Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-03-17
LOST IN NEW YORK BAY.

city vas then [uL 81 sealafitiS uien, WV
had served in the volunteer navy, and
many Of y Esotn had eTen carried muskeu
in the srEy
American shipping had been, 30 e
speak run oil the nish seas. and even
the packet ships-that is, many Of them
flew tle English flag, although they
were owned IN New York as much as IL
Liverpool
Sailor Town. as the Fourth and part OF
the s4,veuth wards of New York wers
stvled rhen, was fuii of sailors boarding
houses, many OF them places of dreadful
repate, wherein Jack. was taken to live
on his return from sea. tieeced and shang
l,aied-ti.at is, placed insensiole on board
Of an outward bound ship, without any
money aud with very little wardrobe in
his canvas bag.
There were a few. very few. reputa
bic sailors boarding houses there, anc
the safest place for a mariner ashore wa
assuredly the Sailors Home, at No. ls
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 rule, sober men, De
sirous OF seeking employment and will
ing to go 10 sea if they could get ship,
Among the boarders were three men,
Isaac Reed. an elderly Englishman who
had fought tine Merrimac in the f1si
Monitor: Harry Elliott, a curly headed
lad from wburyp port, Mass, who had
lust felt that he could ship as an able
seaman. for he had turned 81. and had
been seven years mariner: and the
third was a Spaniard named Antonio,
who had sailed out If the United States
so long that he was very jealous of his
citizenship and took great care Of an old
American protection" - document
similar TO that with which all foreign
born seamen in American vessels were
furnished to protect them from being
held for military or naval service IN theii
own countries in Europe when they went
thithcr from American ports.
These three men were types of the sea
men of that day They had been filled
with the importance of the victorie
gained by Farragut. and as they haileo
from the States themselves, were very
anxious to obtain berths together. Oh
board of an American ship if possible
or an English one if it must be.
Day after day they had struggled from
shipping office to shipping office along
South street in quest of employment
And DAY after day they returned to the
Sailors Home at No. 1870 detected an6
disappointed.
They had been ashore for more thar
three months, all their money was gone
and they were gradually getting deeper
and deeper in debt to the managers o,
the Home, who, it must be noted. Were
very lenient with worthy men.
Night after night the three poor fel
lows sat together in the smoking room
converting in low tones about their wan.
derings and the morrow's prospects, and
night after night they went into prayer,
and listened to the sweet voices of the
Young ladies' of the managers familie.
singing the good old fashioned penny
roval tunes that Downeasters loved tt
hear.
At last. about the latter end Of Janu
ary. the three sailors sailed forth on
morning determined to take anything
that might present itself, and they
crossed over to Brooklyn, where lot Of
English vessels were moored, almost
ready for sea. in the Atlantic dock basin
They boarded brig called the Elliott
because the name attracted Harry Ell
liott's attention. and he said: Men, thi.
looks like luck. She's a iuicer. but tina,
makes no difference. Her names the
same rs mine. Who knows but there
NAV he a berth for one or more of us or
herr
Over the side went the three sailors
iiFN Fii'fh' w tiiN ihdtts q ASotIF
man, and learned from him that the cap
tain was going to ship crew the very
next day. as the brig was ready for sea
While the lads We're conversing with the
mate. the captain came down the quay
and over the gangway. The work of in.
PRODUCTION and explanation did not take
long, and the captain being pleased that
these sailors boarded at the Home" ant
could not therefore be packet RATS
class of voyageur much feared by al
reputable shippers because of their habit,
andlack of elmanship-badet them come
up to the British consul, No. 10 Broad
way, the next day and sign articles.
The three seamen returned to thu
Home" that night with light hearts and
a prospect Of half months advance
apiece. which would enable them to paw
a part, at least, of their overdue board
bills and save their good names with the
kind managers.
To make "a long story short. the three
men. Reed Elliott and Antonio, were
shipped. and attended the last prayer
meeting at the Sailors Home on Feb. 4
as they we're to haul the brig out and
sail on the morrow.
The old man and his mates thanked
the good lady SUPERINTENDENT of the
"Home. after prayers that night, fol
her kindness to them. and thew nrom;sed
to bring her A lot of "curiosv when thev
returned.
And should we not return, we will
expect To meet Won on the other side
sometime. But if our lives are spared.
YOU will see us here again, and we will
not FORGET the curios.'
There was a sad and wistfuI look in
the faces of the lien as they left the
Home. though for long time they had