Evening star., 1898-09-03
GOLD THAT BURNS
How the Bluejaeket and His Money
Soon Part.
JACK ASHORE Is An EASY VICTIM
He Leaves Ship With Plenty Cash,
but It Soon Goes.
LOST IN THE BOW WERY

The return Of our victorious squadron
from Cuba has created in New York aeon
dition of affairs which requires new read
| Ing of two hemely saws to do it justice.
| '.AIl roads lead to the Bowery'' and Jack
and his money are soon parted tell the
| story. Equipped with an enforced accumu-
lation of four or five months salary, the
sailors of Sampson's 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 liberty boat
| touched the dock at Tompknsville, Staten
Island-which. by the way, is In the opinion
| of Jack only an intermediate station on the
| direct route to the Bowery-a new order of
| affairs has prevailed. 1t has bean dry and
| desolate season there since the late war
| dragged many good customers away in
| haste. The Bowery, that famous stretch of
coast upon which many a naval sailor has
dr1fted to his own undoing, and whose
| every cobblestone could give expert testi-
mony in fights and frauds and midnight
| crimes, was as a summer resort in Decem-
| ber.
! The news that the sailor heroes were
| coming home again caused a wave of fever
| fsh activity throughout the Bowery Stores
were rented and hastily fitted up with coun-
| ter and shelves and array of glasses, bar
| Keepers equally expert with corkscrew or
club were engaged, and every preparation
| necessary to the Turing of the sailors dol
| lar 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-
man-of-warsmen, whose duty it is to fra
ternize with Jack ashore and to persuade
I IL, boir allow
erS resorts. There are tricks in all trades,
and the number of tricks used in the PRO
fession' under discussion would fill small
book.
! Bowery are compelled to play for small
game, as a rule. Within recent years it has
Deen the custom to give every frSt-elasS
man in the service his entire monthly sal
airy, with the exception of a sum equal to
| his months wages, which is retained on the
! books. In the days of the old navy Jack
was compelled perforce, 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 balance being left to
his credit This naturally resulted in the
paying OF a 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 COM
mon thing a few years ago.
The gate of the Brooklyn navy yard was
located formerly at the foot of York street,
of the city. Small tradesmen lined the
| thoroughfare with their shops, but inter-
spersed here and there, were ill-lighted
grlmy saloons with WORKOUT 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 legiti-
mate prey, the naval bluejacket. If they
found one and succeeded in dragging him
into saloon, doctored drinks and robbery
and il-treatment would be his portion.
When d warship was paid off at the ex-
piration of cruise, York street and its
tributaries fairly swarmed with thugs, de-
coys and land marks Thefts and badger
ing became so frequent that finally more
than one captain arranged to have his crew
taken from the yard to New York city on
government tug. But this was wasted
precautioD. In those days the brutal high
way robbery of the navy yards enriron-
ments compared with the more subtle
thievery OF the bowery as a lead pipe does
with a jewelled dagger. Jack was ashore
to be robbed, and he seldom escaped his
destiny.
His Intentions Were Good.
In S3 the corvette Nipsic reached the
Brooklyn yard from long cruise on the
European station. In her crew was a sea-
man who had managed to gain the rating
of chief quartermaster by strict attention
to duty His pay was s35 a month and he
contrived to save $50. On previous cruises
he had been a spendthrift and a fourth
class man. of the worst description. and
this change of attitude surprised his ship
mates. whats up with Bill?' they asked.
Hes either getting nutty, or else some
widdys 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
t,v~tf
members of the crew. When the Nipsic
was paid off, the chief quartermaster
stepped up to the table and drew the tidy
sum of $1,0e0. II hope you will take care
OF that money, Calkins,' spoke up the com
manding officer, who was standing by
watching the operation. Better put 1t
away in some safe bank and let it draw in
terest for your old age. Another cruise of
the same
Saving your pareon cap ain. amt COM
ing back" interrupted Bill, proudly. I've
had enough of the service, sir. rye got a
little girl a-waitin' for me, and me and
Island I've been raising HI long enough,
and now I'm going to raise something -1ore
respectable" Those of his shipmates with
in hearing grinned broadly. Bill as a farm
er was the best joke of the cruise As he
went below to pack his black bag he was
the subject of much good-natured raillery.
Better steer course by night, mate,
advised the master-at-arms. ITS mighty
why don't you charter canal boat to
take you to Hayseed harbor?" said another
shipmate with mock concern. 'Il help to
smuggie you out of the ship after eight
bells If you pass the word ''FH lay you
double eagle you are knocking at the navy
yard gate before this time next week., was
the ships cooks comment, and at last
Bills ire was aroused.
You blemed muddle-fingers don't seem
to understand the case, confound your!
he shouted This amt no sudden resolve,
mates. When l got home from the China
station last cruise, found that my little
girl had growed almost into woman. She
was staying with her grandmother, and it
struck me it was near time 1 helped her
along in The world We talked it over and
I promised to save every penny and we'd
start little farm. I've saved the money,
and I'm going to put that little girl beyond
want, s'help me if 1 don't. Goodbye. fell
lers."
The Nipsic was put under repairs without
going out of commission, and preparations
for shipping a new crew were in operation
when. one evening. after 9, a man limped
up to the sentry at the York street gate
and demanded admittance. He was bat
tered and bruised, nondescript suit of
ragged overalls clothed him and he spoke
in hesitating, rambling way, as if his
mind was affected want to ship he
whispered "Got a big discharge and a