The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-10-01
THE KING OF TATT00ERS.
ABLE SKIN ARTIST WHO DEC
CRATES OUR NAVY.

craft and How They Are Handled
some Specimen Cheap Designs.
(Copyrfgated)
NEW YORK, Sept. 2S-The water front
lang the East river is lined with sailors
homes" in which the jolly seamen who
,omea ashore to varnish the town, may find
.beiter while their money lasts. At one of
those boarding houses was lucky enough to
and lack Durston, "the king Of tattooers,"
xbolanded here one day last week. Jack is
a 0rizzled veteran and one of the kind that
snioys a fight Just for the sake of sociability,
bnt he is an able skin artist-there is no
doubt about that And great Scottl what
an axnectorator! He likes tobacco better
than bread and can score dead center every
time in spittoon twenty feet away. In
fact never saw more accurate long-dis-
tance shot.
He had an array of surgical implements
that would have done honor to a greater
harharian than him'elf. The implements
Of his craft consisted of a small round stick
ahout the sizs of lead pencil, fiattened for
ohout an inch at one end, on which we're
nIaced side by side with points projecting,
a half dozen fine needles bound fast with
linen thread, and 50 arranged that tie
min s for one side of triangl A shall
low vessel for ink. and book of designs
completed the outfit Of this able skin
piercer. oo
gems of art,to be drawn IN India ink and Chi
nese yermillion, with the name of eac desig
attached. which he would pierce in ones
flesh at a stated price per gem. When the
sailor " no wishes to join the exclusive set
finds he must be decorated he goes to the
artist and gets the book of designs. He
selects a su ject for etching, providing he
has the D. ice, while the artist prepares the
ink, which comes in slabs, like tutti-frutti
chewing gum, and which has only to be
dissolved in little water. II an arm pic
ture is desired the victim takes seat on a
stool faci the skin worker, who dips the
pointed end of the stick in the ink and traces
the picture. If body picture is desired
the victim takes off his shirt and lays him
self upon cask or board. After the sketch
is completed, then the inquisition begins
with the business end of the stuck. The ex-
ecuiioner draws the martyrs hide" taut
with mis- left hand, while with the right,
holding the stick like pen, he follows the
lines of the sketch, jabbing the needles into
the quivering hss OF the victim and then
prying them out again with the most reck-
less abandon. If you have ever seen man
digging plank out of a sidewalk with a
crow bar, you have seen tie precise actio l.,
except on very much smaller SCALE And
vet you landlubberS will ask if the opera
hon is painful.
"How long does it take to make pic
tureW asked HIM.
"Wall. that depends on the size of the
pictur, We see. 1t takes one dip a ink t.
trace a line an inch long. It mos centrally
takes me an hour to make forearm pictur
The body picturs are never finished t. once :"
He told me that at the close of the opera
ton the afflicted part is dressed in wet
bandage, and, though painful for a few
days, soon heals and is ready for exhibition
The portfolio of this artist contains a
selected list of subjects consisting of mystic
rious works of art and marine views. The
authors of the subjects generally used are
not known at the present day. Among the
subjects | might mention few selected
ones.
A most ingenious and happy combination
is Faith, Hope and Charity This is an
arm piece and costs the SUN of 81. 1t can
be worked in rone or two colors as desired.
In the foreground is low and very red
heart. Behind this marvel of anatomy are
the cross and anchor, representing Faith
and Hope" From the anchor ring bangles
off with what is supposed to represent a
halo in vermillion. The price for this gem
makes it favorite among tars and it is an
easy working piece.
Sunrise at Sea" makes pretty hand or
arm design and is produced at Is cents a
sunrise. A small strip of very clear and
very blue sea is shown, and in the distance
is old Sol rising in splendor in red. The
rising sun would he mistaken by a novice for
the expl sion of a vermillion factory In the
piece entitled "Sunset at Sea-" the explo-
sion effect is little subdued, but it is there
Just the same, and makes pretty compan-
ion piece. For the sum of So, back pic
ture called the Fox and Hounds" is given
In blue. This piece represents pack of
-FOUR hounds chasing wary fox along the
spine Of the victim. The hounds have
never succeeded in catching Rey lard. This
piece is considered very hum ,rous.
A design intended only for the breast is
found in the painting called the "Monitor
and the Merrimac," which is produced for
90 The subject is true to nature, and is a
thrilling spectacle, representing the famous
vessels IN terrific combat on the hirsute
posom OF the mariners. Red streaks of
destruction are blazing from the portholes
Oh tie vessels. This inhammatorv sketch
ana naval engagement is considered extra,
ana the sailor who has 1t pierced into his
hide is the pride and envy of his fellows.
The Sailors Farewell" breast, "a, is the
SUBJECT of striking sketch that il supposed
70 bring peace to the heart of the owner
A. is an intensely pathetic scene, aud depicts
the parting of a couple The dramatis
persona is bold sailor boy and thick
req girl. The scene is laid on the porch of
dance house, and is true to nature. The
youth has his cap pulled over his eyes, his
arms about the waist of the red girl whose
lace is hidden on his bosom. On the floor
III 'front.' OF them are several mysterious red
ana blue lamps. A beautiful deep water
traoltloE is current among seafearlng men
:nAo 6nese lamps are tears, but the question
- sun disputed one, as the girl does n OF
IooK llkea weeper. A companion to this
artistic piece is the ''Sailor's Return and
Ine accessories are the same, though the
Plse Is trifie different. In the wild exu-
perance OF his y, the sailor boy has thrown
us cap and bundle on the floor and is strain
lug the red girl to his throbbing bosom. She
nas hooked Ler chin in the forks of his wish
zone and has both hands thrust into his
pocAets. TINS is very touching piece, and
..e happy sailor seems to be putting
himself In position to get touched for his
A work that is always in great demand
an1 one that is considered very popular. is
oalied by name THE Hero at Rest and is
eAecuted at So hero. 1t represents the
n Na VI a zen or more naval engagements
WIG VINO is dead, at rest, draped in the stars and
IuEilpeS. The sailor IS lying on his back.
us hands are crossed on his pulseless
TTIsotn, while by his side is his trusty cutlass.
4. ne is dressed in blue fla mel shirt, at least
G al 81 o o. 4