The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1909-10-28

According TO reports received from
severnl of the upper lake ports, the
lake steamers are many OF them work
;ng short handed, which condition, the
strikers allege Is due to the strike
that has been waged against the lake
corriers all summer. Complaints of
Incomplete crews have been received
NJ the local inspectors Office, and in
vestigation has shown that the charge
ls IN some degree true, though the
vessels have not been found sufficient
" undermanned to make their naviga-
ton hazardous.
ANY number of reasons are assigned
for the scarcity of men for the navi-
cation of the lake steamers. In the
first place there Is nothing particu-
larly enjoyable in sailing up and down
the lakes I'm the rough seas and cold
weather that are likely to prevail In
October and November. Bad weather
Is ant to drive the tenderfeet 10 lanl,
though the seasoned sailor usually
roorfs at wind. snow and weather.
Again, many of those who held posi-
lions on the boats during the summer.
college students i'm particular, have
now quit their jobs TO take up their
studies or other work and IL Is hard
10 get experienced men TO take their
places. Finally. all kinds of work is
much more plentiful than il has been
for two years past, which, of course.
makes IL harder for the vesselmen to
engage all the men they want.
Shore leave Regulations.
Tn order to hold their crews, some If
tho masters have found II necessary to
impose strict regulations regarding
shore leave and on some of the boats
q has been refused altogether. Know
ing that the season is about at and
end. the men are looking for other po-
stions and in the Lake Superior ports
they often engage to spend the winter
in the lumber woods. AS desertion Of
any members OF the crew at this end
of the trip places the master OF the
boat in an embarrassing position, most
81 lut COMPANIES IuNt
rule that the men cannot draw any
pay until they have completed a round
trip
The striking union men seem to be
especially active In looking up and
reporting any vessels that are sailing
with short crews. At the 500, 1t is
said that a scout In the toys of a man
looking for work. inquiries as the boats
come along and Is informed that le
may go to work IL he wishes. He gets
data as to the places open and re-
ports to the union headquarters. from
which place complaints are filed with
the authorities.
Carelessness is Alleged.
The government inspectors report
that there has been an exceptionally
large number of accidents on tn =
lakes this year, which fact they are in
clined to attribute to carelessness
more than anything else. Throughout
the summer there has been a success
sion of collisions, groundings and even
total loss OF vessels, and the inspect
ors are kept very busy investigating
the disasters. While most of the ac-
cidents have occurred in stormy o.
foggy weather, 1t is said that tn,
weather has been no worse than tho
average this season. There are a great
many more boats in commission this
year than year ago and the vessel
owners are urging the masters 10
make as quick trips as possible, with
the result that safety is often sacri-
feed to speed. The inspectors are
dealing severely with all cases OF care
lessness i'm operating the lake boats
and n considerable number OF the Ii
censed men have been deprived If
their papers Within the last few
Kunsto MUSTANG was taken to st.
Joseph's hospital this week suffering
with typhoid fever