The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-13

n dun Md. and offers him certain
amount OF cash down for head money
az the price OF the privilege OF providing
the crew.
some captains resent this as an insult
end order the fenow ashore. but as a
general thing commanders OF vessels.
uho ara none too literally paid. look
upon this blood money" as It IS some
times called az ono of the legitimate
perquisites Of their calling, and promptly
close the oner.
The amount charged Is generally five
dollars a head. The boarding master
charges Jack ten dollars and dedncts II
from the cash advance made to the sailor
by tho skipper when tho articles are
aligned. II Is the duty OF tho Shipping
Commissioner to ask Jack il he has
paid or promised 20 pay anything for
getting a ship. OF course, he answers
no. II he admitted having been victim
lied he would not be allowed 10 ship and
would then be in the power OF the board
ing master. who would, IN all probable
ity confscate his clothing and FIRE him
out into the street 90 starve.
so JACK lies and Is shipped. Joining
his new vessel with but few clothes in
his kit and in debt TO tho boarding mas.
ter. who has been known 10 hang on
TO a sailor fer several years. "ropine
him in" every time he arrived in New
York and looking upon him as human
chattel whom he owned body and soul
Many n seaman TO get relief from this
bondage, has deserted In foreign port,
and sacrificing whatever was Que him
generally precious little-has sought en-
ploymcnt in some other vessel.
There are exceptions 20 every rule. and
II must not bo assumed that al sailors
arc improvident shiItless and intempor-
ate. The schooifnaster has made his way
even into tho forecastle, and soamen are
so densely ignorant IS they used 90 be.
Some are so shrewd as 70 be proof
against al efforts OF sea pirates ana land
sharks 70 despOil them. Some Of them
have money In the bank. a chest Of
clothes. and are IN tho line OF promotion
for officers These are Americans. who
have adopted a mariners life for the
love Of it, and are determined TO become
captains. VIXEN you consider what they
20 through and how small the compensa-
ton is for tho peris and prlvadons en-
countored. you must indeed admire their
courage and perseverance.
The rank ana file Of the crews Of Amer
lean ships in IN foreign trade are aliens.
and their lot is indeed hard. They go
TO sea. az mas itrl ttAlAf Win nut lew
rags on their backs. They are forced by
stern necessity 20 resort to the siop chest.
which is Gned with high priced garments
Of the worst material Flannel shirts
and trousers manufactured, as the sail
ors say. Of bulls wool and oakum:"
boots with soles az sappy as brown pa
per, and so on all down the list.
IL IS the policy OF the captain 10 make
his crew as disconnected as possible du-
ring the passage out, so that they may
desert when they reach port. Tho cap
tain then obtains more perqusitcs By
the shipping OF a new crew, while the
ship owner IS in pocket 10 the extent
Of the wages due the deserters
Sailors often suffer at the hands OF the
United States Consuls abroad. where
the latter act as shipping commissioners.
Various acts Of injustice are committed
Consuls almost invariably siding with the
captains and ignoring the crews. Little
is heard or these wrongful acts. for
sailor is a long-suffering being. and rare
Is kicks.