The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-08


shrouds and looked up and down the
deck helpIessly, but with somewhat Of
gathering courage, Along shaafsd the
not realize then what I afterward discev-
ered-that there was another unfortunate
like myself-a shanghaied seaman-sts-
toned aft. and the captain purposed 10
keep US apart for obvious reasons. When
I afterward discovered the other victim
had reason 70 congratulate myself He
was a stubborn Dane, and had three
times been pounded into insensIoiilty be-
fore obeying the orders Of his captors-
81 found that he, too. had been drugged
az the sailors boarding house in the
slums OF the southern Districts OF the
metropolis. and while a man went 70 I'M
personate him at the consulate and also
before the shipping commissioners 10 sign
the necessary documents the victim was
carried in a pedler's cart 20 the dock and
and dumped into the waitinS boat as a
common drunk We afterward became
rather good friends, when all hope Ct
saving ourselves was passed. but ne Nss
4 man of frightful temper
Long before we rounded the Horn he
had managed 10 knock the second msie
overheard. the latter's rescue being a MI
racle. AID he was then once more po1nt
ed and siashed into Inconsistencies ard
puc in irons for FIVE days on bread and
water. coming back TO the deck a caan5-
ed man After that he never SPOKE 20
whel ty nIsht he disappeared overheard.
" neither Re reached land or not I bsvee
discovered
Toward the end OF the voyage the cap
tai1 dc all in his power 70 mend matters
with ne. He comalimented me on my
abirA and I must admit that | worked
faithfully and hard. more to forget the
fact that I was a captive than anything
else He fed me on the best that was u
he had and give me the complete run -
the ship. He also showed me a bae II
English gold, Offering me half OF II II
would stay by the ship until she unlcadei
her cargo and reloaded, returning 10 Am
erica. was tempted. but The sight ef tie
green shores and freedom was toe much
for ne.
4 slipped into the captains cabin ten
times before I found the safe open ONE.
but thar once was enough helped my
self 70 az least half Of the money I was
entitled to. according 70 the articles
which 1 did not sign. and the ship sax
me NJ ncre. After wandering about be
far Eas, for some months l came &c San
francisco. thence around horneward ~
Wa ~ Panama arriving IN New YORK
quite pennlless. Here / found my old cop
tain again.
The latter had Just returned from an
other South American cruise and was
ready 70 take me on FOR his next on the
whole. the lesson was a wholesome one.
Ii taught me the danger OF too liberal
views with regard 10 making acqusint-
ances. even among ones own craftsmen +
One such experience Is quite enough TO
last man a life time.
Laws have been passed with a view 10
suppressing the shanghai system. but
for ali that It is IN vogue all over the
world. Able seamen are very scarce. and .
when vessel must put - sea short
handed her commander viii take any sJrt
q makeshift seamen 70 De had. e ne
legitimately. then otherwise Cousuls
and shipping commissioners have often
tried 70 root out the evil. but while II IL
in uowise as prevalent as formerly. Il Is
not a rare occurrence by any means
II would enioln all sailors 70 beware Of l.
strangers with anchors and FUN rigged .
ships tattooed all over their arms and
chest and offering free drink in aound-
ance. They have sinister motives. and .
he end IS bound 20 be an experience hke .
ny own. as shorthanded captains wIth
l bad record for cruelty or crookedness. 4.
n commanding unseaworthy or hoeIoaed
reSsels. are compelled % lie everiastlnx-
y in dock% or else resort 70 -crimps pay
ne tdhese sc5urages OF the seameu from
hirty 70 one hundred dollars FOR every
nan landed unconscious below decks
On this subject. J. NJ Dickey J'nlteB
states commissioner n shipping. says
Under the United states shipping laws
hanghaling Is practical inpossl5Msy
N American vessels Under other flags
IS reasonable 20 suppose that other con-
iiuons exist, and We arc n no way re-
ponsible Cor shipments made under other
han our own auspices We have for
ears slowly perfected The system where
- the best protection may ~ afforded
he American sailor and demand that
very contract between the master ~
hip and the sailor shall Be signed i7 7s~
resence; that the latter shah kgoN ex-
city what he 81 signing Tor. the amount
Z money expected and thc approximate 4
snEth q the voyage
Moreover. we exact that every vessel .
which clears the custom h78se shall have
q board an Inspector. whose 8uiF g. 81 -
&c that the men " - have fIzas3 che AZ
Icles are the meu mustered 8a deck ard
bar they are sober ana otherwise in god
ondl1on.
On the whole the American Ehio1ioT
AVS are most JUST and eqaitahi- They
r. the result q concerted effort 5H fhe
ART ~ able men. wh3 have bad f-e Hess
7terests - the ssl1rs shsnseise- as
cart. and VINO have strivan - ss~7
be possibilities ~ sarh atroelf.es ~
nsnzhs1nE ard Other Nreags tne oar-
ONE ~ 'crImuluE system. WhstesFr
appens under other Says rtaH cur 80
70 in now1se authorizes 90 speak sbo1t
Is f1r American vessels wc are zesIsGs
z our national Interests ard gaarabtae
1st every SEAMAN sailing Gae- amen
en- laws has TIRE best - stH ~ sas Ped
raj sAlpgsnz caunisslan BE- hiz arhaif
Cares u saaaEhsl.rg bate ~ grret
~ zlB 5eear a. I5nE ~ ft is fsHelit
n captains - Est creEE ~ tsag- yes
rs. h1t oar ere s31 has E-asn ~ rtra-
- these condI3cns ln eaz eEa sssers.
~ mas sag taat lsEssueE ~ ths s7r
~. 20 ssr a. ~ are concerned. qre
npszslbie a. ARTICLES arf szass tsfarr
-. 80 e.