The record-union., 1898-06-01
SHANGHAI PETES TRICK.

4 never knew sailors so sca3ce as
they are these days" remarked Cap
tain John b. Fearing to Chief Mate Ad
ANS as they sat at the cabin table
of the ship President, at anchor off
Stapleton, s. l. The scene was a cheer
full one. The swinging lamp burned
brightly and Illuminated the cozy cud-
dy; a decanter was on the table, and
beside it box of cigars
Outside things were vastly different,
however A chill east wind piped
through the rigging, the rain pelted on
the deck, where the second mate, clad
in yellow oilslSins paced the quarter
deck, keeping lookout, while the
steward washed dishes in the pantry.
These four We're the only occupants or
the ship, which, with all her cargo and
stores aboard, had lain at anchor for
more than week waiting for a crew
Every day the skipper mad gone to
New York, spending weary hours in a
South-street shipping office in anxious
expectancy of. a ships company that
never came.
The President was one of the finest
vessels in the San Francisco trade, a
regular clipper, but with a reputation
of being floating hell among the
deep sea sailors who made their head
quarters along the East River front.
Old Bully Waterman, who command
ed her for five years, had given the
vessel a bad name. And no wonder.
For no skipper, from the days of Moan
down to date, had studied more closely
the art of making sailors lives mis-
cradle than that same old salt.
Captain Fearing was anxious to make
start Not less eager to sail was
Chief Mate Adams, whose best giri
was in San Francisco
"Tll tell you what you'd better do
said he to the skipper. You go ana
have a talk with Shanghai Pete. the
fellow that runs saloon and sailors
boarding house in Water street, ana
I'll bet my months wages against
chaw of tobacco that he'll provide the
President with a crew at short notice
1t may cost you tidy sum, but look
at the time we're wasting at anchor
when we might be runnig to the south
ward at a ten-knot gait
shanghai Pete was one of the ce-
lebrities Of seafarng New York. well
known along the water front twenty
years ago In spite of the many ana
varied tricks he had played on sailors
his boarding-ho on Water street was
always full Having been brought up
from boyhood in the forecaStle, ne uh-
derstood the ways of sailors, and had
used his knowledge of them SO aptly
and profitably that he had grown rlch.
To this bluff, plausible, big, hearty
old chap a simple sailor who got into
his hands was like a lamb IN the
clutches of a wolf. AS he sat IN tne
big common-room of his boarding
house among the sailors, smoking,
drinking and card playing, he would
easily have passed for philanthropist
When Captain Fearing sought out
Pete he was conducted by him TO
little snuggery, and there the skipper
explained his mission.
what. crew for the President,
why, l don't believe there's a sailor III
town who would ship aboard such
vessel. Yarns concerning her nave
been spun as long as the skysail hal
yards, all about the knuckle busters
and the irons, and the vilest gruo ever
issued to seamen. That's her charac-
ter sir. and Bully Waterman is re-
sponsible for it,
II am quite aware Of all this" re-
H.
crew. by hook or crook no matter what
it costs. If you can't help me VIII
say good
"Softly. sir. If you really mean
business l will get your ship under way,
tow her out to Sandy Hook lightship.
and leave aboard twenty as smart sail
ors as ever broke snip S p!scui', pu'
it will cost you 5000"
<alx, of
ening a tug came alongside and made
fast to the ship President. Shanghai
Pete" climbed aboard and joined Cap
tain Fearing and his chief mate in the
cabin.
I'VE got your crew in the tug along
side. and as soon as you pay me my
$500 l will deliver them to you in the
forecastle, all in good. sound condi-
ton. but a wee bit drunk, perhaps l
have enough men with me besides TO
heave up your anchor and make san
on your ship as she is being towed out
to sea-"
Skipping to the companionway he
whistled to his men on the tug, an0
they set to- work Immediately. First
they opened one of the main deck
ports. and they soon had the twenty
kept tab on them as they Were hauled
in through the port and examined their
faces and felt their hands to see that
they were really sailors and not clerks
or green hands that Pete was foistiEg
on him. When satisfied on this point
the new arrivals. all Of whom were
stupefied, were carried into the forecas-
tie and bundled into hunks.
Captain Fearing willingly handed
over the money to Pete and received in
exchange a document which. greatly
to his astonishment, proved to be the
ships articles all in order AMI signed
by the name or mark Of twenty sail
orS.
Now, Cap" said Pete. mo skipper
could ever say that I went back on my
word Muster those men aft when
they come to. which won't be until
some time tomorrow morning. and
confront them with those articles. and
if there happens to be a Philadelphia
lawyer in the gang, why a look at that
paper will soon make him clap stop
per on his jaw tackle. Now, I'll get
you started and won't leave you till
your nose is pointed seaward and your
troubles are all over
With this he and his gang turned
to. and as the President was being
towed to sea made sail on her The
vessel was soon heading for the open
sea. AT midnight Pete hailed the tug,
which slowed down and hauled in the
tow rope. coming alongside to leewa-d
lytv 70 nCf tNnv h0 1NO-