Mutiny on the Margarita
A German tourist has libeled the Chilean bark Margarita, accusing its captain of rampant brutality against the crew and verbal abuse toward passengers during their voyage to Port Townsend.
Suit was brought in the United States court yesterday by John Dams, Carl Peterson and Jose Del Carmen Carros to libel the Chilean bark Margarita, which arrived at Port Townsend last Sunday from Valparaiso, for wages. The suit was instigated by a German tourist named Oswald Grosser, who alleges that he and his wife were outrageously treated by Captain A. N. Peterson, and that there was great cruelty on the captain's part toward his sailors. Mr. Grosser says that Captain Peterson cursed and swore at him and his wife, insulted them, and threatened to knock the jaw off Mrs. Grosser. He also says he saw the captain knock his men about for no cause whatever, one man being terribly beaten with knuckles and three men strung up to the boom over night. When the vessel reached Port Townsend, the sailors escaped and appeared before the Chilean consul, who refused to listen to their grievances. This will be followed in a day or two by a suit for damages on the part of Mr. Grosser.
“When the passengers declined to sit at the same table with the captain, after this treatment, they got no dinner.”
Stories of maritime labor abuse were common in 19th-century port towns like Seattle and Port Townsend. These legal actions highlight how foreign nationals and sailors sought the protection of local U.S. courts against the absolute authority of ship captains on the high seas.
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