New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-20
THE TRAMP STEAMERS WAYS
HER UNCERTAIN WANDERINGS DEEPEN
DENT ON THE CHANCES OF TRADE
WITH CREWS THAT PREFER EXCITE
MENr TO GOOD PAY.

but the name has been accepted. and no better
designation could probably be found for the ves-
sells which wander about through the great waters.
rarely knowing to what distant point the next voy-
may take them. The regular liners. spick ana
span. in white paint and polished brasses. clean
decks and fauitess rigging. look down upon Inc
tramps with contempt and resent any effort to
name them In the same class. Unless there is dan
ger when they haned first they do nos speak
to the humber craft as they pass by.
Like the wandering specimens Of humanity from
whom the tramp steamers take their name. they
are usually battered and run down nj the heel
They stagger along the water path In an I'M
certain slow way which makes those who witness
their progress from another deck thankful that all
steamers not tramps.
This peculiar class OF steamers is the result OF
commercial competition. and IL Is said that those
who are interested In the operation OF tramp lines
usually receive good returns for their investments
The regular line steamers have a freight tarii
which Is considered high by shiT pers OF goods
but agreements between these corporations ana the
demand for their carrying room compel them to
make the charges what they do
In cases where goods not perishable ana
where contract had been made for rapid ueiV-
cry merchants forwarded their wares on sailing
craft and for a number OF years the large sailing
vessels did a remunerative business by transporting
great cargoes But the uncertainty and the delay
finally induced spectators to build independent
steamships for freight purposes. and to bid for
freight I'm opposition to the regular liners me
ships were constructed with d view to freight ca
pacity and everything else was sacrificed Tor mat
No provision was made for passengers. and the
quarters for the crew were no more room! imam
was actually essential Little or no pains were
taken to make them comfortable The vessels
were placed in command OF able sailing masters
who gathered about them crews OF men VINO were
willing sign for long time at less than regular
merchantme pay and they were usually OF an
inferior order OF sailor men.
The vessels which started out as the pioneers OF
the class came from England. The commander OF
the ship knew TO which house in New-fork San
Francisco or New Orleans his cargo was consigned.
but he did not know where he would so or VIVA.
he would carry after II had been discharged VIVA,
the system was In that respect when the tramp
steamer made its first bow to tho shipping public
+, has continued 10 be up TO the present time ana
the company which sends It's vessels out does not
know when they will return. what they VIII carry
before they anchor again In the home haroor ana
in no way has them In control.
THE regular liner" said a shipper, goes from
one port 10 another port regularly. and in that re-
spect she resembles ferry boat. the only dine'-
ence being that the time Is a little longer pet"ech
landings. That Is as true OF the vessels wnlch run
between Liverpool and Cape Town or 'alcutta or
bombay OF those which run netWeeh nafou's
and Ncw-York But the tramp steamers move
ments become unknown 10 the owners after II mas
lef, tho homo port and the second point Of des;i-
nation il n matter which Is lef, entirely 10 the
Judgment OF the officer in command
They used 10 have "A saying among shipping
people" he added about tramp steamers 70 the
cfec, that they would go anywhere ana take any
thing 20 do business. no matter II they had 10 20
:. croo,r,rd for icoberss TO Zanzibar for slaves or
for
ar,esian wells The tramp would take anything
and make "A strong 1ght against 'he e''"''''' W 49,
II TO its destination.
Conditions have not changed The weary OF the
ocean is still in the same line OF business ana the
class IS growing daily. The vessels. besides peihS
manned by cheap and sometimes incompetent
crows Arc not built substantially as the regular
lirors although tho strain 20 which they are sub
icccd Is equally great. and the consequence Is ina,
the rate for insurance il much higher
THE build the and the uncertainty "hich
attaches to this class Of steamers. said an insur-
sncc man give rs good cause for advancing the
rates AID justify merchants In looking upon 'hei'
shipments as extra hazardous
A, old merchant, sailor in speaking Of the life on
hoard the tramp steamers said that II the men re-
iyed losa nav for their work and less comfort be-
,w.on their hours Of Labor II was because they
looked for nothing better. and would he surprised
~ A lInereri state Of affairs
..rh.y sign for 4 year or more he said. ana IN
most cases they have been in the same service be-
fore and know all about II. The regular routine
iufi.s of a man aboard ship between New orK an"
Liverpool or Bremen or Hamburg are tame ana I'M
,,..r.s,inp 10 these people. They want that pecul-
49,. v,i,.ren, which goes with HE on n tramp.
Into New-York to-day hard Work uhloauins nr
cargo and then. after Few uays nI,io to Pariac
nort mai is what they want, and All the 'oniorts
~ =, modern liner could not lure them away rom
NAM, of which keep above water ON! ,'lio"e"
man! % ,,T moi I.rauses their condition or their
management il super ior. a., H., ,
Tpare come times though. when the Inc OF
,, n,rt between the tramp steamer and the
,,t, liners is wiped out and when In the
nrns.nce OF the battling elements they St!'u sis"s
'n" AS TWO men would do when "A common
iange~ had made friends and ramp sailors , ~. ~
ss rd.worked rivals and the comfortless hunks
y, mo tramp steamers have sheltered the crews o'
veil equipped vessels which mad met WIN "'''-
man who was passenger on one or the ocean
nors wntT in the winter OF 1891 told the following
.tory I'VE had been rolling ana TOSSING iof tMo
lavs and nights. and the passengers "en" "oin
49,, from, loss OF sleep and the crew were worn ou
Gin ovorwork when at s O'Clock on IN" mo, h4rhins
# the fhird day a series of huge waves WHICH ..
jsnfiv travelled quicker than the ship broke over
,ur stern smashed In the compa,'o ,'. an"
"dv in th. first cabin chance tot take an ice-c1Iu
'nge bath by stepping out OF their Der,nS On ,hc
.abin floor il an anxious time wnle ,nS
,,tnr swashed about In the saloon; ana men ana
,nmrn with hlanched faces looked FOR q ray OF
n ~, ,hn eyee of the silent but busy officers.
,f, Ar. we gorg2' one man asked. as ne passed
a. arm tightly about his daughter. VINO cIuns 10
~ .,;ods will be done said the elderly lady whom
'c -" 49,, h !, Won fellows who forgot 10 put on
w '.iothes when you came out will stand still /
II get a picture OF this scene that II make you an
p - we this alive young J.
iiow said as he directed his camera on the shiV-
.f Climbed over tho splntered companionway tor
wanted TO see the sky once more ana the awtui
.',,,re winch the tempest made. the mad seethinE
p, 49,. vatsrs and the angry sky. the sublmty OF .
III and The insignihcance of the works OF man in /
IA. shane of our ship impressed me so deeply that /
forpoi oir danger for the time until seaman
ointed ia a speck on the distant horizon and said:
I'm, afraid she's q goner, cr fires Is OUT, ana you
a. see hy the glass sir. she's asset lin She IL
ramn they say. but we'd like TO clip err II We
ouId but ow can we| and there were tears IN the
aiorman's voice -, ,. ..a
The next day when the fury OF the storm had
L-.l Ill II