New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-12
SHIP CAPTAINS FEAR FIRE.
VESSELS OFF TOMPKINSvILLE con-
sTANTLY UNDER POLICE GUARD.
SERIOUS PHASE OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN EAST
ERN CAPTAINS AND NEw-YoRK CRIMPs-
SHIPPERS AND SAILORS ARMED.

SERIOUS PHASE OF THE BATTLE BETWEEN EAST
ERN CAPTAINS AND NEw-YoRK CRIMPs-
SHIPPERS AND SAILORS ARMED.
Day and night three American ships lying off
Stapleton are guarded by policemen and the
police of the stapleton station. of the Eighteth
Precinct. stand ready to go. to the aid of the
captains. The ships are the Mary L. Cushing
the State of Maine and the Benjamin F. Pack
ard. The captains and the men they have on
board go armed with knives and revolvers. and
one Of the officers is constantly on deck. never
allowing the anchor watch to be In charge Of a
sailor. The policemen patrol the ships as care
fully as they would posts on shore, and the sig
nal halyards are always ready with signals for
which policemen on shore are constantly watch
ing.
The three ships are loaded with case oil, and
are bound for China ports All three are from
Maine. Their captains are Eastern men. and
are engaged in fight with the shipping mas
ters of New-York. All three ships expect to get
away within a few days. They will SAIL how
ever. without man being shipped from this
port, and the Maine may carry to sea full
crew of American born sailors taken from along
the Maine coast, even If her captain has to pay
double rates to them.
1t is a battle to a finish between the Eastern
captains and the shipping agents OF this city,
who absolutely refuse to ship man the
vessels for less than $50 a month. The three
captains say they will pay $50 a. month rather
than ship man through New-York agent
The fight grows out of the shipping bill which
became a law few months ago. which forbds
the advance of more than one months pay. This
law was advocated by owners and captains from
all parts Of the country but the New England
captains especially active in advocating It.
Now the shipping agents retaliating. for
while they ship men to foreign and local vessels
at S22 a month, no w-England captain who
had a hand in the fight or whose owners ad-
vocated the law, get man at less
than $50
A few weeks ago the shipping agents received
a bad setback when they lost fight with the
captains of the American ships William E. Con-
nor Josephus and Governor Robie
Captain Allen of the Packard says he will
sail with crew shipped Independent OF the
New-York agents, and that If he is again In
terfered with he will shoot first and answer
afterward. On Sunday part Of a crew, mostly
Japanese shipped TO him from Boston.
Runners and employees of the New York agents
boarded his ship from launch and fight fol-
lowed. Arrests have since been made. On that
occasion Captain Allen drew his revolver, but
did not use ii. If there is repetition, he says.
he will his revolver from the start, and the
other captains say they will not parey.
All three captains fear fire more than anything
else. 1t is to guard against this that the con-
slant watch is kept. Captain Allen says that
after his experience OF Sunday he is prepared
TO believe the agents ready to stoop to any
thing TO effect their purpose, and declares that
he and the others will stand firm.