Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-04-17
SHdkGHAfED.
A APhfladeIphian'ss story OF MaItreat-
ment on an Oyster Boat.

half fed, beaten by the captain and Oft
receive no pay. As | strolled towar
the old fair ground lot this afternoon,
fell in with middle aged man sitting
the roadside, with loaf of bread in oi
hand and bit Of cheese in the othe
He seemed sad and beyond dou
ashamed of his appearance.
EXCUSE me, SIR" says he, "but
you use tobacco, and would you object
giving me chew ?"
| produced plug of the weed. I'll
man drew from his pocket an enormor
knife. asked why he carried such
weapon.
"Ah, ses," he said, You think N
a common tramp, but you are mistaken
This knife is all the pay got for owe
six mouths work. | stole IL from th
captain to defend myself with"
"Wbst captain do you mean f'
asked, doubling The truthtulness of hi
statement.
"Well, as you wish know to somethin
of me, will tell you, and | swear by til
sun above us chat my story is as true a
sad. am book. keeper, and until las
August | held good position in Phils
delphia. am not as old as look
am 35 years old on the 18th OF thi
month. l had loving wife and IN,
home was OF corrse happy one unit
the 10th of July last when saith robbed
me OF this grand woman. could no
content my self oh the fool that am |
took to drink and was discharged.
had saved some money. | wen
on until | spent all and found
myself in Baltimore. There | got fe q
hours work on trial, but was too ner
sous to write. Tue gentleman in th.
fiji ,e came to me and said | would moi
MT him. He gave me 81 in cash and
800 worth Of good advice E; but on, my
lear youDg man, did not heed the ad
vice. went to drinking saloon or
Pratt street and spent my only dollar
and there | became unconscious, When
| again gained my senses white sails were
huttering about ME a1d brt ad waters
surrounded me. R0ugh looking negroes
aud Irishmen sat at a table eating.
asked them 10 tell noe where | WAS and
how came in the boat The reply was
'Come eat, you slugsard, you are OIL
the Chesapeake bay, bound Tor the oyster.
ing grounds ; You are to get $40 per
month and your hash. How do you
like that Oh, you will have good
time with u.s.
81 Sat in silence, / was 80 confused.
My happiness of few months since
dashed through my mind. | could moi
tell why | was on this boat, but the time
came when | did know. | was put to
work and compelled to do my b st, My
hands became sore and blood dropped
from the cracks in them. begged to It
sent ashore and furnished with money ia
get common but decent suit OF
clothes, as those l wore were ragged
and dirty. An oath and blow from the
mate answered the request. A few days
after feigned sickness. | was sent be-
low, and soon the captain crept down on
me and found me weeping over photo
graph | held in my hand. He jumped
on me, beating and swearing, pulled mt
from the bunk, kicked me and snstohed
the picture from my hand, compelled me
at the muzzle Of pistol to 60 above and
to work, and threw the photograph of my
wife to the waves. Here on my arm you
can see scar that was caused from COW
hide in the hands OF the captain while
the mate and big negro held me-"
"Did you not try to defend yourself ~
| asked,
"oh, yes, but it was no use, for they
double teamed u.s."
"Then there were several OF you who
received punishment at the hands Of the
rsscals ?"
eyes, sir, three Of us. One poor fellow
did not last long ; the crew said he died,
but | believe they killed him. stole
this knife aud intended to defend myself,
but that night small boat was put down
and We were told to come and 90 ashore
and get come money, but when we got
ashore, negro man and myself were
compelled to get ont and the others hur-
riediy rowed the boat toward the prison
boat out In the stream. We shouted to
them for money, but the only reply was,
You won't get d-n cent out of me. "
"Why did you not take the name Of
the craft and have her commander
arrested ?" asked the correspondent.
81 did look over the stern once to see
her name and they choked me nearly to
death tor it. found out after yards that
her name was hidden, and that We were
on forbidden grounds. a steamer once
chased us to what the crew said was
Virginia waters. The first town | found
after being ashore for two days, was
Cambridge, and there l found an old
piece of Wilmington paper containing
something about the Pirate oystermen.
could not see the date as it was torn
off. | was afraid to say anything about
oysteripg for fear | would be arrested, SO
| wandered on"
''How long since they put you ashore,
aud how did you get here to MiddletowDr'
| asked.
"0ne week ago last Friday night We
were put ashore. The negro got q job on
farm down there on the following Mon
day, and he gave me 81, half Of come
money he stole from the captain. be-
came sick, aud kind old farmer took
care OF me until last Friday, and
bought a ticdet for Smyrna and have
walked about since ten trying to gel
decent old clothes. l am going to walk
up the railroad until get to a woods and
there | am going to put on this clear
shirt and coat, which gentleman bs
tween here aud Townsend gave me yester
day, and then shall walk until get L
= station, when s1,15 will take me t
Philadelphia. l am wreck nov, and
whisky hes been the greater cause
though now, if the Lord above us viii
help me to find employment, will live {
different life. must 20 to the GENE
terry and view my wife's grave as sooi al
| get home oncs more.'
Tears filed his eyes and rolled down
his bOny cheeks, aud when | asked hi.
name he shook his head and asked me tt
excuse him If he refused TO give it, as he
was ashamed of his lot, and would only
allow me 10 know him by the name his
wife called him, Fred. gave him 6
cigar and the rest OF my tobacco and
bade him good bye.
This poor uniortunate's story was {
long and sorrowful one, he was evidently
telling the truth, as he often referred t,
his wife, and spoke in the highest term
OF his former employer in Philadelphia
He said he would not beg for money
therefore he would walk on until he cam,
to station farther mp the road.