The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-08

Whisky and wine-Drinking, and Gambling
on the Big Ocean Liners.
Queenstown Letter.
There is a wide margin for practical social re.
An application of restrictive liquor laws would
work with excellent effect. From the hour q
vessel such this one leaves New York bay
until Queenstown waters are entered it ia an al
most interminable round Of drinks, particularly
among the steerage passengers. The bar stew
ard of the Alaska is the authority for the state
States last summer his receipts netted s., 500
for seven days He complained that this
passage would not bring him much over 81, 500,
and that, too. with only few hundred
persons aboard, many of whom are total
abstinence advocates. As as idea of how dull
business was with him he said he sold 1,60o bot
ties of beer and porter, two glasses in each bot
tie, total quantity much below the average.
To this must be added the sales of Irish, Scotch
and American whiskes, champagne and other
wines. The porter and beer retail at twelve
cents bottle which ia the price, too, for drink
of whisky or inferior wine. The steerage pas
eengers we're not alone in their work Of gulping
intoxicants. not few OF the saloon people hav-
ing made the journey under q continued heavy
pressure of whisky and wine. In case of acct
dent. where everyone would be compelled to
rely on individual efforts for safety. it is fearful
would accrue from such an abnormal state
of existence. 1t would take good
sized store to hold all the bottles.
decanters, demijohns and laden
with drinks that an ocean steamer takes for one
voyage. There limit to the supply. From
$3.50 o'clock IN the morning until IL o. clock at
night the bar is in full blast No stage Of in
toxication is a barrier TO another purchase. The
only requisite is TO have the necessary twelve
cents. In this way the little savings of the poor
people, destined for the relief Of friends in Eu-
rope often equaneered in a few days
Another evil equally vicious is gambling The
sli ghtest pretext is made an occasion for bet
The smoking cabins are nothing short of gam
bling bells, which, If located in any reputable
city, would attract the attention Of the po-
nearly always be found aboard. Glib OF
tongue, plausible in speech, sedateiy dressed.
he manages to prove a big winner at every sit
ting The opportunities for gain for . female
gam bier are even moro numerous. Young fell
lows, and even old ones under the excitement
OF ship life and the abundance of time their
hands, are easily roped in by the batting smiles
her company is all the more sought after, since
her preferences, no matter how slight. towards
one man are sure to cause rivalry in others. 4
sample of an American girl. with taste for
cards. was the Alaska The young
lady was "goins IL her own hook
Unatteuded. and ostensibly destined for
London, she WAS not twenty-four
hours on the vessel before she had three adj
mirers furious in their attentions to her. She
told them all sorts of stores about her life; how
her mother was Il French from New
Orleans, her father an Enelishmau and herself
Canadian by birth, but there was no chance to
mist AXE her mannersms In unguarded
moment she would yell at the top OF her voice
when the ship would iurch, Hello. you bet that
was a tumble A number OF times she empha-
sized her words with a final land dont you for
get it-n ALI the same, she won . handsome SUM
at cards the frst night Those who played with
her were retlcsnt concerning their losses.