Shipped Out by Force: The Sailor Who Wouldn't Sign

Secretary Glynn, of the Coast Seamen's Union, says that the story that Capt. Nelson, of the Columbian, was compelled to guard his vessel with a shotgun in order to prevent his crew from being taken away from him by violence, was untrue. Mr. Glynn is positive that the captain did not parade the deck or anywhere else with a shotgun or any other weapon. He says it was true that six members of the union were on the dock before the Columbian sailed on Friday, but they conducted themselves in an orderly manner, and the captain never spoke a word to them, as has been stated, as there was no occasion for his so doing.

Secretary Glynn says that it is the intention to follow up those who forced three men — two Japanese and a white man named Larson — to go to sea on the Babcock from Tacoma. He alleges that he has positive proof to the effect that an Old Town saloonkeeper lured these men out of a Salvation Army meeting in Tacoma and induced them to get into a carriage. Then they were taken on board the vessel and kept there against their will. Larson refused to sign the articles and was fearfully beaten for not doing so. The others were also subjected to maltreatment. The matter was brought to the attention of the Western Central Labor Union at its meeting on Wednesday evening, and the intention is to invoke the aid of the authorities at Washington in order that the miscreants who participated in this outrage may be brought to justice.

Secretary Glynn was asked if he thought that the union would win its strike, and he replied that he could answer better in a few days from now. He thought that the union had as good as won a partial victory. The union wanted to raise the wage from $45 per month, and the ship owners were now generally paying $50 per month, and in a few instances $55. He thought that an advance of $5 per month had been made, which was a partial victory for the union.