The evening world., 1894-06-25
CATS ARE SAILORS JoNAHs,
THEY ARE APPREHENsIvE WHEN
A FELINE IS ON BOARD.
Women md Ministers, Too, Are OBJ
iects of Superstition.

Lake sailors are not nearly as SUPER
stitious as their brothers who follow the
sea, but they show with them their
dislike OF women or ~clergymen as pas
sengers or visitors on any boat other
than the regular passenger lines, says
the Chicago Tribune.
Cats are nearly as bad, while the
three together are fatal to the good
luck of the trip at least.
There is one old sailor in Chicago
who attributes the fact that he Is alive
to-day to his determination not to sail
in such company. He was all ready
to make Il certain trip. when he sud
denly discovered that a friend of the
captains and his daughter were to 60
along; he disliked the idea greatly, and
his aversion to going grew stronger
when he learned nat the gentleman in
question was a minister, but when the
young lady came aboard carrying, a
pet Kitten in her arms, his heart falled
MIN entirely, and he was forthwith at
tackled by IL sudden and severe illness,
which ellectually prevented him from
making the run
CURED. and the unlucky boat promptly
Settled" and although all on board
were rescued by the other vessel, the
superstitious man always will believe
that had he made the trip he would
have gone ito the floor"
But. Notwithstanding the feeling In
regard to the feline tribe, one liner
which runs between Duluth and Bnf-
falo, always has a cat on board. She
was originally the property of the first
mate, but so, attached to the boat DID
she become that when In the course OF
time he was promoted she refused, TO
leave with him. Since then h has
made every trip since one. and on that
occasion no persuasion would induce
her to cross the EaECWay or climb the
ladder. A serious accident took place,
In which several men lost their lives,
ing port is carefully, watched. Should
she again refuse to board the BOAT the
trip would in all probability. be post
poned until u new crew could be OBJ
tanned.
Queer stories are told in this connec-
ton, and 1t is said a genuine sailor VIII
make any sacrifice rather than lose his
place at the swinging table. certain
captain on IL grain steamer says on the
final trip of last season a series or
catastrophes had so depleted the china
one time instead of the usual ten, and
even then 1t vas necessary to resort to
strange cXpedicnts to make up for de-
ticipncieS.
one man drank his tea from a small
pitcher. another used Il sugar-bowl, II
third Il spoon-hOlder, the fourth boosted
a handless cup, while the fifth proudly
Many jokes were exchanged on the
subject. of the unique table service, and
much laughter was INDUCED ill.,. and
storm the goblet was thrown to the
floor and broken, its owner, II doughty
Scotchman. was mercilcssly chaifed.
But having declared his determination
to remain with the mess at all hazards,
he was not to be outdone. Calmly
washing his deep soap,dish, he con-
| verified 1t into n teacup during the two
days which INTERVIEWED before the near
est port was reached.
Each of the thirty-tlve vessels which
on an average enter and leave the port
of Chicago. requires the services of
twenty-five to thirty men, many tons
of coal, and at least a mile of rope
that it may remain an independently
kingdom. A monarchy, indeed, and OF
the most despotic order possible is
the government of each water castle
is, for the ''cap'n,s' word is law. Like
ly and without question, The man
the most desirable Observation-Disclosures"
an An s o point 0nH IN The Common mar;ne between between
whether naval or merchandising, is the
great number of classes into which the
men are divided and the impossible bar
riers which exist, between them. 1t
matters not to what grade a mar be-
longs. whether he be oiler. fireman,
mate, engineer. cook. steward, pilot or
the, next step has been surmountcd.
and when this is attained the process
must be repeated indefinitely. Perhaps
the rude spirit of justice which under
haps sailors, as a whole, are a jolly
set and little given to complain;
At all events, 1t is certain that. al
found. except that type of II bygone
style of litera ture who was continually
hitchtng up his trousers and exclaiming:
heard to grumble or ever protest
against the iron rule which provides
one "dining-room,, for the d~eckhands,
hremen, another yet for the engineers,
and still one more for the officers.
The food generally Is the same for all,
eliminates in favor of the tiremen, who
are harder to get. and therefore more
valued than the rest of the crew. but
1t must be served separately, and each
rule strictly.
There is an element of adventure in
the life of II sailor. and this, with the
constant change of scene, renders the
work attractive to many. Certain 1t is
that with his there is but little TO ac-
count for the immense number who take
is hard, pay moderate. provision for old
age anything but adequate and the
chances to rise all too far apart;
In one sense, it Is easier now than In
when a youth shipped with the idea
of spending some years in learning his
trade, but on the other hand, wages
are lower, because since steam has
nearly driven canvas from its own field
skilled labor is no longer needed, and
the work Is done by a poorer class OF
men. Nowadays IA man can pick W
enough In one season as a deck hand
for which no experience and but little
knowledge is necessary, to enable hin,
to ship the following year as a look.
out man" and obtain the privilege OF
bearing the brunt of all kinds OF
weather.
Il another twclvemonth he may ever
aspire to be Il wheelmnn: the next steI
above is a pilots position, for which
he must procure a Government license
and when this is done there are still
examinations to be passed. with somt
! years OF active service, before he car
attain the dignity of first mate or cap,
tain. Even when the coveted position
is reached. 1t has its drawbacks, anG
serious one at that, for the life of q
sailor rather promotes love of family
than otherwise, and the time when q
man could conveniently carry his fam,
lily with him Is only "A memory now.
Many Jokes are passed at the expense
of the management of a certain freight
line, which, while willingly grantinl
captains the privilege. carefully see.
} that it's boats are so built as to render
such u course impossible.
He Was Eciipsed.
. fEz,n, ~. Nu..AI.,.. O..