New-York tribune., 1905-01-22
DREGS OF THE LAKES.
Tough Men Who Work on Our
Inland Seas.

Much has been written about the men who 80
down TO the sea in ships and they have been SUI
rounded with more less romantic atmosphere"
says Harry f. Hammond in Charities" Not so
much is heard about the men who the steam
ers which ply upon the Great Lakes. Very few
are sailors. in the oldtme meaning of the word
for sailing craft rapidly disappearing fro.
fresh water. They of entirely different sort
from the deep sailor. and cannot be picked out
from among the various low waged men ia the lake
ports. and indeed most of the latter have at one
time or another worked on the steamers. Unlike
the deep sailor. whose longer voyages identify
him with the vessel on which he works, their voy-
ages seldom last more than few days at most a
week or two, end general thing each trip is
made with different set Of men aboard. TIE deck
hands too often work only long enough to get a
little money with which to go a spree. II one
berth is filled there plenty of other boats on
which 10 ship. and they hesitate to draw
the money which is due them. and to leave as soon
as they get ashore. During the season OF
navigation they work intermittently in this way
and in the winter many join the great army OF
tramps who go South beat their way in the
North best they
Among the men with whom have come in con-
tact, there are very few who began life on this
plane. In fact I only one young boy who
looked as If he were just starting out to work for
himself. Most of them lay their present condition
10 drink However that may be. we find them now
at the bottom Of society and for the most part UNFIT
to rise above their present status if they so de-
sired.
Men some of the finer lake steamers receive
better treatment than I shall describe-are given
better uniforms and somewhat cleaner quarters
but the conditions set forth those common on
the class OF boats known as passenger-freght
steamers. man who wants ship as a deck
hand goes TO the first of the boat and IL
accepted by him. is entered on the time book
Thereupon he is set to work under the direction of
one Of the mates or the deck watchman. He is
given heavy truck for wheeling freight on or off
is ard nd faff
load is being put incoming one taken
of. This often takes day or more in the case OF
larger boats, and the men sometimes work without
stop for upward Of twenty-four hours The stops
along the route do require great deal of work
Between times the men are free to lie around the
deck or go TO the forecaste as they choose
hy as they themselves Situated usually afe n
the 1.L forward wa hold where it is always damp and
rough bunks are fitted with mattresses dnd
Then they, are burned The odor in this place is
simply indescribable. and one unaccustomed to it
becomes sick In a short time.
The mems food, is of the cheapest and poorest
room for them equipped with wooden benches ana
bare wooden counters and in charge of the fore
metie than the ordinary deckhands and has To- be-
able to keep them under control, a thing accom-
plished with great expenditure Of profanity and
oIten or muscular energy The hands are pro
soon soon drive drive 5 weakng il out Of the place On the
is sent mp from the Kitchen in large pans % on eoo o
meat. one of potatoes and vegetables and one of
cups plates, knives, forks and spoons and the men
help themselves and sit around the freight.
The firemen and coal passers in many cases
OF a little better grade than the deckhanGS Their
work requires some skill. and the firing crew. as a
rule. does change often the deck crew.
The lower officers. the water tenders. deck
watchmen, wheelmen, lookouts. etc. of an
other rank. They have separate places to sleep;
are special rooms. All these men eat their meals
in the officers messrOom, where they have table
cloths napkins, glasses and silverware, and
waited by man who is commonly known
the passengers, only the trimmings and fancy
desserts left off. The only officers who do not
eat here the captain, stewards and pursers,
who have their meals in the main dining room.
The cooks. pantrymen and walters have TO pre-
sent better appearance, as they come in direct
contact with the passengers but underneath the
thin veneer there is the same depth of depravity
and vice. or perhaps reflection of social environ
is little difference in moral standard between
them and the who handle the freight although
their work requires considerable skill and dexterity,
and as a class the walters hold themselves far
ever gets little money ne goes out on spree
with the regularity of any deckhand
Money TO burn as long as II stays in
walters pocket. Practically all of them gamble,
game Of some kind is not under way. Poker, craps
and all sorts of games are used as Vehlcle TO get
rid of or win money The majority plunge till
they are completely stripped by the craftier among
them.
lose their finer feelings when he the way they
live Berded together they are. they sleep dress
and spend al spare time without the possibility of
effect Those who have worked on the lakes for a
long time say that a steamboat is the toughest
pIaee In the world and from my experience have
little reason TO doubt the statement