Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-11-22
THE TATTOOED SALT.
An Able Skin Artist Who Decorates tho
Sailors of Our Navy.
Designs for Various Parts Of the Body and
Their Cost--Implements Of the Craft and
How They Are Handled--The Pride Of the
Sailor Lad

The water front along the East
River in New York is lined with
sailors homes" in which the jolly
seamen who come ashore to varnish
the town, may find shelter while their
money lasts. At one OF these boarding
houses was lucky enough to find Jack
Durston, 1.-THE king of tattooers, who
landed here one day last week. Jack
is a grizzlel veteran and one OF the
kind that enjoys fight just for the
sake OF sociability, but he Is an able
skin artist-there is no doubt about
that. Aud great Scott what an eX =
pectator! He likes tobacco better than
bread and can score dead centre every
time in spittoon twenty feet away.
In fact / never saw more accurate
long-dist tnce shot
He had an array of surgical imple-
ments that would have done honor TO
"A greater barbarian than himself. The
implements OF his craft consisted OF "a
small round stick about the size OF a
lead pencil, iattened for about an inch
at one end on which were placed side
by side with points projecting, half
dozen fine needles bound fast with
linen thread, and so arranged that the
points formed one side of triangle.
A shallow vessel for ink, and a book
OF designs completed the Quilt of this
able skin Diercer
The book of designs contained about
one hundred gems Of art To be drawn
in india ink and Chinese vermillion,
with the name OF each design attached,
which he would pierce in ones flesh at
ii stated prize per gem. When the sailor
who wishes TO join the exclusive set
finds that he must be decorated he goes
to the artist aud gets the book of de-
signs He selects a subject for etching
providing he has the price, while the
artist prepares the ink. II an arm
picture is desired the victim takes Il
seat on a stool facing the skin worker,
who dips the pointed end OF the stick
in the ink and traces the picture. If u
body picture is desired the victim takes
off his shirt and lays himself upon a
cask or board. After the sketch is COM
pleted, then the inquisition begins with
the business end of the stick. The ex-
ecutioner draws the martyrs "hide"
taut with his left hand, while with the
right, holding the stick like pen, he
follows the lines OF the sketch, jabbing
the needles into the quivering flesh of
the victim aud then prying them out
again with the most reckless abandon.
II you have ever seen a man digging a
plank out Of "a sidewalk with a crow
bar. you have seen the precise action,
except on very much smaller scale.
And yet you landlubbers will ask If the
operation is painful.
"How long does is take 10 make a
picture?" l asked him.
Wall, that depends on the size OF
the pictur, ye see. 1t takes one dip a
ink L trace line an inch long. 1t
mos gen rally takes me an hour TO
make Il forearm pictur. The body pic
turs are never finished T. once"
He told me that at the close Of the
operation the afflicted part is dressed
in wet bandage, and, though painful
for few days, soon heals and is ready
for exhibition.
The portfolio of this artist contains
a selected list of subjects consisting OF
mysterious works of art and marine
views. The authors OF the subjects /
might mention a few select ed ones