The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-02-28

Fleeing Unsophistic ated Travellers on the
Ocean Steamships.
rNaxv Norlr ann

New York SUM-
A recent London oablegram In the San
raid there was a revival OF The outcry against
gambling on the Atlantic steamships aud
many letters had been published giving in-
stances Of passengers being heeced by card
shaTps. It was aR0 conjectured that some
OF the professional gamblers, having been
starved out of this city we're plying their
vocation on the steamers. These travelling
sbarpers are sometimes called ocean tramps.
They are not confined TO the male sex, and
were crossing aud Tecrossing the Atlantic
before the poker shsrps and the brace gamb-
lers were driven out of their favOrite dens up
are slender, bright eyed girls, who are
familiar to cCsan travellers in the sum mer
season. Not long ago the writer saw them
on board fast steamer for one of their pc
riodical round trips, aud they appeared very
pleasant 70 the eve. They we're simply yet
richly dressed in becoming travelling suits.
One of them had an alligator tourists bag
siuDg over her shoulder, and the other, with
ebual grsce ana srchness, carried q pair Of
marine glasses. The small snug gray hats
that surmounted their pretty heads Of
neatly done-Up hair, their close fitting jack
cts and strong vet shapely shoes al bespoke
experienced travellers. As they stood at the
steamers rail watching the busy, jostling
crowd they were the cynosure Of AL eyes.
They were not unattended. Looming Gp in
the background with bland face was the
male guardian of the pretty psir. AS the
younger men who were going TO be their fell
low passengers eyed them with lltconCealed
admiration the gray mustached chaperone
irowned IN q manner that was discouraging
to the most audacious.
AS the reporter gazed ct the picture he was
startled by feeling q huge red hand upon
bis shoulder, and hearing q voice in MS ear
that sounded as II Il came from the depths
Of the sea. 1t said
We'll, old man."
Turning around, the reporter cav the TO-
| t1nd form Of tie Jolly chief officer OF the
steamer, the flagship OF the line
| What, are you looking at those girls. chi"
Yes. l wonder who they sre-Engiish
| girls going home with papa after doing the
i States, | suppose; or, my be, they're Bottom
| bellies abandoning their crude and bsrbarous
native land. They re pretty girls, anyhow,
ard / feel jealOus already Of that gaunt,
| round-shouldeTsd dude who is making up n
the fair-baired one in spite Of her fathers
scowl."
| The jolly officer burst into a peal OF laugh,
ter, which reached the ears OF the beauties al
| the Ial. They turned, looked at him, Grim
/ somed with resentment aad haughtily left
| the rail to 60 below or get out OF the way ol
! the officers eyes.
| english swells or Boston bellies, chi
| That's YOUR reckoning OF il, is it?n laughed
the jolly tar. why, my dear fellow. you'rs
| ell of. Those are the three cleverest swind
| lers that work the herring pond. ! presume
| you've heard OF the card sharps aud conf
| dence operators who spend Their time during
/ the simmer months between New York and
i Liverpool fleeing their fellow passenge
| Well, that's the sllckest trio in the business
/ I've had EN- twice on this ship. and on the
| second voyage they got so deep into the
| pockets OF two youDg Englishmen western
bound that TIE skipper got thTars OF their
| haVse and confined them to their state
room for the rest OF the passage. You see,
! they book as q father and two daughters
and as soon as the ships In blue water they
begin to throw out signals. First one and
| then another greenhorn runs alongside and
and makes fast. Then they sound him. Il
he is clever or on short allowance they sheer
| OF and let him alone. Bat If he's what