Gale stated that he needed the money to pay several small debts Dut when they approached the captain on Wednesday he refused to see them. He denied refusing to work. saying that he had asked to be allowed to see the Shipping Consul and get paid off as there was "always trouble. It was hell on earth, not a ship" He bad been at sea for over 40 years.
Mr. M. Reader Harris—Did you spend Saturday night with the same philanthropic gentleman who put up Lee?
Gale—That is my business. Actually T stayed in a hotel on credit.
Dahl said that his major reason for wishing to see the captain was not for the purpose of asking for money but to see what could be done about their quarters Whenever a heavy sea came over the bows, water ran down into his bunk and on at least two occasions he turned in from a watch on deck into a wet bunk. He added that he had complained to the Chief Officer but nothing had been done.
He also wished to complain about] the food, he stated. At sea they had salt meat and tinned stuff, and although they wanted fresh food ai vegetables in port they were being given salted haddock. "I went ashore on Sunday," he stated, "to escape that damn forecastle."
Pointing out that this was a very serious offence with which they had been charged. Mr. Morris said that there were certain extenuating circumstances which he had taken into consideration. He found them guilty of wilfully disobeying the commands and sentenced them as stated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.