The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-08-30
A CATTLE SHIP TRIP.
What 1t Means to Work Your
Way Across the Atlantic.
HARD LABOR AND POOR FOOD

A great many college boys and other
youths who have a lot of time and
very little money on their hands dur
ing the summer plan to get fine vaca-
ton trip with little cost. One of the
most popular trips is, of course, to
Europe, and, as very few Of them are
able to stand the first or second cabin
tariff and sort of fight shy of the steer
age, their imaginations turn naturally
toward the much talked Of voyage as
cattlemen. Without knowing very
much about cattle or the sea or hard
work young men often jump at the OPP
portunity to get to the old world in
this way.
About this trip they know just this
much: First, that it costs SIS to get the
job; second, that the cattlemen must
care for the cattle all the way over for
no pay, and, third, that the passage
back is free. That looks good, but
that's only the bare outline. The ex-
periences OF a young collegian who
took this trip one summer may be Of
value to those who may contemplate
the voyage and of interest to the pub
lie generally.
When he got the idea that he wanted
to go to Europe, he had 500 in his
pocket. Five of this he paid to a
steamship agency in an Office on South
street, where he signed a contract as a
cattleman. A few hours before the
sailing he reported on board to the
foreman and was assigned to smelly,
greasy bunk In the forecastle. Then
the foreman, who was well liquored up
and remained so all the way over, ex
amined his papers, which contained a
minute description of his person. The
foreman said they were all right
The men Of the cattle crew were en-
tirely separated from the regular crew
of the vessel and seldom came in con-
tact with them during the voyage. Be-
sides the foreman there were two paid
men, who also INDUCED in liquor all
the time and never worked, and four
college boys on an outing. The youths
got together as soon as they were on
board and discussed the possibilities
of their job. Going down the Delaware
there was nothing doing. The cattle.
210 head of them, were quiet, and
things looked rosy to the boys.
They got their first jar when they
were called to dinner. This meal was
taken in the forecastle. 1t consisted OF
'salt horse" "skouse," punk" "oleo"
and "chicory." Translated, the meal
consisted of meat, potatoes, bread, but
ter and coffee. Some of the boys had
been camping and thought they could
eat anything, but they baked at the
quality of the food and the careless
cooking. Then came q row. The fore
man and the two paid men asked them
if they thought they were going first
cabin and threatened to throw them
overheard If they did not eat. So they
ate.
That night they retired early and
were pulled out at a. m. by the night
watch and told to go to work. The
foreman and his two paid men stood
around giving orders, while the boys
toiled like galley slaves. First they
watered the cattle. Each head Of the
21O had to be given five buckets Of
water, which had to be carried from
the outlet tubs at the end of the cattle
deck The boys soon began to sweat
under this unaccustomed work and
threw off all their clothing except
their trousers, in which costume they
worked all the way over. 1t took two
and one-half hours to water the cattle,
and then breakfast was served, the
same kind of stuff that had been given
the evening before. By this time the
boys were so hungry that they could
eat almost anything.
At 10 o'clock the heaviest work start
ed. The hay which was fed to the cat
tie had to be pulled up from the hold
with block and fall. Eighteen bales
of 125 pounds each were hoisted In this
manner as we'll as ten bales weighing
from $50 to 325 pounds and eighteen
bags of corn of 125 pounds each. Two
of the youths hooked the bales in the
hold, while the other two pulled. 1t
did not take long for the tender skin
on their hands to become raw and in
famed, and the hauling became posi-
tive torture.
When all the hay and corn had been
pulled up the corn was fed to the cat
tie, and then it was time for dinner.
This was eaten hurriedly, so that the
men could get back to work. The hay
was split in the narrow aisles in front
of the cattle, and after several hours
of hard work at shaking 1t up the poor
beasts were fed. Then the men were
fed with far worse food in comparison
Vthan that given the cattle. By this
time they were tired enough to go to
bed. Most of them revolted at the
,stuffy hunks and slept on the hard
deck.
This was the regular programme for
each day. On the second day out lit
tie relief came when poor, starved
stowaway was dug out Of the hold and