The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-15
DEEP=SEA REFORM
1t Has Two Very Queer
Advocates.
Letters Written to Sea Captains by
Men Who Believe in the
Power of the Pen.

John Kwakenburg of California is ad-
vocatln brand-new method of defense
LOT sailors. Mr.. Kwakenburg believes that
the pen Is mightier than the belaying-pin,
ana has studied the art of let.er-writing
mat he may be able to reform vicious skip
pers with an epistolary club
Mr. AWAKEN burg's system is aggressive.
he believes in laying down the marine law
Oh ethics so forcibly upon sheet of paper
mat commanders cannot belu but be I'M
pressed and governed accordingly.
Captain PeltZ of the schooner Robert
Searles is the first captain who has been
dressed down by Mr.. Kwakenburg's
vigorous style of attack, which will be
quoted herein below.
Samuel Kinney is another seamen VINO
thinks that little ink judiciously used
goes long way toward reforming a re-
1ractory shippers temper, only Mr.. Kiln
ney extols the power of moral suasion. and
denghts to call attention TO the rottenness
OF pork and mustinesS of sea- biscuit after
the style of logical and tenderly persua-
slve scribe
Upon the wheels in the caputs of these
two remarkable sailors have been ground
Two keen-edged stories.
kwakenburg shipped on the Searies al
clares.
The captain did not treat Kwakenburg
with that respect due sailor aud gem
tIeman. Did the latter mutiny? No; not
he. He HE'D himself TO the forecastle and
commenced q series of letters addressed to
Peltz. His first effort touched the captain
up thus:
on the day OF our departure from New
castle 1 saw that had made one of the
greatest mistakes of my life. and though
willing and servile as slave. L have been
by words and action treated far worse
than any man. however low and humble.
ought under any circumstances willingly
submit to en- the high seas. You have
previous to this day, while / was at your
wheel. heaped abuse. not only on me-
but on the name of my father and mother
You have pushed your ugly fists into my
features. and | have submitted as man
who has pitied you in your crazy anger"
Being further convinced that Captain
Peitz needed to be reminded of his mis-
takes in life. Kwakenb burg wrote:
You have his morning abused me like
dog, spoke and acted to me like raving
maniac, while at the wheel. because the
peak halyards of the spanker gave way
during a squall, rope in which you had
caused to be put strand four feet below
splice. You said l ought to have let the
vessel come up to the wind.
II state to you that my actions were In
accordance with my ideas of what was
Just 10 you as my employer
For reward get violently thrown from
the wheel to the starboard tafrail and
back against the wheel.
81 am compelled to ask of you not to be
molested by you while in the performances
of my duty or | shall be obliged to refuse
that duty and give you the opportunity of
dealing with me as you, as master of this
snip, see fit."
Suasive Mr. Kinney also applied to his
superior In letters, but his words were
supplicative.
Kinney sailed with an English ship to
this port some months ago. and il is need
less TO say that his prayers for release
were answered when he reached San Fran
cisco.
fRliBney objected TO an oVer-abundance
81 salt food, and wrote:
"HOnOred captain: Our bill of fare is
little 100 briny. Can't you manage TO have
few tins of fresh meat preached. I ap-
peal to your conscience as man and
father of three sweetfaced children to have
mercy on poor Jack. Please attend to this
matter i'm medIately, and You will have the
heartfelt thanks Of the ships company"
When San Francisco was reached
Kinney took few hours off in which To
write heartrending prayer for release
from his ship.
Grant me this request and shall ever
cherish IN my heart the deepest gratitude
to you. Do not dIsappoiDt me. Look at
the splendid opportunities offered for a
young man in this great and glorious
California. Let me have reply as
quickly as possible"
he got the reply. He WINS "lubberly"
sort OF fellow and poor seaman.
And now in the sunshine Of Barbary
Coast is TO be seen the fitting shadow of
Sailor Kinney as he industriousIy goes
from clearinghouse TO shipping office
looking for job