The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-09-04

new reading of two homely saws to do
it justice. '.All roads lead to the Bow
cry" and ''jack and his money are
soon parted tell the story. Equipped
with an enforced accumulation of four
or FIVE months salary, the sailors of
Simpsons and 'Schley's fleets, are in
full possession of that portion OF the
city dear to the bluejacket's heart.
From the hour when the first lib
erty boat touched the dock at Temp
kinsville, Staten Island, which, by the
way, is in the opinion of Jack, only an
intermediate station on the direct route
to the Bowery, new order of affairs
have prevailed. 1t has been a dry and
desolate season there since the late
war dragged so many good customers
away in haste. The Bowery, that ia
nous stretch of coast upon which many
a naval sailor has drifted to his own
undoing. and whose every cobblestone
could give expert testimony in fights
and frauds and midnight crimes, was
a summer resort in December.
The news that the sailor heroes were
coming home again caused wave of
feverish activity throughout the Bow
cry, stores were rented and hastily fit
ted up with counters and shelves and
array of glasses. barkeepers equally
expert with corkscreW or club were
engaged, and every preparation neces-
sary to the Turing of the sailors dollar
was made. Then a stiffness settled
over the famous street. 1t was the
calm before the storm.
In India, elephants are captured with
the aid of tame pachyderms taught to
act as decoys. Included in the salary
list of more than one New York dive
keeper are ex-inan- of war s-men whose
duty it is to fraternise with Jack ashore
and to persuade him to spend his
money in their employers resort. There
are tricks in all trades, and the num-
Der of tricks used in the profession"
under discussion would fill a small
book.
Nowadays, however the sharks of
the Bowery are compelled to play for
small game as a rule. Within recent
years it has been the custom to give
every first class man in the service his
entire monthly salary with the excep
ton of a sum equal to his months
wages, which is retained on the books.
In the days of the old navy, Jack was
compelled, preforce, to accumulate a
large sum, as the law stated that he
was to be paid each month only one
third of his monthly stipend, the bal
ance being left to his credit. This nat
urally resulted in the paying of crew
at the end of a voyage in sums of
generous proportions. To go ashore at
the conclusion of the three years
cruise with several hundred dollars,
was the common thing a few years ago.
The gate of the Brooklyn navy yard
was located formerly at the foot of
York street, the central artery of one
of the worst parts of the city. Small
tradeSmen lined the thoroughfare with
their shops, but interspersed here and
there, were ill-lighted, grimy saloons
with worn-out furniture and a meagre
assortment of bottles. There generally
lurked in these places several tough
looking men and youths who sailed
forth now and then in search of their
legitimate prey, the naval bluejacket
If they found one and succeeded in
dragging him into a saloon, doctored
drinks and robbery and ill-treatment
would be his portion.
When a warship was paid off at the
expiration of a cruise, York street and
its tributaries fairly swarmed with
thugs, decoys and land sharks. Thefts
and badgering became so frequent that
finally more than one captain arranged
to have his crew taken from the yard
to New York city on a government tug.
But this was a wasted precaution. In
those days the brutal highway robbery
OF the navy yards environments COM
pared with the more subtle thievery of
the Bowery as a lead pipe does with a
jeweIled dagger. Jack was ashore to be
robbed. and he seldom escaped his des-
tiny.
In 1888 the corvette Nipsic reached
the Brooklyn yard from a long cruise
on the European station. In her crew
was a seaman who had managed to
gain the rating of chief quartermaster
by strict attention to duty. His pay
was S35 a month and he contriyed to
save $50. On previous cruises he had
been a spendthrift and "fourth-class
man" of the worst description, and
this change of attitude surprised his
shipmates. Whats up with Bill?"
they asked. He's either getting nutty
or else some widdy's got him in tow.
He wouldn't draw any monthly money
last time, and the pay clerk almost
turned a fit Bill will be in the asylum
at Washington before long"
But Bill continued to save, and
also to add to his income by making
caps and fine mastering shirts for the
less thrifty members of the crew. When
the Nipsic was paid off, the chief quar-
termaSter stepped up to the table and
drew the tidy sum of 81 ,020 81 hope you
will take care of that money, Calk-
ms" spoke up the commencing officer,
who was standing by watching the OPP
Grafton. Better put it away in some
safe bank and let it draw interest for
your old age. Another cruise of the
same"
Saving your pardon, captain, amt
coming back interrupted Bill proudly
I've had enough of the service, sir
I've got a little girl waitin' for me,
and me and her are going to start
farm out on Long Island. I've been
raising HI long enough, and now I'm
going TO raise something more respec-
table" Those of his shipmates within
hearing grinned broadly. Bill as a
farmer was the best joke of the cruise
AS he went below to pack his black bag
he was the subject of much good-nat-
ured raillery. Better steer a course
by night, mate" advised the master
alarms. Its mighty bad cruising
nowadays along York street" why
don't you charter a canal boat to take
you to Hayseed harbor?" said another
shipmate with mock concern. I'll help
to smuggle you out Of the ship after
eight bells II. you pass the word" I'll
lay you a double eagle you are knock
ing at the navy yard gate before this
time next week" was the ships cooks
comment. and at last Bill's ire was
aroused.
You blamed muddle-fi fingers don't
seem to understand the case. confound
you'll" he shouted. This amt no sud-
den resolve, mates. When / got home
from the China station last cruise 1
found that my little girl had growed
almost into a woman. She was staying
with her grandmother and it struck
me. it was near time helped her along
in the world. We talked it over and 1
promised to save every penny and we'd
start a little farm. I've saved the mon
ey and I'm going to put that little girl
beyond want, s'help me if don't. Good
by, fellers."
The Nipsic was put under repairs