The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-09-08

Abuses OF American Seamsn.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.


"Audi Ahercm P0rem."
An article under the caption appeared In one OF
the city papers in the early part Of this week, which, on
Of the foul injustice 1t does 10 most worthy
Of men, deserves refuatiou and well deserved
rebuke.
have sailed out Of New York for twenty i've years In
various capacities from boy before the sst TO chief OIL
Ger commander, and though "out OF the rng' for
several years feel 1t incumbent duty 70 take mp the
udges behalf Of my former brethren in that honorable
dangerous profession which has shed much glory
upon country any other, however esrncd" they
may DO styled ehall withhold just tribute Of
epec the worthy "foremast hands" while vindicatng
the character OF their officers from unjust and undeseryed
aspersions.
served long apprenticeship In the Liverpool and
LONDON packets In steamships and In India clippers and
have noticed with deep regret the degenerscy Of
merchant marine for the last ftecn years-a retro.
gresson which has made many man eager to escape
the misery Of a"ie the ocean wsve," and which
think can readily account for In other ways than hv
saddliDg IL upon the ecruelty Of officers"
The discovery OF the gold mines OF California aud AIS
ral opened folds FOR saSor adventure aud the ad
vantages the Of South Seamen held their Off
broke down the old and necessary restraint
which Ia indispensable 10 thing like naval discipline
When "Jack" could shoulder his pick aud shovel, and
among the pacere Of the golden reap q rich
not wonderful that he should forsake his home
with all its peris and prvs,ions tor the pleasant fields
Of Ecorado.
Certain IL 10 that the old class Of sailors-nen OF the
old regime-who, after their spree on shore was over
went board their ship able aud willing to perform
with the discovery n Inc roii MINIS Of Cali
fornia and Australia
Blu, ships must be manned. and in the place Of sable
These generally who, having served regular
apprenticeship sailors had esl = strong desire 10
reach the godea regions, and the sailor landlords we're
none TOO scrupuous 70 ship them ~ "good men and
uuc"
In 1854 sailed from New York in large now clipper
for California and China, manned by dfty able seamsn
for "the articles" affirmed but getting 10 sea we
found 10 great discontinue that there were bot
twelve wbo ,ould make approximation towards doing
an able sesmans duty Nor this alone most of the In
competent insoent ana disobedent, and
resoy to shk the most necessary work OF their wa ch
Nos IL II ali very easy for some sanctaed landsman 70
sit down In his quiet room, and an article full OF holy
horror, when . muttnous and rebeious crew are deah
with cordng 10 their rich deserts Undoubtedly In
have occurred and Will, where tyrannous officers
cert and guilty alike with harsh and cruel treatment
But that these exceptions one uust acknow
ledge who reads the few instances cited by tue jour-
na referred to- after searching back the records for many
years.
why did be not overhaul the catalogue OF crews arrest
armed TO the esh have resssea the orders Of the ccer
TO ssget under weigbSn
can from memory call over . long list Of our old
packet commanders, whose names synonym NOUS with
every honorable and generous Characteristic. Let
M ne few:-oapsains Charles a. ArshAll, A. Depay.
Nov any one may institute an inquiry into the charac.
ter 81 these ~ 20 their regulations $50 OF shore
mnaed, noble set Of II would be difficult 10 lind IN
any busness or professional walk OF life
Brt the secret Of this degcncracy Of merchant aye
and naval scamsn too may be easily atsSined by visit
the sailor boarding Water street and other
localities for they with some honorable cxc~psnns,
sus ose and characaer sike Let the philanshropt
search ght become acquainted With propre.
and learn the secrets Of their operations aud ne gill
become pssc,y reckless While on sSors and utterly re-
g0dees OF discipline while al sea- Many OF these land
lords are utterly devoid Of principle or shame avarice
TINS 'advance<or they always make Of his pay
they care not who or what they ship q scsnen.
knock down shpboard h but pass,me " them; while,
under the management Of sailor landlords sailor law
which nd their way into the pockets OF these rapacious
harpics.
Many scfsyIed scamen ship on board packe, ,hIps
solely for the purpose Of soducps cgant girls roboing
emigrant men, and having remuaeratiyc rov with the
captain the bloody mate"
Surrounded with such men - these, shoat upon .
stormy ocean, what occr 10 enforce ooedence
% be orcer Would th., paper Or y. oorespordsot re
commend pcrsu.sons-end when Ma. fails VIII he eoun
Tender handed stroke q nosse,
And II stngs you tor your pains;
Grasp n like man a mettie,
And II con as silk rcrAns-
RS the sAme with common nAtuxee-
tse them kmuly they feoei,
But be rough nutmeg grAtcrs,
And the roguss obey you well
that's an old saw, and ono, too.
Strict mot cruel discipline shipboard IL essential
DOT ou 70 the safety o. the shlp and cargo bat ~
vsuahe human lives and he who seeks 10 tear down the
barriers o. proper restraint and lessen the authority Of
ofcsrs this hardy fs, becoming hardened set
" has much 70 for and bal better keep nj
sch on terra ssa, be may yet learn this lesson 70 his
cost
In ION LET here assert q fact which 700 %.
tent 10 admit OF contradiction. Tue commanders Of
noble packet ships, sass gentlemen n ackno~
legged ait and Of hsh repute Many of them p,sscss
medals o The various European soveregns for tho GO
rsk Of their lives N othcrr, and any
~ho rceks 10 cast opprobrum their names their
profession win reap full harvest ~ the seed he sows.
AN OLD BLACK BALLER.
NKw Yoas, Sept Z, 1890.
UAitsa States Gem N Assfcasr's Court.
before James Brigham, Esq
CHARGE or MURDER on THE mon SEAS.