The Mildura Affair.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume V, Issue 661, 22 September 1891, Page 2

The Mildura Affair.

In view of recent cable messages concerning H M.S Mildurs, of the Australian squadron, the following from a Melbourne paper will be of interest:—'‘Shortly before the arrirsl 0! 'he Mildurs on the Australian coast s meeting ot the stokers was held, in consequence of the alleged inhuman treatment of men ;q irons awai'ing courtmartial in Sydney. The men’s version is that the ship is a floating hell. Upon her first trial in England s stoker died from heat, and another burst s blood vessel. In the Mediterranean the hea was blistering, prostrating one-third of the stokers, and breaking four Rusge glasses. One day, owing to defective msohioery, the vessel fell behind, and the captain ordered an increased speed, making the boilers radiate so great a heat that it was impossible io stand for a minute within ten yards of them. In the Red Sea ths ventilating fan collapsed, preventing the cool si; from reaching the stokehole. The men hinted continually, and their mates tried to remove them, but it 1s staled that deck sentries were placed over ths airlocks, who forced theji below. When they came oft their watch some fell senseless in the water-ways, while others fall upon the deck praying for death. Appeals were made to the doctor, but he ordered a con* tinusnoe ot work. One marine fell on the upper deck, and died unconscious, To make matters worse, the water ran short. Sentries guarded the tanks to prevent the stokers helping themselves to water. Ths vessel on leaving the Bed Sea encountered heavy weather. Notwithstanding the tact that more than half the crew were unable to work, it ia alleged that the officers compelled their performance of unnecessary duties, which occasioned a mutiny. Some of the mutineers are still unable to leave the hospital. The officers offer no explanation ot the mutiny, but the ship’s log shows only one death on the voyage. The doctor's log cannot bs examined. The publication of these facts has created great indignation."