The Washington times., 1911-09-27


boat to foreign countries may not be
a flowery proposition, but 1t is a
healthy way of getting there" says
Arthur I Bell. of s6 Y street north
west, a student of the Technical High
School, who was one of the three
Washington youngsters who saw
Europe this summer by the cattle
boat method.
The Washington youngsters left
Locust Point, Baltimore. in June. and
spent more than a month abroad. Be-
sides Bell, who has made four trips
abroad on cattle boats, there were
P. D. Elkins. a clerk at the American
National Bank, and William Lesher,
now a student at BucknelL
A picturesque description of the
trials and hardships, as well as of
the pleasures attending trip OF this
kind. was given today by young Bell.
THE last train load of believing
bulls had been fired UP the gangway
of the cattle boat, and the steamer
Ulstermore started on its journey for
Great Britain" he said.
Had Glorious Scramble.
Occupying the two decks below the
flush deck were about 700 husky
young bulls. Here our trouble began
in one grand and glorious scramble
to tie up our active cargo of roast
beef, intended for English consump-
tion. About 700 tons or so of rump
steak had mauled US all over the
decks, and the horned cattle had jab-
bed US between our ribs during the
strenuous occupation Of cornering
and tying them, we fed them several
tons of hay. and then retired with
h. IT, Ia AhN n@Nh
ing for US to do till the morrow.
Mess followed. after which the six
teen bull-rushers unanimously agreed
to hang the cook. A table IS hote
dinner, consisting Of scouse slum-
gullion. spuds. cobs and salt horse,
rusty tin pans.
"A new Peggy is detailed for work
each day. Peggy is the title of the
bright young man who washes the
dishes. and at meal time conveys a
collection Of washboilers to the gall
ley. The cook promptly slaps q few
handsful of muddy-looking coffee in one
Of these, and turns on the hot-water
spigot. Then the remaining part Of the
service is given.
'.Scouse is a mixture Of chopped-up
potatoes, a few carrots and onions to
play hide and seek with one another.
a nd a few hungry-looking pieces of
beef. Slum CULLEN is a remarkable
soup. the greater part of which Is
known as salt pork, while cobs are
hunks of bread with 'urmor plate
tops. The only recipe for softeninS the
cohs is ten-minute soaking in the
scouse.
Sunday is a great day on board
The cook always overdoes
himself, and turns out a bulIet-prcof
pudding, known as plumbduff. the con-
Of which usually causes the
ca:uemen to hang over the rail and
commune with the sea.
The first night out, the cattlemeu.
instead of stretching their bruised and |
weary limbs IN their steel hunks. held |
general celebration. Canned goods. !
brought with, them from Washington:
were at the celebration. |
Much music followed Ex-iallbirds, |
professional tramp real sailors. ann |
who comprised the Ulster |
nore's crew. howlcd and sang for |
All Sent to Bed.
From out of the motley crowd, an
orchestra was selected, the instru-
nents, Of (Which ranged from a Jews
larp to a cOrnct. The sleepy ccckney
iremen then turned out of their nearby
quarters and started an unorganized
nutiny. and pretty soon the officers Of
he good ship had 70 come down and
'cnd everyone u bed.
AT 4 o'clock the next morning. we
we're hustled out Of our hunks. It was
old, and only the fact that the
lui,Sry cattle had to be fed, kept is
rom freezing. A two-hour jaunt with
twenty-five buckets, and a long roll of
luSe, with which the buIlocks were
rrayed, kept away monotony.
In the chilly sea air we handled the
eaky hose and string of buckets with
he speed of a rural fire company at
'urning of the nearest brewery, and
oaked ourselves as well as the al
eady rum soaked oattlemen, who
vere getting real money for making
he trip. out of which we got only
-Four bells-6 o'clock-chimed out,
ut there were no signs of breakfast
rom where we stood, a no more rel
shaole dish ever was served than
hat Of scouse.. After the first two
our Job. another two-hour position
1as given us. A tackle and block
'as rfgged over the main hatch, and
re had to haul UP all the corn. baled
ay, and straw to be fed during the
ay. Eight o'clock came before we
'ere summoned to the scouse BAN
uet.
After this. the cattle had to te fed. /,
1rst, we shook out about forty
ales Of hay to be fed to the bovines. |
nd then rebed their compartment )
tails with fresh hay. Next. the decks
ere swept as clean as Pennsylvania .