The Washington times., 1904-04-10

THE use OF Illegal methods Of forcing
a man to serve NJ sea against his
will has sometimes been spoken OF
rs a passing phase Of inhuman bru-
tality.
You may. read long winded discussions
in-the various trade papers OF the ship
ping world of the improvements which
have been effected in the arduous field
of labor. At the same time YOU may go
down into the shore world Of the sailor
among the tenements and boarding
houses which skirt the docks and piers
Of New FORKS enormous hsrbOr-abd
there amid the saloons and dives,
wherein after the long labors Of the sea
the sailor disports himself, and where.
after his money is spent, he is won't to
lounge IN idleness until WEAKNESS or in
pending physical distress compels him to
sail, learn the true story Of the shang-
hal.
The fact that it has not passed and
that year after year men are really
seized upon in New York harbor
drugged. robbed and sometimes even
beaten before they are dumped forward
in one Of the seamen's hunks and left
there TO sleep of their stupor while the
ship is making off TO sea is beyond any
possible controversion.
Il is a distinctly typical region-this
Of the sailor ashore. 1t involves a large
section Of New York's East River water
front, following as it does in the form Of
three> streets all the front from Canal
street to the Battery.
These are occupied in their inward
portions by tumble-down red brick
- n rEaalfHys
New Workers, when Broadway, below
Canal street. was the business section
Of the city. but now the abiding place
Of a motley host Of peoples.
In Polyglot New York.
swedes and Norwegians are here, Ger
mans, French. Irish, Italian, Japanese.
Lascar and Syrian sailors. Also the hoi-
polloi Of American and semi-Americau
individuals who prey upon them, the
merchants who cater to their wants, the
saloonkeepers who cater to their vices,
the wretched men and women who de-
pend upon their charity or chance TO
sustain them. and many respectable
families whom circumstances such as
proximity to labor. cheapness of rent
and the like compel 70 live here.
ity, the surge OF men, women and vehi-
cIes that flow from the other portions Of
the city-long professions OF wagons.
endless files Of cars. the rattle of the
bridge trains that pass high overhead
on the vast suspended arc Of the bridge
and the boats.
Have YOU ever visited South street
where the boats are7 You are perhaps
present a sealed front to the gaze of
the passer-by in other parts Of the city.
but do you know the collection Of far
Travelled, Oceangoing sailing vessels that
here protrude their long bowsprits into
the very middle Of the street?
There is the true ss:lor-land for you
rbe region where Jack ashore may be
seen carrying his bag OF dunnage, or
newly supplied with mOney-the moder-
ate proceeds of his vast voyages-swing-
ing along with the air Of a freeman.
This is the region where the true sailor
resort is to be found-the room where.
when Jack enters, a line OF barrOom
heelers is ready 70 slap him on the back.
declare that he is an excellent fellow.
and urge him to have drink
OF Jack Ashore.
Here it is that the runner Of the
boarding house keeper IS set IN wait
for him, and. when his leave ashore is
over his money spent his boarding
house keeper insistent and his prospec-
tive captain urgent 10 get away. he is
dOsed with that fatal sleeping potion
so widely advertised as knockout drops.
and Iumberingly escorted by night 70
the dock and silent ship.
Alas, be il charitably recorded, Jack
is the most foolish and humanity lovsble
or mortaIs. When he beats up the bay
in his prison Of vessel, home bound,