The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-07-29
The Wall of a TRAMP

The na>tcrof an English tramp steamer thus
graphically explains not only the fault, of his
vessel, but his position conditions and stand
ng from Il nautical point of view in Il recent
number of London Farplay:
Our tramp steamers are generally of such
grotc>quc proportions that many Of them steer
most eNecrablN therefore Il point more or less
on either side of the course is not commented
on. The manual labor in this class of vessels
although not requiring much skill, is yet of
severe nature. through being generally short
handed.
The manning Of some of them is simply
ScandaloUS. 1t is alleged hv those interested in
=, he matter that the mechanical contrilanceS on
board ship for the reduction of labor are now
50 effective and numeroIl, that the usually
necessary complement of men is no longer re-
qulred. This may to some extent be true
But no mechanical apparatus will keep look
out. No patent contryancc will aid in rounding
the vessel To and taking deep sea east of the
lead in a gale of wind. No device in iron or
steel will produce the labor necessary for the
safety of the ship in the event of the loss of Il
rutdcr or the breaking of Il shaft. The Scamcn
employed in this branch of the profession are
not of the highest claSS-somc of them have no
class at all.
Most people with any pretension to nautical
knowledge are aware of the position which Il
tramp skipper occupies in the social orbit. He
is viewed with lofty contempt bv the mail
steamship captain. The Board of Trade know
ing well that he is silent and long suffering and
slow to wrath, are continually snarling at him.
His employers regard him as 4 mere machine,
without feelings, or without knowledge bcvond
that which is necessary to navigate their vessel
from port. have the misfortune to belong to
this unfortunate class, and, as Falstatf observes
81 am as poor aS job my lord, but not so pa
uent;' therefore beg to call the attention of
the Board of Trade to the following too truth
full fragment of autobiography | command
steamer of exactly JOG tons register, which is
III every respect tramp. Our funnel, like
Josephs coat, is of many coors. We visit
every cline and in every season. Throughout
the civilized or the unciviliZed globe we are to
be found The world is our oyster. We are
half-manned haf-otfcered, wretchedly equip
ped, but still we encounter and overcome many
Il difficulty which might under the circunl-
stances, sometimes appal our more fashionable
brethren. | carry four able Seamen before the
mast, and Il carpenter and boatswain. These
are all my deck hands, with, of course, two
| mates. The crew is so miserablv small in pro-
portion to the work necessary that the mates
have often to leave the bridge to aid the seamen
in their labors. Some time ago the mate and a
seamen, in attempting to furl the topsaiI, were
knocked off the yard by the sail and both
little use in the unav voilablc duties of the ship
And such are the steamers that secure the
business of the world-a more unsafe class of
vessels never navigated the sea; nevertheless,
lloyus will insure their cargo for half the rate
charged to new, well-manned, perfectly safe
American sailing ship.