The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-19

bition is absolute, the sailors show their
smuggling propensities in artful ways.
While some bring it aboard from every
port they stop al in their stomachs, so
that they have to spend a day or night in
the guard room to sleep off the effects,
the more thoughtful ones provide for the
future by stuffing every article possible
with whisky.
"A fine pair of ducks these be-" said
one sailor at Rio, exhibiting two birds to
the critical eye of the mate. They'll
make a fine meal at sea, an I'll get the
cook to fix 'em up in style"
This brazen-faced challenge created no
suspicion in the mind of the officer and
the pair of ducks went into the mess
room, where they were deftly skinned
revealing a bottle of whisky in each one.
The same pair of ducks appeared at each
port, until the mate became suspicious
OF the sailors particular fondness for
ducks. So one day the farce was ex-
posed when the officer demanded a small
Bit of one of them.
Another sailor brought a dozen fine CO.
coanuts aboard at every port the steamer
touched at. The fact that whisky had
taken the place of the milk was not dis
covered until the dodge had been success
1ully worked number of times. A third
man from the states found no difficulty for
some time in filling a huge bamboo cane
with spirits and passing inspection with
out challenge. But, as in the other two
cases, the sailors special fondness for
this stick brought him trouble
me crew or a tramp steamer is a COM
mlnglng OF nationalities Irish, English
Portuguese, negroes, Germans, Norwegians.
Malays, and an occasional American con-
sutute most crews that sail from the
American ports, and these are constantly
being IN a },
enters. 1t is generally expected that few
assertions will happen in each port. and
the captain is always on the lookout for
new hands to take the place of those who
take French leave" of his ship Captains
dislike to touch ports on account of this
nuisance. unless there is a chance to take
on more cargo. Many of the sailors ship
on the steamer simply to change their
place at residence, determined beforehand
to desert the ship at certain favored norris
The quartermaster consequently keeps a
sharp eye upon his men when the steamer
goes into port; but as a rule II is difficult
to prevent the sailors from deserving ~
they wish. There is less strictness in irving
TO hold the men than formerly. At nearly
every port there are certain headouarters
for sailors where new men can be obtained
on short notice, and the captains find it
easier to hire new ones than to hunt up the
deserters The latter are never paid in adj
pocket
with every desertion. Stories are rehears-
ed by the sailors in the mess room of how
certain brutal shippers make it a practice
to treat the new sailors so cruelty as to
compel them to desert at the first oppor-
tunity. The deserters receive no pay for
their few months work, and the captains
ship new crews at the first port. and
pursue their former tactics.
But the old experienced tars are not "a
be taken in more than once in this way.
They spot" shippers who do not treat
their crews properly, and the news trav-
els rapidly to all parts of the globe In
some insignificant port on the Atlantic
or Pacific tramp steamer or sailing YES
sci will drop anchor. Immediately the
news spreads among the idle sailors along
shore, waiting for some chance to shin
back to their native lands
Its the Belle Haven" some old tar
remarks, staring hard at the shape and
outline of the vessel. Capt H ain'r
my man. 1 guess I'll wait fur the next
vessel"
Eye know him?" queries a companion.
jerking his thumb toward the vessel
slightly" is the laconic reply.
what way?"
He strung up Pete Fallows by the
thumbs two years ago, an nigh killed
Reynolds, the cook, with a ropes end. an
starved every one on 'em till they mu-
tined. Then he puts into port an has
'em locked ZIP fur mutiny, an not a cents
pay did they get"
That is sufficient to condemn the captain
in that port, and he sails away again
with short crew, unless some greenhorn
is willing to risk his life.
Some tramp sailing vessels are Is obnox-
ious to the old sailors as the skippers-
These belong chiefly, however to the old
wooden sailing craft, and not to the more
ct "a he In
tirely seaworthy except when improperly
loaded, and this is usually tho case. The
upper decks in summer may be loaded
with cattle, while the hold is full of coffee.
or other comparatively light cargo The
steamer Is consequently top-heavy, and in
rough seas and stormy weather she la
bors heavily. AS various kinds of cargoes
are taken in at whatever port the steamer
touches, an equal distribution of the
weight is often rendered impossible The
result is often observable at sea when the
tramp is ploughing along with her head
down and her stern far out of the water
The captain takes the risk of not encoup-
tering any hurricanes in the run, and us
ually fortune is in his favor, but occa-
sionally the steamer has a hard time of
it. But the unseaworthy sailing vessels
are source of constant dread to the sail
ors.
II don't ship in that tub fur love nor
money" is the characteristic remark of
the old tar. She's ready to founder at
any time an my life amt worth farthin'
when l sign papers to go on her"
These remarks are usually founded upon
indisputahle facts. Many of the tramps
sailing vessels are little more than rotten.
untrustworthy tubs, which fall to pieces
in the first storm. So long as pleasant
weather smiles upon them, they can drift
along with comparative safety. They
dodge from port to port, avoiding rough
weather by seeking shelter at the first
signs of threatening seas, but occasionally
they are caught between two ports by an