The morning call., 1893-06-20

and loafers come right along with that
yarn that we have to keep weather and
lee eyes open so as not to run aground.
Anyway, boss. that cough of yours won't
improve outside, and I'll show you room.
You can have one alto yourself and fetch
the coin along after breakfast"
l followed him upstairs and down long,
wide corridor with doors on each side-all
bedrooms, he told me. In one of these
rooms he lighted a lamp and left me. The
room was OF good size and contained a
strong chest of drawers, looking glass
and a single bedstead. The sheets and
pillow-slips were as white as snow and the
blankets and quilt we're sufficient to keep
out any cold. Well pleased with the in
vestlgation L turned the light down and
went downstairs to enjoy a pipe Ibefore
turning in.
On form on the veranda l found an in-
teresting companion who was soon en-
Tightening me on a sailors life in San
Francisco.
you've struck bad town. mate, for
seafaring men; every man that comes
ashore here has fifty waiting to fleece him.
1t never seemed so bad to me as since my
job ashore started and then | watched the
game. Why to see the way the boarding.
ship would surprise YOU"
In answer to the query as to why British
sailors were specially watched for, my in-
formant tXplained:
"Why, because the crews have been
some tiue out, and have plenty of money
to draw and generally safe berth away
again. Last week L saw the board ing
house men at work on two ships. Before
the boys have got things straight enough
to get leave, down the hawks came win a
bottle or two OF gTog and an invitation TO
come and see them. After a long trip the
Jacks cart refuse a taste and the man
who brought II down to them Is, OF course,
a good chap, and his treat must be re-
turned inthe evening. Once ashore they
slug tlem, that is, they dose 'em with
something and keen them under their
pnwer Until it is time for them to sail.
They get an order on their advance, which
would be for long voyage $40. and the
seaman goes aboard owing his captain the
amOuntof this advance, all his money spent
and nothing to show for it except one or
two weeks board. Years ago | went all
through IT, but they know better than offer
me any Of their liquor now, because l
stick to the Home here when ashore"
But are ali these bOarding-houses bad ?"
mo, there are TWO or three good ones
that treat you fair and square. That's the
worst OF 1t, because you meet n mau that
seems all fair and imagine you have struck
q 60OQ UUEle. NIeD you are Uau IL Is TOO
late to get clear Of him. 7 ou see, the grog
system upsets all our calculations, because
if a sailor goes ashore with three sheets in
the wind be win do anything and will go
anywhere he is led, where some amuse-
ment and drink can be held out as an in
ducemeDt."
Have you been long running to this
port?"
'Twenty-three years off and on. SO l
ought 20 know something about it, and l
say San Francisco is Que of the worst ports
in the world for sailors. The Sailors
Home here gets no outside assistance and
has NJ show of competing with unscrupu-
lous people. | stayed at the Sailors Home
in Liverpool and it does DOT treat men as
well as they do here in this home. The
place WAS dirty, the food thrown at you
anyhow, and altogether very uncomfort-
able. But 10 make up for 1t they looked
after getting you berth well aud fought
against anything like imposition. There
they could do IL too, because the public in
terested Itself, but here they don't
care a straw what goes on. No one seems
to be game to take our part against the
shipping masters and the boarding
houses"
IntelIigently as my companion talked, l
was getting sleepy, and bidding him good
night went 10 bed. A good nights rest in
a bed as comfortable as man could wish
for made me wake up fresh and anxious
for further experiences of my new lodging
house. The previous night | had noticed
two or three rooms marked "washroon,