The sun., 1903-10-18
SAILORS WELLCARED NOW.
MANY OLD HARDSHIPS OF. SEA-
GOING DONE AWAY WITH.

OVANO DONE AVA4 VII"
Comfortable Quarters on Modern vessels
for tho Crew-Steam to DO tho Hard.
est Work-Tho Calling Better Than
Some Land Occupations Ashore.
II some Of the old barnaoles who sailed
tho ocean blue generations ago could see
how their shipmates Of the present genera
ton fare, they might think that sailors
life now has too much ease and luxury about
Il and that the charms OF q sea life have
disappeared.
Tho days when sailors were Ill fed, slept
In wet, cold foreoastles on the soft side Of
q plank, worked like slaves when at sea
and were shiftless and spendthrift when
on shore are fast passing away. Now
those who 20 to sea have three good square
meals day and sleep in forecastle that
Is heated by steam, well ventilated and
lighted by electricity
There are all sorts OF modern appliances
on board modern vessels that help to make
the work of sailor light and easy, and those
who are fortunate enough to ship on
modern sailing craft are often more COM
Portable than tho man who has to work on
shore ten or twelve hours day to earn
SIPS.
It was not 30 very long ago that sailors
were Ill used and beaten when on board
ship. Tho food that was prepared for them
was often unfit to eat. The quarters they
occupied on tho ship were In the forward
part, and IN rough weather would get wet
and remain wet for days and weeks at
time
For this sort Of work they were III paid.
rarely getting moro than SIS month. and
those who sailed on long voyages, such
as from this port to San Francisco, would
often on being paid OF receive few dollars
for voyage that had lasted many months.
The rest had gone for drafts on tho slop
chest.
There are sailing craft now under tho
American flag that are floating palaces
compared with the old style vessels Some
have pianos on board. and when on duty
and the vessel Is sailing easily the men can
enjoy some music, for there Is usually one
among their number who can pick out q
few tunes, and there are always some who
can sing.
Pianos are not found on sailing craft,
though, as often as organs are. The piano
Is injured by the dampnees Of the sea air.
while the organ will keep in shape much
better, and rarely gets out Of tuen.
There is not sailing craft of over 600
tonnage built nowadays that does not
have q donkey engine. There is, too. q
steam windlass to get up the anchor and
hoist the sails.
L. Mi hn rht
or piers and lowered into the hold by steam
derricks. There are steam pumps. The
vessel Is washed down by steam. 1t Is
hauled into the docks and alongside the
piers by steam. Not many years ago all
this work had to be done by hand.
What does all this mean to the sailor?
Formerly, when there was from forty to
sixty fathoms Of cable out and big anchor
at the end Of it, to get the anchor up meant
The capstan was manned, and round
and round the sailors would walk, turning
it and bringing up the cable link by link.
while others were carefully slowing the
chain below. While this was being done
the master would be- fuming and swear
ing at his men for not working harder
Now that magic power steam turns a
windlass. The cable is brought up in a
short time, and the men who are detailed
to the work have simply to watch and see
that all goes well and cathead the anchor
when 1t comes above the water.
The sails are to be hoisted. These great
pieces of canvas are heavy and unwieldy.
The sailors cast of the gaskets, the halliards
are attached to capstans worked by steam,
and soon the sails are set, and all the men
have to do is to make fast the halliards
and see that the sails are trimmed right. This
used to be done by hand, and it was a long
JOB to get all the sails up and drawing.
This use OF steam power is, OF course, q
great benefit to the owner of the vessel,
saving of time. Anchors are got up much
quicker than in the old way, and sails are
set and drawing in the time that 1t used
to take to get up one piece OF canvas.
The steam pump is handy thing, too,
In time of storms. When vessel is leak
ing and there is gale blowing the steam
pumps are started, and the sailors can give
their whole attention to the navigation of
the vessel and to the sails.
Many a vessel has been lost and all on
board drowned because the leak has been
more than the hand pumps could over
come, and the men, tired out with long work
atpumping, could not save the vessel. While
they have manned the pumps and worked
for dear life, spars, sails and rigging have
gone by the board. and the vessel has been
left wreck, only to founder later in the
storm. The change has worked we'll for
the owner as well as for tho sailor
Several of the more modern vessels are
steam heated. Steam pipes are arranged
In all parts Of the boat where the living
quarters are. The master has q cosey,
warm cabin. The officers are comfort
able, and the mems quarters are just as
cosey as those that are aft
After doing trick on the watch on cold,
wet night, the men can turn in and sleep
on warm, dry bed in a warm room and
forget that they are far out at sea buffet
ing the winds and the waves.
Just think Of telephones on board a sail
ing craft. There are several Of the larger
and more modern vessels that are fitted
with this convenience.
The telephone runs from the captains
quarters, aft, to those of his men forward;
and II he wants sailor, or II he has any order
to give, 1t Is done over the telephone This
Is luxury that was never dreamed OF a
few years ago.
In the last ten years sailors wages have
been raised 100 per cent. Sailors who used to
get from SIS to Sls month now get from $50
to S35 month. Mates who were paid from
$50 to 80 month now earn from S55 to SIS for
the same period; and masters, too, get more
money. Many Of these have interests In
the vessels they command, and It Ia to their |