The first throe defendants refused to work since Tuesday, and the Inst three since Wednesday.
Captain Wixtsow de m master of the Champion of the Seas. The six defendants ate A.B.'s belonging to her. The two Demetris and Fenech returned to the ship on Tuesday, from the Court, and in the evening asked for their discharge. I at once refused to. give it them, and ordered them back to their duty. They refused to work, and said they would rather go to prison. Since then, they have done no work on board, and have been ashore most of the time. the other defendants came aft yesterday morning about 8.30, with the rest of the men who were then on board, and asked for money and leave, I told them the ship was going out into the trea, so that they must work and get her ready for sen, and afterwards I would give them twenty-four hours' leave and $5 a-piece, Longmead said, " What's $5, Iliad $15 the Inst time was here." They muttered amongst themselves, and went forward. The ate afterwards reported that defendants would not turn-to, and I came ashore and got sum-monies for them.
His Worsuip called upon the defendants severally for an explanation of their conduct.
ABRAHAMSON said he was afraid togo in the ship, and on Wednesday morning asked for discharge, which the captain refused to give him.
LanoMeap said he refused duty on Wednesday morning. They asked the Captain for money and liberty,—and he said he would give both, when the ship was cleared up, got out into the stream, and sails bent, It was a bad ship altogether, and no one on board liked her. Me refused duty for that reason.
'His Worsup told him that what he had said was no answer to the charge. It was not likely they would find what they would Tike all round, adding that he should be afraid to go in ths Joussox nearly repeated Langmead' A
ship.
His Worsure—Why? Because you could not get the money? Do you intend to go back to the ship?
Defendant—Ves, if T get the money.
ABRAHAMSON, recalled, said he did not ask for money or liberty, he asked for his charge.
Feszcm and the two Desternis were next fi refased to work because questioned through the interpreter. The
hip was bad, and he was il with them, Jo worked all Tuesday afternoon, and at 7.30 that evening asked for his discharge, which the Captain refused.
Tuoxast Deweret said he refused to work any more because he did not feel inclined to, On being pressed for " more explicit answer, he said he wanted his discharge, and would net work any more," Ho bed vever been struck by an officer before, and so wanted to leave the ship.
Captain Wrztsox said this man was ade quartermaster on the voyage out. The striking he spoke about occurred in the early part o the voyage, as defendant had himself said on former occasion. Nothing of the kind had ocourred since, for he (the Captain) would not allow it. Defendant was a very good man and knew his work, only he did not know English thoroughly.
Defendant admitted that he had not been il-treated since the early part of the voyage, His Worsuir said he could not understand why the Captain wished to keep men who did not understand English, and wanted to leave the ship.
Captain Wiitsox said it was a very bard matter now to get an English crew for a ship. A great many more foreigners than Englishmen sailed out of England now in English ships.
france Deseret gave exactly the same reasons as his brother, adding they were afraid they would be thrown overboard, and therefore asked to be discharged.
His Wonsmrr asked if the defendant knew he could not get his discharge unless both he and the Captain were agreed about it?
Defendant said he did not know that.
Tuowas Dewerrt—If the Captain does not discharge us, we can discharge ourselves.
Vorsurr—If the Captain did not wish to ship you, could you ship yourselves?
No reply was given.
Captain Witrs0x, in reply to a question, said there were five men out of his crew of twenty, on board and at work. They were Englishmen, and made no complaint.
His Worsure—I shall order Langmead and Johnson back to the ship. The others, after what they have said, avd after the cases they had preferred agains tthe officers, he could not think of ordering back, and he thought the Captain had better discharge them. There were ten distinct charges made against the third mate, all of which were, by his own admission, founded on fact, and in each of which more or less violence had been used. The two men he had named must go back to the ship and return to their duty, but the others he certainly could not order to do so.
Both Johnson and Langmead said they would not go back to the His Worsnre—I do not think I ought to send any of the ten men who brought charges against the officers, if they say they are afraid to go. It is is a very serious responsibility to take, Captain Wittsox—Johnson was one them, and he says he also is afraid.
His Worsnir—He said he refused because he could not get the money. If that is true, it is no reason why he should not go back t the ship. Is the ship ready for sea?
Captain Wattsox replied that the ship was in the stream, waiting for her crew to bend sails and get away.
His Worsatr—Well, I shall send both Langmed and Johnson to prison for ten days hard Labour, and to be pub on board at the expiration of the sentence, or earlier, if the sails.
tain Wattsox—I was obliged to employ 25 Chinamen to take the ship out into the stream, because these men would not work, His Wonsure—They must pay theseexpeiises, and I shall make an order against them, that the expenses so incurred shall be deducted from their wages. But the recommendation have given the Captain to discharge the tmen will probably be the best to take.
Captain Wixtsox said he did not want the men to sail with him against their will, neither did fe want to put the ship to any unnecessary expense. He had the interests of the owners to consider in the matter, He must avoid any unnecessary expense, His Worsutr—If you can help it. You have come to me, and asked me to punish these mien, and send them back to their duty, I cannot do that, and must refuse it. That will exonerate you, Captain Wrtsox ultimately said he would accept the advice and discharge the men, Laxcatean and Jonxsox still refused to return to duty, and were taken to prison, April 9th, R, (Captain Wittsos, Champion of the Seas)
Joux Osnos, Jous Tapp, Canis Vanpery, Hesny Patten, Jus NIELS0%, Saver Bray, Georce Staxpuey, and Jacques Jzax, seamen.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.