, kicked and cuffed them about like dogs. Raw potatoes wero esteemed a luxury at times. The disconnected stories they tell are horrible. The master, Captain Hodgman, will be brought before the United States Grand Jury, and if indicted will have a speedy trial on summary proceedings.