Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-08-08
ROBBiNG JACK TAR.

How Unwary Sailors Are swindied by
UnscruEuious Land Sharks.
The freight steamer City of Alexan-
dria hal lst 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 as
possible. On the pier not far away
stood number of loiterers watching
the b@sy scene
Ga deck could be noticed youth of
about eighteen years of age, hurrying
about among the sailors, chatting for
moment with each of them and
handing each a card as he moved on.
what is the business of that ladP"
asked bystander of a stevedore who
stood near him.
Don't you know? Why thought
every body in Now York knew what
runner for a sailors boarding-house
was. That boy and the people for
whom he is at work make their living
by swind ling the unwary sailors that
reach this port for The first time.
Don't they lay themselves open
to criminal prose cutionP Not at
all. A lawyer always stands
in with them and their business is
carried on strictly within the statute.
Their scheme! WHY, my friend. you
make me laugh. You didn' mean to
tell me you have been around these
docks for half dozen years and don't
know how the sailors boarding houses
make their money. There are dozens
of those places along the river front
in this and the Brooklyn side of the
E st river.
"E tch one has q saloon attached.
Y ou know as well as that Us soon as a
sailor reaches lanl his first Inclination
is to get drunk. VII these people ac-
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 for liquor These
houses board them and trust them for
their drinks. charging, you may be
sure, 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 tie ship is in port A little
before the vessel is to sail the board
ing house proprietor makes the sailor
go the captain aud demand his wages.
The captain, of course refuses,
as the trip for which the
sailor contracted is not yet up
and he is not legally bound to pay.
Then they take he 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 a 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 if
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 be 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. l
tell you there are more sharks in this
big city committing swindles for which
the law can not punish them than any
one has any idea Of. 1t is wonderful
how many men who hang around these
docks make their living by playing on
the cupidity and inexperience If their
felloWmen. IN Y Press.