Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-19
COLLEGE STUDENTS WORK.
PASSAGE ACROSS OCEAN
Need of Economy Results in Rush
of Applicants for MeniaI Jobs
on Cattle Steamers

working their passage to Europe as
cattlemen, tour England and the con-
tinent on various small sums. Those
who return on the same steamer and
remain but the five days the vessel is
in port may get passing glimpses OF
Liverpool, Chester oxford, Henley and
London on as small sum as $25.
Others have spent three weeks in Eng
land and week in Paris on $40, but
only by rigid economy. BY using a
bicycle the month on shore has not
only included England, Holland, Bel
GUM, France and Germany, but (by
raiD a glimpse of Switzerland, for
$3.50. Two hundred dollars enables one
to cover the same territory wholly by
rail, have good food and accommoda-
tions and to indulge In a few luxuries
and side trips.
So great is the rush for jobs on the
desirable passenger ships carrying
cattle that application must be made
months in advance, and frequently a
bonus paid to secure the position The
regular fee is SIS for inexperienced
hands and $3.50 for those who can
claim TO have crossed. One employ
ment agency in this city evidently has
a contract which includes the most
desirable vessels of "a number of ports.
1t was with some misgivings, how
ever, that | sought The agency in the
southern section of the city. The Of
flee was a one-story building. Inside
were two rooms, the front furnished
with desk, counter and safe. The
rear one, which seemed to be a loung-
ing room for the men, displayed the
following placards:
This office for cattle ships only"
mo one shipped under 21 years of
age. Runayays not wanted"
mo alcohol allowed. Or booze of
any kind"
mo fighting or quarreling allowed
in this building.
Bundles, suit cases, grips and pack
ages of every description held for six
ty days only. After sixty days every
thing is thrown out for the health of
the building"
The clerk in charge painted in glow
ing eolors the easy life of a cattleman,
and his six hours daily work. and in
due course of time IS was exchanged,
plus a two-dollar bill Chat was
thought necessary to set the job for
a slip of paper guaranteeing the posi-
tion.
We sailed on a 12000-ton twin screw
passenger steamer, the best out of
Philadelphia. In the gray dawn of a
Saturday morning the crowd assem-
bled at the dock as ordered. Already
long lines of yellow cattle cars, like
huge serpents, were winding through
the yards and into the sheds dis
charging their frightened, believing
cargoes of steers into the runs which
led to the vessel and from which they
were driven aboard.
There were 800 head of cattle aboard
in charge of two foremen and two
crews of ten men each. Each crew
had a two-porthole room, equipped
with steel hunks, steel bed springs, a
pallet of straw Qresh each voyage)
and a blanket. In the center of the
room was a wooden table and in a
corner iron lockers for disposing of
such food as was not brought at meal
times.
Each crew was also provided with a
bathroom for it's exclusive use. When
we went aboard one man was imme-
diately assigned to clean up and to
secure the dinner. This position,
termed peggy" is considered the cas-
are to scrub the quarters every morn
ing, procure the meals, wash the
dishes and secure such supplies as are
needed daily.
The food is the worst part of the
trip. 1t is nauseating and but few can
stand it. The bulk of it is served in
the dishpan, which is carried to the
galley and the mainstay is ''scouse,"
a sort of watery beef stew. This is
varied with corn beef and cabbage
beans, potatoes and a few other staple
articles, all of poor quality. Tea and
coffee are drawn from huge caldrons
directly to the kettles with milk and
sugar added in the galley.
The first duties Of the men were to
tie the cattle up. 1t is no small mat
ter to secure and control a thoroughly
frightened 1600-ponnd steer, but as we
moved down the Delaware they be-
came more quiet. and by o'clock all
were securely fastened and we went to
our first meal.
Sunday the real work began, which
was to be the routine until the end of
the voyage Each morning We were
awakened at 4 o'clock.
From 4 to we engaged in the wet
and breaking work of watering
the cattle. Each steer drank from
three to seven bucketfuls, and as we
had only eight pals the problem be-
came how to keep them filled and yet
not overflow without shutting off the
hose. 1t was made harder by the fact
that the steers fought for the water.