The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-08
Being Shanghaied
Survival of an Ancient
Punishment.

i .'shangnaiing exists in American waters
at this end of the century" said Benja
min johnson. a Swedish sailor. lately re
turned from a long cruise after he hal
himself been taken aboard a strange YES
sci and compelled 10 make difficult vOy'
! age around the Horn. and al present resi-
dent Of a sailors lodging house in Wash
ington street. in New York City. Il as
sure you that it IS not so uncommon a
the shipping commissioners and the con
suls Of the various foreign nations would
have you believe. I myself have gone
through the experience, and.I affirm that
although 1 have been through many 8
terrible voyage, as a shanghaied man be
fore the mast 1 underwent tortures that
would be enough 10 make one who is
less in love with the sea than I a land
lubber for life.
Il had been running TO South American
ports on a vessel owned by New York
firm. and as the voyage was not a diff
cult one. the ship seaworthy and the cap
tain kind. 1 was contented with my small
pay. even as mate. Whenever return
/ ed TO New York I went TO some OF the
better class Of boarding houses and as
ISOLATED with the more conservative and
sober lot OF my fellow seafarers. Many
. OF these had taken voyages, too. and the
/ exchange Of condolences and experiences
was helpful and genial pastime.
The runners who usually board the
Incoming vessels at Quarantine and in
! veigle the sailors to their several iodg-
ing houses by brides Of tobacco and
whisky, as well as special tales Of the
fare and the company TO be found at
their hosts table seldom boarded our
vessel. for we had our own retreats when
I we found the land under our feet
But fellow eountryman Of mine. an
Z able seaman by the name of Swanson.
made me promise that would come and
see him at his moarding house. in an
/ other part Of the city. and acting in the
i interest Of good fellowship. after lazving
about own quarters for few days, I
undertook 10 find Swanson's haven Of
refuge
Swanson was very clean and dapper
little chap. but the lodging house which
/ he was said TO frequent was quite out OF
keeping with a man of almost fastidious
tastes. It was very dirty and dark with
porty woman. not quite sober. presid-
ing over the table. and grog shop keeper
Tor a landlord. l had dinner with nv
strange companions. all the time await
Ing my friend Swanson. who was said 70
he about due. Yet who never arrived. 7
was invited to very Indifferent supper.
and then came a game OF cards
i remember winning a little money at
cards and standing treat for all hands
with some hilarity. but the last thing that
fitted through my mind was a vision OF
Jacks and queens. and with a heavy feel
ing in the back Of my head I sank into
Inconsistencies. When I awoke II was
pitch dark A terrible nausea overcame
ne My heart moved slowly and with
pain, but that organ almost stopped In
my bosom as my ears caught the familiar
sound Of waves whipping against the
sides Of a vessel and felt the familiar
rise and fall Of the oceans swell.
With great effort I tried to remember
how my captain had come 10 make SO
sudden a return voyage, for Il was only
that same night. I imagined. that was
playing al cards with the best Of fellow
seamen. Then put out nv hand and
touched one familiar object after another.
By superhuman effort I arose. clutching
the sides of the bunk gave an IN
earthly shrek. calling the names Of nv
captain and mates. There was the sound
% bare feet over the deck above me:
then in thed arkness felt giant hand
upon nv chest and strangers voice IN
English. Lie still tin morning" he com
manded.
I an strong man. and IN nv rage
again threw myself half from the bunk.
Who are you2 What does this rneang.
] fairly screamed. Then came a blow
which caught me fairly between the ewes
and sent me back into my bunk. COVER
ing like 4 Gagged lion. half stunning me. I
heard the disappearing shuttle along the
oak above me. and knew that was
alone Then 7 prayed for davbreak.
When daylight came I struggled
weakly from nv bunk. and through a
chink IN the dirty lee port looked abroad
upon tho waters. knowing then that 7
was far out at sea returned n nv
bunk. FOR a sense II horror AZ nv sstua-
ton, completely Frustrated me. An hour
later the catain 81 the strange cessei
came down Giving ne glance Of calm
triumph. he said. roEuishly. but with a
touch 81 canmand. Come. Johnson. get
out Of this. We are short handed on deck
and there is work ahead"
The rlsing wind and the increased Iurch- /
ing 81 the vessel male this too plain.
demanded 20 know who he was and how /
came there. The icautsin seemed 20 ex-
poet this. and almost forestaIled + with
q flourish OF documents DO you recor-
nize your own handwriting ne asked.
bluntly. ~ tho same time showing r7e
my own name IN blurred green ink 7 saw
II was a forgery. and ssld 20. 7 narrow
Il escaped a blow for that have aign- /.
81 m articles rejoined h0tIy Las,
might 7 was PLAYING cards
Bah vac the growing interruption +
You went before she shipping commits I
sio1er and signed FOR SIX months. AMI
have already been two DAYS ~ sea
Come. set ont - that and Y IN deck
There's = storm ahead. Out WITH you
Il knew that the man vas Iy4n~ and
shrauk from him. r 7 had rad ny nat +
u7al strength n that moment could .
have lea9ed upon hin1 and chakeS hlnr
iato i-se1=folliry. but 80 g. vas only re- i
coEed. M blood boiling vfth raze saf .
defiance. VIII you ~ on deck o. wr1 .
you not zo2' came the captains nf.ima- 4
tum. ? viii not" I screamed Tre Of +
cer gave a shrin whistle. Tao men ca1le (
~ the summons Thev were also strsng-
ers . ne. bar uen q strength ard Eith .
the f1ulsst Aspects 7 rad ever seer on .
sailors faces This "EEzer~ refsres ~
e on deck and 20 WORK said the cap
tain with an oath. Pct bin f. srons~
Al the very sorI7d seemed - loze
human restraint Out ~ me bunk few
and plunged headloux iat3 the ns5st -
ny t1-uente~s striking r3zhi ard iefs