Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1890-08-08
10Ss IN NEW YORK BAY.

in the army.
American shipping had been, so T.
speak, run of the high seas, and even
the packet ships-that is, many Of then
flew the English flag, although they
were owned in New York as much as in
Liverpool.
Sailor Town. as the Fourth and part OF
the Seventh wards Of New York were
STYLED then. was full Of sailors boarding
houses, many of them places Of dreadful
repute, wherein Jack was taken to live
on his return from sea-, aeeced and shang-
haied-that is. placed insensible on board
of an outward bound ship, without any
money and with very little wardrobe in
his canvas bag.
There were a few, q very few, reputa-
bic sailors boarding houses there, and
the safest place for a mariner ashore was
assuredly the Sailors Home, at No. 100
Cherry street, which had been conducted
on the most excellent plan, under the
admirable guidance of Capts. Walford
and Richardson, who were connected
with the directorate Of the Seaman's
Savings bank.
The "Home" at the time of which
speak was full of sailors, some Of whom
were in arrears in their board and most
Of whom were down to their last dollar.
Nevertheless they were well treated,
for they were, as a rule, sober men, de
sirous of seeking employment and viii
ing TO go TO sea if they could get a ship.
Among the boarders were three men,
Isaac Reed, an elderly Englishman who
had fought the Mertimac in the first
Monitor: Harry Elliott, a curly headed
lad from Newhuryport, Mass, who had
just felt that he could 'ship" as an able
seaman, for he had turned q, aud had
been seven years q mariner; and the
third was a Spaniard named Antonio.
who had sailed out of the United States
so long that he was very jealous Of his
citizenship and took great care Of an OLD
american protection a document
similar to that with which all foreign
born seamen in American vessels wer,
furnished to protect them from being
held for military or naval service in theiI
own countries in Europe when they wen.
thither from American ports.
These three men We're types of tho sea
men of that day. They had been dlleC
with the importance Of the victorie.
gained by Farragut, and as they halle,
from the States themselves. were yer,
anxious to OBTAIN berths together, OF
board of an American ship if possible
or an English one if it must be.
Day after day they had struggled iron
shipping office to shipping Office alon
South street in quest of employment
And day after day they returned to til
Sailors Home at No. 100 detected an
disappointed.
They had been ashore Cor more tina
three months, all heir money was gor
and they were gradually getting deep,
and deeper in deht to the managers
the Home, WHO, t must be noted, wei
very lenient with worthy men.
Night after night the three poor fe
lows sat together in the smoking ROOF
conversing in low tones about their wal
behring's and the morrow's prospects,, an
night after night they wen into pray6
and listened to the sweet voices Of III
young ladies of the managers familiC
singing the good old fashioned penny
ROYAL tunes that Downeasters loved {
hear.
At last, about the latter end of JAM
ary, the three sailors sailed forth on
morning determined to take anythin
that might present itself, and the
crossed over to Brooklyn, where a lot
English vessels were moored, almo
ready for sea, in the Atlantic dock bash
They boarded a brig called the Elliot
because the name attracted Harry L
liott's attention. and he said: Men, tn
looks like luck. Shes a juicer, but tn
makes no difference. Her names Il
same as mine. Who knows but the
may be a berth for one or nor Of US
her?'
Over the side went the three sailor
and they spoke to the mate, a Scotc
man. and learned from him that the ca
tain was going to ship a crew the We
next day, as the brig was ready for 81
While the lads were c%onversing with q
mate. the captain came down the qui
and over the gangway. Tire work of
PRODUCTION and explanation did not ia.
long, and the captain being pleased th
these sailors boarded at the Home" al
could not therefore be packet rats
class of v0yageur much feared by
reputable clippers because Of THEN hab.
andlackof seamanship-bade them cor
up 20 the British consul, No. 30 Broa
way, the next day and sign articles.
The three seamen returned to {
Home" that night with light hearts al
a prospect Of half a months advan
apiece, which would enable them TO p
part, ct least, Of their overdue boa.
bills and save their good names with t
kind managers.
To make o long story short, the thr
men, Reed, Elliott and Antonio. we
shipped, and attended the last pray
meeting at the Sailors Home on Feb.
as they were 10 haul the brig out al
sail on the morrow.
The old man and lis mates thank
the good lady superintendent of t
Home, after prayers that night, {
her kindness TO them, and they promis
10 bring her a lot of ''curios' when IN
aeturned.
And should we not return. we W
expect 10 meet you on the other 81
sometime. But II our lives are spare