St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1888-04-21
ROBBlNG JACK TAR.
How Unwary Sailors Are Swindied b
INSCRIPTIONS Land Sharks.

How Unwary Sailors Are Swindied bi
Inscriptions Land Sharks.
The freight steamer City of Alexan-
dria had just been moored to he1
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
stoo cd number of loiterers watching
the busy scene.
On deck could be noticed youth Of
about eighteen years of age, hurrying
about among the sailors, chatting for
a moment with each of them and
handing each a card as he moved on.
What is the business of that lad?"
asked bystander of stevedore who
stood near him.
Don't you know? Why l thought
every body in New York knew what a
runner for a 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 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't mean to
tell me you have been around these
docks for half a 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
East river.
Each one has a saloon attached.
You know as we'll as that rs 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 for liquor. These
houses board them and trust them for
their drinks. charging, you may be
sure, q handsome profit for their kind
ness. The Sailor who goes to one of
them gets so beastly full that he is to-
tally un6t 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 is 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 a 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
to settle the sailors calm.
Sooner than be delayed day, give a
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
lied the poor devil finds himself alone
N strange land, without money and
without friends, and in need OF
1ostelry. looking up new job that he
nay keep body and soul together. ]
ell you there are more sharks in this
Dig city committing swindles for which
he law can not punish them than any
'ne has any idea Of It is wonderful
low many men who hang around these
locks make their living by playing on
he cupidity and inexperience of their
ellowmen. IN z Press.