The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1886-03-03
.smANaHAnNa . IN nALrIMonE.
The Traffic In Human Flesh by Which
Oyster Shops are Manned.


Shanghaiing is nothing more Or less
than trading in human flesh. The slave
traffic of ante-war days was not more bar
barous than it. During the winter the bust
ness is brisk. Here is the modus operandi
The dingy little Office of so-called
broker near the docks is resorted 10 by
captains of oyster-pungies when they are in
need of hands to man oyster dredges. 1t
is extremely difficult to get men for this
work here, but when captain tells the
broker that he is in need of certain num-
Der of men, and that he must have them
aboard his boat by specified time, the
"broker will bargain 10 execute the con.
tract for a fee of So per head. When men
are particularly scarce larger sum is often
paid. After the bargain is made and the
captain leaves the Office, the " broker calls
one or two of his assstants-generally noted
roughs and blackguards-and directs them
to procure and deliver the required num-
Der Of men, statina, the reward of their ser.
| vices est
| If after few hours search the brokers'
henchman finds that he cannot secure mon
legitimately he visits some of the low grog.
shops along the waterfront, and it Is an
"otf day when he cannot meet one or
two miserable wretches In some Of the dives
who will agree to go on board, IL paid
few dollars in advance. This the assistant
agrees to give upon tho men signing q re-
ceipt and an agreement to remain on said
boat for o specified time. If the assistant
inds the men obstinate in their determina-
ton not to go, he treats them to as much
liquor rs they can drink and when the poor
fellows are dead drunk he carries them
aboard the boat which is ready to sail. Bs
the time the kidnapped men regain theil
senses they are many miles down the Chesa.
peake.
Then commences q life of hardship and
toll that is not easily described. The cap.
tain, usually brutal specimen of humani-
ty, clubs them ON the least proyocation,
often without provocation Poorly fed and
scantily clothed, these men are compelled
to work eighteen to twenty hours out of the
twenty-four, with the Thermometer but
few degrees above zero. Whether sick or
well they must turn out when called, or be
inhumanly treated. Cases have been brought
to light where man, incapacitated for
work by exposure and bad food, SO that he
was scarcely able to stand, has been car
ried out on deck and lashed up by his
thumbs until his feet barely touched the
deck; he was then stripped of all his upper
clothing and compelled to stand in the bit
ing cold for hours, falling in heap, more
dead than alive, when finally cut down. II
this treatment proves more severe than was
intended, the man is put ashore at night.
without cent, and has to find a refuge with
some charitable farmer, and get back TO the
city rs he best can.
The police have endeavored aud are still
endeayoring to break up this practice, but,
as few cases are reported to them, 1t is moi
easy to do 80. Now and then captain ia
arrested, but political friends and densely
stupid jnries generally allow him to &c
free. The evidence, however, against one
captain arrested some timo ago, was SC
clear and convincing that he was convicted
and is now serving out twenty years SEN
tence 1t was hoped that his fate would
| prove warning, but the continued pre-
valence of the custom shows that the avarics
of the oystermen is stronger than even fear
| of imprisonment.