The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-12-23
PLEASURES OF The sTggRAeg.
Experiences of Two Young Men on a,
Ocean steamer-stealing Food.


Ocean demonstrating Food.
'The rates for tirst-cIass passage t.
Europe and back have fallen so low tina
would forego the pleasure of crossing
in the steerage again, said friend to
reporter the other day.
Did you come as a steerage passen-
ger?" asked the reporter.
Yes, | was hard up last summer, and
had to either try the steerage or swim
My friend Jim II. was with me, and we
are not likely to forget our experience.
1--WE boarded the ship at Havre with a
fine crowd of Italians, French, Germans
Swiss, and representatives of every other
nation under the sun. Our bedroom
was below decks, fifty by twenty feet in
size, containing some 200 hunks in
double tiers, one above the other, and
separted bunk from bunk by a slat. A
few hours after leaving port, when we
began to think of our supper and to
wonder what the bill of fare might be, a
bell was heard. We rushed down the
gangway in good spirits, but no signs of
the feast were visible. A bare pine table
was in the center of our bunk room.
Twenty-four of US surrounded it. The
The remaining 275 sat perched upon the
hunks like hungry vultures. The steward
now showed himself, with bell in hand
and invited US to be seated. We finally
learned we would have to divide into
squads according to the location of our
hunks. To a squad were given two
tickets-one for wine and coffee, the
other for meat and soup-each ticket
bearing the number of persons in the
party. We were also allowed two pans,
one deep and the other shallow. and
with these two of us were told to get
from the kitchen rations for the squad.
Jim and failed to grab a tin cup, iron
fork and spoon when we had a chance,
and as these articles were scarce were
compelled to eat with our pocket knives
and from saucepan in common with
fat German until we hooked these luxu-
ries from our neighbors.
"The delegates sent to the kitchen for
our first meal, after waiting for an hour
were sent away rejoicing with stew
composed of odds and ends of meats and
vegetables, immersed in thick, brown,
uninviting gravy. You can imagine
that the menu was not very appetizing
to delicate stomach. l really envied
the two comely girls at our table, for the
first mate took such fancy to them that
not only their lodging places but their
food was very much improved. For the
next few days we were too sick to use
what we got. After that Jim and 1 lost
considerable flesh, until couple of Eng
lish rascals taught us to help ourselves
to the cooks or bakers supplies, when
we formed quite successful confed.
eracy. A way of loafing around the
kitchen resulted in numerous gains of
boiled potatoes. A large leg of mutton
was cne days booty; a couple of broiled
lamb chops and mashed potatoes were
another's. OF course it was necessary to
make some very quick and stealthy
grabs. The pastry cook once lost three
large round cakes at three separate raids
within half an hour. The last two days
were good for this sport, as the pastry
cook was then some distance from his
room busy stirring ice cream. Just op-
posite this pastry-room was the bread
cooks room, at the window of which
that official usually stood. In order to
divert his attention from the real game,
the rape of the cake opposite, Jim at one
another of our band carried off the prize
we were after. So much running around
after food and only getting half enough
then made us somewhat weak, AMI we
were glad to lie down upon any con-
venient spot regardless of the dirt of the
deck.
For six nights of our voyage slept
ON deck, as l objected to a bed already
filed with life.
Il must say word about our compagn-
ons de voyage. Werner, ruler of the
so-called Werner gang was in charge
of party from the Roman 'ch valleys
of Switzerland. His subiacos took his
lordly manner very meekly. At meal
time their ruler presided over the gangs
meat and soup dish and dealt out the
portions according to his own pleasure.
Though he was rough and could swear
roundly at them, he was very just. He
was a particular favorite with the
women, old and young. Good looks
aided him here; a bright eye, a jolly
laugh, curly brown hair, rosy cheeks
and powerful frame.
Among the English gang were:
Harry, familiarity called the Bloody
Joker, a younger son of a lord, likely
enough, but who had gone to the devil;
Pat, representative son of Ireland,
and 'Greenhorn jack fellow of %
years, trying his luck in foreign land,
who was the funniest looking fellow ]
ever saw. His eyes were mere peep
holes, his nose was tipped up so much
that the bridge was lost sight Of, his
mouth constantly stretched with grin,
displaying teeth of only half the ordin-
ary length. A brown, stubby chin beard
did not increase his good looks. A hat
of a style several years back was
target for the playful aud rough wit of
his messmates. The poor fellow merely
grinned at the rough jokes played on
him. He was rather quiet, probably
homesick, for he had little money and
no friends"