The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1904-09-16

1t was perhaps from some din. in
stinctive appreciation of the futility OF
reckless competition, more likely from
a mutual respect for one another
fighting powers, that stealing from the
galley WAS so finely systematized by the
stokers and sailors Of the Scotch
Prince. cargo and cattle steamer OF
Liverpool.
A great hulbing dirty, rolling car
rier OF the ocean. with a long, hatch
dotted sweep Of deck fore and art,
steam winches innumerable, and SIX
teen boilers, she carried a matter or
twenty-odd saamen and as many stok-
ers, to say nothing of their under
studies, the trimmers. These trimmers
were humble set, cursed a great deal
and tolerated as a sort OF necessary
evil By the better elements OF the
black gang" They had no recognized
right to participate in the perils or the
fruits Of galley ranging" 1t was con-
sidered a sort Of poaching for them
to steal for themselves, and shocking
impudenGa TO ask for q share OF what
was stolen by others; so they generally
had to be content with their bare
"whack." so neatly and accurately set
forth by the pound Of this, the half
pound OF that. and the ounce OF the
other per diem on the printed sheet of
British Steamship Rules" duly pasted
up in each forecastle.
Now the British Steamship Rules
are very prudent and admirable in
stitution. In the olden days crew
might be overfed or underfed, or both,
alternately. according to the length OF
the voyage ard the eccentricitieS OF
the skipper. But during the last gener-
alton great minds were exercised over
this evil, and the result is the neat
poster referred to above, which removes
from the sailors mind all uncertain
ty and speculation SO far as food IS
concerned. and provides that instead
of the extremes and sudden transitions
which formerly obtained, gentle. ac-
'curate seni-starvation shall be main
tanned without interruption; that in
stead Of The violent agony Of passing
from plenty to famine, and sometimes
from famine back to plenty again. that
these who 90 down to the sea in ships
have legal right to be underfed regu-
larly and to pine sweetly away into an
early and anaemic grave.
Sailors are an ignorant lot; they
never appreciate what is done for them.
'"tis true it's pity; and pity it's tbs
true" that never have cargo broaching,
galley ranging, and other like crimes
fourished before as they do today in
most ungrateful spite OF the benign
ration system.
The trimmers of the Scotch Prince
thought they Jared badly. To be sure.
they had "salt horse" and potatoes
once day, to say nothing of delicious
''burgoo," and no less than two ounces
of petrified hard tack every morning
and evening" 1t was the bounty that
spoiled them. At least the steward said
so. And they would have stolen, &C
tually have taken food that didn't be-
long to them. had chance offered
But the fremen and sailors had just
such vicious propensities themselves,
and they kept jealous eye on all
chances.
The firemen and sailors, as we have
before, managed things in a
very business-like way. On the Scotch |
Prince, as on the majority Of trans
atlantic freighters, the different messes !
of the crew were served by 'peggies" |
that is. going in rotation, the men of |
each mess took turns in bringing the |
food from the galley to their respect |
i've quarters. They usually worked in |
pairs, one man carrying the soup or !
coffee can. the other the meat or bread. |
The cookrooms were in an alley in |
the deckhouse, the ovens and soup |
kettles in one room, and the bread |
room just diagonally across. The sail
ors' peggies and the firemen's peggies |
would naturally reach the galley about |
the same time; one set would go in |
for the. bread while another were get |
ting their soup and meat, and then,
/ liking it turn and turn about. and. not
aften enough to be too palDable. The i