St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-06-02
ROeelNo JACK TAR.
How UaWssy Sailors Are SWindaea -
Unscrupulous Land Sharks.


aov Uawsry Sailors Are swladiea -
Unscrupulous Land Sharks.
Tho freight steamer City Of Alexan-
dria hal j,st been moored to her
docks Every thing was hurry and
hustle en- board. for her captain was
anxious to unload his freight and put
to ssa again with rs it'll, delay ~
possible. On the pier not far away
stood a number Of loiterers watching
the bnsy scene.
On deck could be noticed . youth Of
about eightt years Of age. hurryins
about among the sailors. chatting for
a moment with each Of them and
handing each card as he moved on.
..What is the business Of that lad?"
asked bys,ander Of stevedore who
stood near him.
Don't you knowe Why l thought
every body in New York knew what .
runner for . sailors clearinghouse
was That boy and the people foi
whom he is at work make their living
BY swind ling tho unwary sailors that
reach this port for the first time
Don't they lay themselves opcI
to criminal prose cutionf Not Al
all A lawyer always stands
in with them and their business !:
carried on strictly within the statute.
Their scheme! Whv. my friend. you
make me laugh You didn't mesn to
tell me you have been around these
docks for half dozen years and don't
know how the sailors clearinghouse
make their money. There are dozens
Of those places along the river front
in this and the Brooklyn side Of tho
East river.
Each ono has q saloon attached
You know as well as THAT as soon rs
sailor reaches land his first inclination
is to get drunk. Will these people ac-
commodatc 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 b,
sure, handsome profit for their kind
ness. The sailor who goes to ono Of
them gets so beastly full that he ID 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.
g-hou.c proprietor makes tbs sailor
90 the captain aud domand his wages
The captain. Of course. refuses
rs the trip for which TIN
sailor contracted is not yet NJ
and he is not legally bound to pay
Then they taks the sailor to the lawyer
with whom they work. have him pre-
pare . libcl against the ship and
attach her tho morning her captain
expects to put 10 sea
The lawyer has a power Of attor
ney q general release and full
authority to settle tho sailors calm
Sooner than be delayed day. give
bond for the payment OF tho claim
Judgment goes against him and be pu
to the trouble Of contesting the CTS
in the courts. tho captains most alway
settle. The money thus realized i
applied first to paying the lawyer
second to satisfying the sailors scor'
at the house where he has been lod..
ing; and third. il there be any third
/, to the sailor himself When all Is set
tied the poor devil finds himself alon
in a strange land. without money ant
, without friends. and in need q
hostclry. looking up new job that b
may keep body and soul together:
, tell YOU there are more sharks in thi
|, big city committing swindlcs for whic
the law can not punish thcm than an
oue has any idea II 1t is wondcrfr
. how many men who hang around thes
locks make their living by playing OF
, the cupidity and inexpericncs Of thei
. l-fellowmen."- ~ y Press