New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-23

but among his officers he Is looked on with dis-
tirct dsfavor. Nearly every ship that drops
anchor in this harbor has its learned sea law
yer aboard but it remained for the Anchor Line
steamship Elysia to develop among its crew a
marine barrster who for the time caused ms
felow-craftsmen Of the land lot of trouble. The
intervention Of the United States Government
was needed to disentagle the snarl due to MS
acuteness
This sea lawyer was Charles Roberts, a canny
Scotchman out Of Glasgow thirty-hVe years
Old Roberts had been long known as a sea law
yer Of merit and he has shipped on many Verseis
in which he figured as the leader ana ADVISER Oh
the crew on every subject that saiormen could
bring forward as grievance But Roberts
showed most forcbly his knowledge Of legal ma
rine lore In his handling Of his shipmates OF the
Elysia Scotchmen like himself
AN EASY VICTORY.
This vessel steamed out of port for the Mediter-
ranean without apparently a dissensloh on
board but she had gone scarcely thirty marine
miles, before the struck work ana heaoeu
NV their sea lawyer came aft to tell the captain
So The ship was unsafe, they declared and' De-
sides they were sick for a sight Of old Glasgow
The captain could only swear at sailors IN gen.
eral and sea lawyers in particular in his heart
and turn tail and make his way back 10 port
He thought il would be a simple matter t. get
rid of the homesIck Scotchmen and ship a new
crew but he reckoned without due appreciation
Of Roberts's cunning. Not only did the sea law
yer delay the steamship five days ana cause
considerable financial loss to the company out
he got the men ashore in such shape that they
can bring suit for their wages, ana besides nave
escaped the danger of being classed as deeerters
or mutineers Even William Coverly, of Hender-
son Brothers, the agents Of the line, sald with
note Of pride in his voice, for he is scot MN
self. THE men have clever adviser; he's =
sLrewd chap it's Greek meet Greek, you KNOW.
The first and principal qualification OF sea
lawyer must be the gift Of fluent speech; ana
secondly he must have had large ana Vafleu
experience for the sea lawyer gathers his know-
| edge Of marine law rot from text books but
| from discussions and exchange OF views WIN
other sea lawyers, and from experience ealHeu W
| himself in different ports
NO DIVIDED AUTHORITY.
| It seldom occurs that two sea lawyers are In
the same ship. and If this does happen, the su-
premacy is decided in short order. The biggest
talker wins. for no general sea lawyer can be
| onttaIked or overargued save by more expert
| colleague Many Of these fellows become 50 well
known that sailors are eager 10 snip on 'he same
essel with them. while. on the other hand ship
pers carefully avoid them If they happen IL iecos-
nize their names
At the best, the sailorman's fe is a hard one,
| a
| likes to have q boss grumbler on board VINO can
put facts In the best way possible and back them
| up with arguments. Grub" Is the topic on which
| the sailor always manages to cause most trouble.
| for himself at least. and consequently grub is
| the subject on which the qualifications OF sea
| LAWYER are most often brought into play.
| GIVE a sailor pie three times a day, said an
| old sea captain land he would still kick. Pie,
| q NAV be said is the alpha and omega Of a sail
| or's ideas on the luxury Of food. The sailor Is
| naturally suspicious and the sea lawyer nurtures
| his susnicion as may be illustrated by the fol-
| loving vouched-for incident Some years ago the
| whale ship Ohio was cruising in Northern Pacific
| waters and the growls Of the men against the
| cod had been long and deep. The skipper OF the
| Vessel was Captain Thomas Ellis. and his wife
| VS. aboard Mrs Ellis heard the murmurs, and
| womanlike persuaded the skipper TO let her Tx
| IN meal for the men, He. however. told her that
| har efforts would not be appreciated ana migh'
| even cause trouble. Anyhow, the good woman
| nersisted. and with her own hands prepared a
| fot turkey and ali the "fXings. The fowl was
| cent forward to the forecastle ana MIS- EAis
| tbnupht the men would for once have no com,
| nlaint 10 make about the dinner AS Nia'ae e ~
| fact the men hove the turkey over ooaiu
| eoid their sea lawyer. something's the ma'.eI
| with it, or il would never have come iolwdlS
| or course the captain has the whip ndhu "a e''s
sailors and II Is often war TO tne Khiie pe." o,
| the skipper and the sea lawyer. The skipper ge,'
| even with his antagonist by giving MIN the mar
| est and dirtest work aboard ship. There Is al.
ways more or less work to be done, ana III thei
isn't the skipper finds something to keep the sea
! Iawver'a hands busy and his tongue quiet. Fol