The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-06-21

n OWN on my luck one day last
autumn, had diligently footed
- Montreal for several hours in
search Of something to do. At
last l happened to strike an employ
ment bureau, having blackboard out
side, on which was written: Free
passage to England and back as cattle
men-apply within"
I walked in. a big man in a fur
coat, sitting in front Of stove and
smoking a cigar, looked up. "Well,
what's your business? You amt no
lumber man." I admitted was not,
and told him wished for free pas
sage to England as cattleman. "Well,
guess you can," says he, making out
form and handing it to me with the
remark that he wanted IS booking fee.
expostulated and asked him what his
sign mean: Free passage" He
smiled and said: "Guess you'd better
take it now, as it might cost you SO
Tomorrow"
I reflected few minutes, and then
handed him the required sum. he i'm
mediately became amiable, and asked
If I had any preference as to where I
shipped to. said had not, but
wanted to get home as quickly as pos
sible. I knew there were very few
more boats out Of port before winter
was upon Us, and my cash in hand was
now reduced to less than $40. After
looking through his books decided to
put my name down for Glasgow, to
sail the following Thursday, and
turned to leave the Office. "Say," he
beloved out after me, "guess you git
FIVE shillings from the company at the
other end" The eventful Thursday
came, and I arrived at the Office at 4
with my grip" ready for work, to
find some twenty or thirty other men
all waiting to ship by the same boat.
I began to get fidgety, as I knew there
were only six men wanted from that
Office by the. cattle shipper and I Won
dered If my S. "was gone bust" Fate,
however, was kind, and by s o'clock
that night had signed on as. part Of
the ships company to the port Of Glas.
gov. found, on getting on board,
that there were two foremen and lime
hands to look after $50 head Of cattle.
The first thing we did on getting on
board was to find our quarters. These
were right in the foc'sle head, next
door to the fremen, and a steward was
there waiting for US. He ventured a
remark that he would for 81 lock our
baggage up in the foremen's cabin for
the present, as the firemen were not
to be trusted with anything lying
about. This being done, we set to
work to bed down for the cattle, which
were to come on during the night.
This finished, we prepared to retire,
but on arriving at our quarters found
only bare boards to sleep on, which dis
covery sent US bowling to the steerage
steward with view to getting blank
cts, etc. We were, however, informed
that we could not have any until next
day, but each man received plate,
knife and fork, and cup, and also a
large tin pan to fetch our meat in, and
a can to be used for fetching both tea
and soup. We went back to our quar-
ters, and with my grip" for pillow
I wrapped myself up in my great-coat
and slept my first sleep as a cattle
man.
Next morning we were aroused by
one Of the foremen at O'Clock, and
then we arranged who should be kitch-
en.maid for that day. The duties of
kitchen-maid were not arduous, as I
found when my turn came on the Sun.
day, the work consisting Of going to
the galley to fetch the grub and wash
ing up the things after. Breakfast
that first morning consisted Of coffee
and stew, with bread, and I shall not
forget it in hurry. After breakfast
was over we went on deck and
watched the boat cast of for England,
and then our duties as cattlemen CON-
menced. We first Of all got up sufa-
cient hay from the hold to last until
next morning; after that we watered
and fed the cattle. In the evening we
again watered and fed, and then
cleaned up the alleyways, and had fin.
ished for the night. Supper, pipes and
cards saw the time through till 8 p. m.
and one Of our fellows proved no small
performer on the violin. On all sub
sequeut mornings we were up at
O'Clock sharp to water the animals and
give them their hay, after which we
Witness Can't Think.
Sir Henry Irving once said: "What
is the good Of lawyers treating an
honest and sensitive witness on the