The morning call., 1893-06-14
A MIDNIGHT RAID.
How the CeIia's Crew
Was Won Over.
UnionistS Marshaled Their Forces
Into a Committee Which Exer-
cised Its Persuasive Power.

All was darkness and silence on Main
street dock. Even the marine socialist,
who had been making night hideous by
singing nautical chestnuts about when l
was Down on the Strand" and other
equally ancient sea songs. had dropped
with sickly thud behind an empty stea III
beer keg and became dead to the world.
Alongside the wharf was the steam
schooner Celia, and on the Celia was crew
of non-uuon men. These noh-upion men
were unsophisticated lads whom an old
salt is wont to look upon with suspicion,
but they were non-nnion men just the
same and that settled their fate in the eyes
of the Coast Seamen's Union.
In the immediate vicinity OF East and
Mission streets a special committee of per-
suason, composed of uni0niSts who were
known 10 bear regulations for being able
to argue very forciDly. gathered, then SAL
lied forth in the direction of Main-street
dock.
1t was 10 O'Clock at night. and n OF soul
could be seen along the southern water
front. On board the Celia the farmers"
had retired TO their berths, for the vessel
was booked to sal Tuesday morning at Z
o'clock, and all this occurred On Monday
night.
The captain of the schooner was asleep,
and so was the mate. No one was on
watch, so it was not hard for the persua-
sion committee to board the Celia and
make their way 10 the torecaStle.
Above was a dark sky filled with glitter
ing stars, and about the Celia washed the
muddy waters of the bay. tapping again st
the black hull of the steamer with suffi-
cient noise to drown the sound OF the
stealthy footsteps of the unionists.
"Where'S der d0or?" asked one of the
invaders in whisper.
Here. here, responded an aged negro,
who was Only visible TO the extent of the
whites of his eyes and his linen collar.
The chairman of the pursuasion CON-
mittee then called his men to order and
lisped the following orders, aud still the
Celia's crew slept peacefully on: "YoGse
fellows remember now. we came to per-
suade, not to do any smashing. When l
gets ready TO smash, I'll give the word
then let 'eM have it. Are you ready?"
YES" came chorus OF whispers.
Then here goes"
The leader knocked at the forecastle
door. There was no answer. He opened
the door carefully and went below, fol-
lowed By the darky and tie rest of the
persuaderS. The first human being he
found between decks was a Swedish sailor,
with his nose toward the polar star and his
mouth opened like the dome Of minial ure
observatory. This sleepy worthy was
given a poke in the ribs, which made him
start up in his bunk and commence to
plead for mercy.
Hush your mouth" ordered the negro.
Come, get out OF this" said the chief
persuader; "we've come to get you 10 join
the union. Now don't sit there ga piping
like scent Goldfish"
The Swede pleaded that he had be en-
loh hor ba Il oil eip hot he u
been admitted into the union about fl We
years ago and had his naturalization pa
pers to show for il, but the chief per-
suaGer would not listen to him.
One by one the slumbering crew of the
Celia were rudely awakened and '.per-
suaded" to stand in line preparatory to be.
ing ordered to march ashore.
Forward, maTchP' commanded the
unlonist chief in harsh whisper, sneez ng
into his overcoat pocket SO as to deaden
the SOUND. Then the persuasion commit
Tee and the farmers" marched off the
vessel.
Up the dark wharf they went, tramp.
tramp, tramp. tramp, and vanished in the
blackness of Main street.
The captain of the Celia rose early. SC
did his mate.
where's the crew." shouted the chief
The mate went to the forecastle anC
bawled out hustily:
Come on deck quick, YOU landiubbers
What's the matter with you anyway. Shir
leaves at O'Clock. Get a move on or
turn the hose on youp
There was something pathetic in the
first officers looks when he heard not {
sound from below. He jumped into the
forecastle ready for battle, but it was
empty; So were the hunks. The crews
baggage was gone and so was the crew.
He came on deck and reported to the cap.
tain, and neither could refrain from smiI-
ing at the righteousness of the situation
The steam schooner Celia is still at Main.
ctraat dnnL