The New York herald., 1873-12-14
BLOOD MONEY!!
How They Extort Gold from Shipowners at the
Golden Gate-A Crying Evil-Where Is
the Remedy l-The United States Shipping
Commission Farce-Remarkable
Narrative of Merchant Captain

Much has been said ana written concerning the
suf1erings OF "Poor Jack" meaning the men who
man the white-winged birds OF commerce that dot
the seas and carry the product OF every cline to
and fro between the distant quarters of the globe.
1t is only semi occasionally, however that we are
instructed as to the difficulties that beset the
path OF the shpmasters, who are put to incon-
venience and loss because OF the lack OF energy
on the part or the merchant man in the arbitra-
tion OF the seamans destiny. In order to
be understood more generally may be
well TO state Just here that, from
time immemoria the merchant sailor has been
wont to regard his boarding house master as
the providential guardian OF his movements
ashore and anoat. His notious peculiar upon
this subject and the tenacty with which he clings
to the boarding house shark. with whom he Is domi-
ciled while on shore, is only equalled by his OBJ
lquity OF vision upon all matters appertaning to
his welfare. The boarding house master, for in
stance, tells Jack, whether in New York or San
Francisco, .you must not go here,n or .'you must
go there" and the poor fellow obeys with the i'm
plicit confidence OF a child IN listening TO the
! advice OF father. Hence, it follows that when
Congress undertakes TO legslate against the
INTEREST or THE BOARDING HOUSE MASTER,
the latter has only got to warn his victims who
'go down to the sea in ships" against being used
by Uncle sam" ana Jack stands in with his
master for "weal or Woe" A representative or
the HERALD, while in conversation with one OF the
Oldest and most experienced merchant captains
sailing out OF the port OF New York, yesterday in
troduced the subject OF the Shipping Commission
as established by the government and Its bene-
fts.v
SAID the captain land ne tells the story
best, free from embellishment), 81 fail to see the
benefit OF this Shipping Commission to either sailor,
point or utility to the fifth wheel OF coach,'
which ls not looked upon as OF much use. Here in
New York the man that brought the Plymouth
church saints to the Holy Land in the Quaker
City was given control OF the Commission as
ward for his faithful service in the told OF brother
derstand 1t, for him. IL Is snug haven Tor an old
SALT too. How The Commission works in New York
veal we all know; WAS was IN , san Francisco not many
crew for my shlp went, of course, to the
United States Shipping Commission Bureau,
in order to open my articles. Wen, entered. and
my mates, and the following day ! called to ascer-
ment Of my crew, as was very ANXIOUS to get on.
on entering the office, said l. Wen Colonel, have
the reply, 4 have not seamen are very scarce in
Frisco just now, and you must have patience
awhile Well, ! lett the Commissioners office
and went forthwith TO see Messrs Casey K Chute,
shipping agents. OF whom | had heard as the
mem who could get me crew. Making my way
into the office OF
THE SHIPPING NABoBs
an@d @ snperoly ,oIar furnished one,nm, one it was
bedecked with diamonds and jeweiry. seated in an
easy cnar, with his ieet upon desk and smoking a
fragrant nc cigar introducing % myself % TO ms lordsmip
thing to say about getting crews for vessels sailing
from the port OF san Francisco. Such beng the
replied he, but it VIII cost you $40 blood money in
gold for each and every man you get from , here
pay $40 bonus Or blood money! ! IN.
to guard against all such extortion as this, BY the
establishment OF "A government shipping commits
son ar Now e9s aere capta sad M cass
don't give three damns for the laws that Congress
to get crew e % out 9th Of this port you win have to pay
just what say, $40 blood money. IL you agree
you can have crew Tomorrow Wen, there
was alternative said the Captain $50 had to
accept the conditions and agree to pay
THE BLOOD MONEY.
which on my crew amounted to nearly 500 in
gold; and you see, sir, not cent OF this did the
sailors receive. 1t all went to the boarding house
MASTER with the exception OF five per cent, which
the broker received as his percentage The Cap
tain exhibited the bills and accounts with his
tiers, stood the entry, ..Blood money sailors s67Ov
s'Tne men destined for my ship were then sent down
to the United States Commissioners, where they
the vessel as soon as 81 per head tax had been
paid on them, making the entire sum which we had
ceived on board the mate gives what is termed a
boat note or receipt Tor MIN, and stands in the
gangWay With
A LOADED REVOLVER,
for should man leave us we would be out Sl02.
The sailors won't ship without the sanction oil their
boarding house masters, and the latter worthless
Will not permit them to first to the United states
Commission, so that all crews must come through
the agents, Casey Clute, who receive, as said,
a percentage for their services. / cannot the
use OF these commissioners who stand like stick,
being unable to move one way or the other with
out the sanction OF the masters OF sailors boarding
houses. II we complain about the extortcn OF $40
the commissioner remarks, Can't help 1t; know
nothing about it
1t will thus be observed that men at the Golden
Gate iully up to the ways and means of realiz-
ing lew dollars at the expense OF the shlpowners
who brave the dangers OF the voyage ground the
Horn,n and that the protective scheme or Uncle
sam provided in the establishment OF the Shipping
Commission is not what IL Is generally supposed to
be-a protection to the sailor and shipowner alike.
The matter is worthy investigation, and q remedy
for the evil Is in order.