Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-14
h Albert SonnichSen,
y ABLE SeAf4AH :
DEADLY eELoFtD
6REDERn AND
ShlPMAIES

To be familiar with maritime affairs on
the Pacific coast means that you have
heard of the Hawaiian bark Aloha. The
Aloha has had many commanders, but 1t
is not worth while to burden your memory
with any of their names except that of
Captain Eric Larsen, who, 1 believe, sailed
her until annexation brought her under
American colors Captain Larsens name
will be handed down to local fame for
many years to come. When master
mariner has a reputation ii means that he
is either most extraordinarily good sea-
man and has a keen nose for fair winds. or
that he does things aboard ship not pleas
ant for decent, shore abiding people to con-
template.
Captain Larsen's reputation was an ex-
Ception; it was not especially due to either
of these causes. His fame was gained by
his power to convert the wicked of heart to
the true course of righteousness.
Previous to Captain Larsen's advent on
the Pacific coast as mate of large British
four-maSter, the Aloha had been com
manded by q bold, hard-handed Irishman.
who divided his time at sea between drink
ing whisky and committing assault and
battery on his sailors. This latter pastime
of his made life miserable to the marine
hospital officials in San Francisco and
Honolulu whenever the Aloha put into
those ports. That sort of thing went a
good ways those days. when maritime laws
We're vague and seldom enforced, but finally
the Aloha became too notorious even for
those parts and the owners were obliged
by public opinion to remove Kanaka Hogan
from his command. From one extreme they
went to another. To take his place they
engaged the meek and gentle Larsen:
On the first trip he broke the Alohas
previous records between Frisco and Mel
bourne, and that placed him high in favor
with the owners. But by his brother COM
manders of other ships Captain Larsen was
regarded with supreme contempt A re-
1igrin ma CT 1arina ic
more especially if he belongs to the Sal
walton Army, as did the good and pious
Larsen.
With the Salvation Army.
When the Aloha lay loading or discharg-
ing in Honolulu Captain Larsen spent his
evenings ashore at Salvation Army head
quarters, and he even Joined the red-shirted
soldiers of Christ in their street corner
demonstrations. There the seafaring popu-
lation of Honolulu would often behold the
Aloha's skipper, his bare head and broad
shoulders towering above his fellow Saliva
tionstS.
To the popular disgust he would some
times step forward to deliver his testimony.
bashfully at first, later warming up enthu-
siastically eXhorting the scandalized sea-
men to mend their ways and be saved. He
Invariably began. thus:
Dearly belofed bredern and Shipmates:
1t is almost impossible to express de joy
of true salvation. 1 hat never been so
happy as since found Jesus. Vunce vas
q bad man, far from de road of righteous
ness. Vunce l drink vSky and use bad
langvidge, and not good to my sailors,
but now, tank de Lord. l have found saliva
ton, and don't be so wicked any more.
Naturally, such sentiments could not be
we'll received by West Coast shippers That
a sailorman should declare whisky and
swearing wicked was. to their minds, moth
ing short of treachery to the brotherhood
of seamen.
In San Francisco Capt. Larsens pious
ness proved equally objectionable. He al
ways insisted that the boarding masters
send him Christian, God-fearing seamen
who never swore, and would not object to
prayer meetings in the dog watches. Such
men were naturally scarce. but so long as
the Alohas owners stood good for the large
shipping fees they tried to humor the &C.
centric Norwegian skipper. Those were the
days of blood money.
But one day there came change of man
agement in the office of the Aloha's own
erS and. among other things involved,
Capt. Larsen must henceforth manage the
financial part of shipping his crews him
self. That was the cause of the trouble.
The religious scrupleS of Capt. Larsen and
blood money fees wouldn't mix in the same
pot
For Mutual Benefit.
In those days the boarding masters of
Frisco stuck together thick as thieves,
and the shipping commissioners stood in
with them. All this was for mutual benefit
Any skipper that refused to put up their
prices brought upon himself their united
displeasure and that was something no
sane skipper ever cared to do. Then it was
usually to a shippers advantage in a f1nan-
cial way to stand in with the boarding mas
tiers; il was another case of mutual benefit
But Capt. Larsen conceived the idea that
blood money did not chime in with the
moral scheme of things, so he gave voice to
that opinion just about he voiced his
testimonies on the street corners of Hon
olulu.
He met Seattle Mike and AL Black, presi-
dent and shipping master for the Boarding
Masters Association. in their office, parti-
toned off in the Fair Winds Saloon.
Two months advance for each man."
demanded Seattle Mike. Just s4O-twenIy
for us and twenty to square up the men s
accounts You've got to pony up same's
the rest of EN-"
You bet" added AL Black drinking his
no foolin'i"
Captain Larsens mild blue eyes wander
cd YEARLY about the dingy office.
wShty dollars shipping fee is too
much he protested meekly ''I am willing
10 gu the men a months advance but /
won't gift you more dan 50 apiece as shin
ping fee. Dat is choost vat de law allows -
Two dollars! snorted AL Black sayagely
I'VE say $50. and we mean it. If.you don
come up with that price, you get no men, -
But they came TO no agreement The
Alohas skipper returned aboard with a
~
ton on his hands.
Planning to Get Even.
Next day he opened negotiations with
Chinese Charley for crew of Kanakas and
Cinnamon. The United Boarding Masters
smiled-that meant trouble for Capt. Larsen
with the union. For a while they decided
to let il go at that. but Seattle Mike con-
Ceived a plan whereby they might have
even more complete revenge. This he al
once communicated to his associates and
they grinned more broadly than ever. II
was a game they had played before, and
always successfully. Perhaps you have
heard of the mutiny of the Harvester
Next day they sent note to Captain
Larsen stating that they acceded to his
terms-a months advance for each man
And nice Christian crew Wen send you,
added the note.
Wen give him Three Fingered Jack fol
bos'n,' chuckled Seattle Mike significantly
and the idea sent the beer down AL Blacks
wrong throat.
AN Lager Beer Pete" suggested Al
Black when he recovered HE gets out
of choky tomorrow; an Wen give him the
Nhve chaps off the Sioux Queen, an Bill