The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-01-16
OREGON
CRIMP
KINGS
Practices of the Sailor Board
ing House Men.
Sailors are Herded Like
Cattle and Sold Like eSlaVeS.

PORTLAND, Jan. l6.-AlmOst every one
in the state has heard more or less about
Portland "crimps" or eailor boarding
house men. but not great many know
just how they operate and how absolute
ly they control the sailor maIket how
they make the agents and captains OF
sailing vessels bow 10 them when thew
wish a crew and bow they make a sailor
ask their permission before seeking
employment. But some day the people
all over the state will find it out and
then-if all their finer feelings and SYM
pathy towards mankind lie not dead
something will be done do drive this
unholy business out of our state.
The proprietors OF some oithose board.
ing houses are the lowest type Of human.
ity, and have in their employ the worst
gang of thugs and would be prizedght-
ers that ever lived outside OF a states
prison, who obey their employer as a
slave his master, even to the commit
ting OF the foulest crimes.
Every incoming vessel is watched for.
aud every means resorted to, to Induce
the sailors aboard to dessert. As soon
as sailor sets his foot ashore he is en-.
ticed to the boarding house. Some go
readily, others may not, but they all get
there in the end, for nine tenths OF them
like whiskey and whiskey is the long
suit of the boarding house man. II sailo r
be can't handled sober be can be handled
drunk. Sailors naturally drift there any
way for that is where they are apt to find
acquaintances aud fellow sailors; and
then there is no place else for them TO
go.
When once they are in the hands Of
the "crimps" they are herded like q lot
Of swine. They are fed on poor food,
given enough rotten wbiskey 10 keep
them in a drunken stupor, aud an
opportunity TO associate with the ylest
women until they can be shipped again.
A erimp has no more feeling for a sailor
than the lowest slave driver that ever
cracked a whip had towards the black
he was driving 10 market.
When agents aud captains OF outgoing
vessels want sailors they are Obliged IA
20 TO the crimPs and buy them like they
we're buying horses or cattle, for &c
much a head. The price is usually from
thirty to sixty dollars.
II the captain OF a vessel attemps "a
hire men independent OF the crimps, he
is blackhsted. He will fad to his sor-
row that he Is "up against IL, aud vii
never get sailors enough 10 get out oi
port until he bows {, the King CrimI
and atones for his offence.
People ask Why sailors submit 70 b.
ruled as they are. Sailors know whs
happened 10 others who got gay anC
showed their independence;
A biff in the ear,
A smash in the jaw
A kick of the pier
ITO hell with the law"
Many Of the sailors that come ashor
arc foreigners, who do not understan'
our language and are easily taken ad
vantage of and then again they an
! more or less used 10 kind Of slavery a
home and take il as 3 matter Of eours
over here.
The other evening a schooner. out
, ward bound with a cargo Of lumbe
! from Portland, dropped anchor IN III
y nVer in front OF Astoria. The ca piai
. Dsing shOTt-handed, sent thel fret an
second mates lahore 10 sea II they coul
d hire three or four sailors. They walke
!. up town, and, like any men would |
sxpseted 10 do in lFee country, AZ