The Washington times., 1904-12-17
SHANGHAIED NEGRO
HELD TEN WEEKS
Tells Awful Story Of EX-
perience on Oyster Boat.
THE COOK KILLED HIMSELF
Went to Baltimore for Work and Was
Taken in-Refused His
Money.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec l7.-Shang-
hailed on an oyster boat, abused by her
captain. deprived of his promised wages.
end finally set ashore on sparsely set
tied spot on the Eastern Shore of Mary
land sums up briefly the tale which
William Robinson. a twenty three-year-
old negro. who lives in Augusta. Ga,
told Magistrate Hughes this morning at
Jhe TWenty-df-h district statiOnhOuse.
Robinson drifted into the stationhouse
last night cold. hungry, and weary, and
asked for lodging.
He was accommodated. and when he
faced the magistrate this morning il was
10 add another story 10 the rapidly
growing list That demands rigid inves-
tigauon of the methods pursued by oys-
ter boat captains on the Chesapeake
who seem 10 be a law unto themselves.
On an Excursion.
According 10 Robinson's story. he went
on an excursion last August, TO Charles
ton 5. c., and while there had an OPP
portunity 10 get 10 New York on a Clyde
Line steamer. Upon reaching New York
he Went To New London. Conn. ana OBJ
tanned employment at a hotel until the
resort closed for the season.
Having relatives living in Sweet PO-
tato Hin. Camden. he decided TO pay
Them visit. and did SO. He stayed "a
few days and then. leaving his clothes.
went 10 Baltimore 10 look for work.
An Oily Stranger
From the time of his reaching Balti-
more his troubles began.
Il met a colored man" said he, who
asked me il / wanted a job. / told him
/ did and he said he could get me one
on q steamer al SIS month and found.
and / went with him. He took me 10 an
office, where 1 was told to sign papers.
and then he took me out and bought me
an outfit.
Then We went down 10 the dock, and
! was put on an oyster boat. which
started OF at once, and when i objected
the CAPTAIN abused me. The boat was
the Joseph b. Smith, which was COM
manded by Capt. Samuel Thornton. and
for ten weeks he kept as out and hard
n work liz abused every one of us.
and our sufcriGgs We're great
"Ne protested, but II did no good.
and the captain just made il all the
harder for as. AT last on Sunday night
last we put in somewhere on the East
eTn Shore, and ! was told 10 60
Cook browns Himself.
THAT same night the cook jumped
overheard and drowned himself. III,
couldn't stand the abuse any longer The
captain gave me $685.. and that is all
got for my ten weeks work
Il don't know what the cooks name
was. but when 1 saw 1hat he mad com
mitted suicide and that / was on land
again, ran away from the place as
fast as I could. and reached "a place ]
think they called ShantiOch. which Is
about three miles from where j land.
ed. Then I bought some crackers ana
cheese. and paid dollar for ticket
10 Washington.
Refused More Money.
From Washington / went 10 Balti-
more. ana hunted up the Office where
signed the papers. 1 saw the mau-his
name is ROgers-and demanded the resi-
OF my money bat he said he could mol
get it or do anything as the Smith wa.
registered in Virginia.
"As ] wanted my clothes. ] came
here. and as ] ran out OF money and
was tired / came 10 the staIiCuuOuse.'