The Grenada gazette., 1888-04-28
R0e6iNo JACK TAR


How unway sallers Are swindisa -
UnsoruPslous Land Sharks.
The freight steamer City Of Alexan-
dria had Just been moored to her
docks Every thing was hurry and
hustle on board. for her captain was
anxious to unload his freight and put
to sea again with as little delay u
possible. On the pier not far away
sto cd number of loiterers watchine
the busy scene
On deck could be noticed youth O!
about eighteen years Of age. hurrying
about among tho sailors, chatting fol
= moment with each Of them and
handing each card as he moved on.
''What is the business Of that ladP"
asked bystander of a stevedore who
stood near him.
Don't you knowp Why l thought
every body in Now York knew what q
runner for sailors clearinghouse
was. That boy and the people for
whom he is at work make their living
BY swindling the unwary sailors that
reach this port for the first time.
Don't they lay themselves op on
to criminal prose cutionp Not al
all A lawyer always stands
in with them and their business Is
carried on strictly within the statute.
Their schemel Why my friend. you
make me laugh. You didn't mean to
tell me you have been around these
docks for halfa dozen years and don't
know how the sailors boarding houses
make their money. There are dozen,
OF those places along the river front
in this and the Brooklyn side Of the
East river.
Each one has saloon attached
You know as we'll Is that as soon as
sailor reaches land his first inclination
is to get drunk. Will these people &C.
commodate him? The captain will not
pay their wages till their work is done.
Hence. when they first land they have
no money to spend fov liquor. These
houses board them and trust them for
their drinks. charging, you may be
sure. a handsome profit for their kind.
ness The sailor who goes to one Of
them gets so beastly full that he is to.
tally unfit for work during the rest OF
the time the ship is in port. A little
before the vessel is TO sail the board.
ing house proprietor makes the sailor
60 the captain and demand his wages
The captain. Of course. refuses,
as the trip for which the
sailor contracted 10 not yet up
and he is not legally bound to pay.
Then they take the sailor to the lawyer
with whom they work, have him pre-.
pare libel against the ship and
attach her the morning her captain
expects to put TO sea
THE lawyer has . power Of attor.
ney . general release and full.
authority to settle the sailors calm
Sooner than be delayed day. give
bond for the payment Of the claim Il
Judgment goes against him and be put
to the trouble of contesting the case
In the courts. the captains most always
settle The money thus realized is
applied first to paying the lawyer.
second to satisfying the sailors score
at the house where he has been lodg.
ing. and third. if there be any third.
to the sailor himself When all is set.
tied the poor devil finds himself alone
in strange land. without money and
without friends, and in need OF
hostelry, looking up new job that he
may keep body and soul together.
tell you there are more sharks in this
big city committing swindlcs for which
the law can not punish them than any
one has any idea Of 1t is wonderful
aow many men who hang around these
docks make their living by playing on
the cupidity and incxperenco Of theil
fellowmen IN Y Press.