Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-02-17
SAILOR REFORMS,
PAYS HIS BILLS
Old Sailor Could Not Be Happy
While He Owed Saloon Men
and Arranged Payment
he HAD Been A HUMAN DERELICTI
Norwegian Pastor Upiifts Submerged
Countryman and He Now Looks
Forward to Sailing for Norway and
Paying His Debt to His Family.

New York-Some II years ago Jan
Petersen landed in New York from
a Norwegian freighter. He was then
old in experience before the mast.
The records show that Petersen liked
New York SO we'll that he gave up
the sea and became a derelict in
the resorts along the shore in South
Brooklyn, South street. Manhattan,
and State Island, acquiring a reputa-
ton second to none for his ability
to stow away third rail- whisky.
The years passed, and Jan Peter
sens family in Norway wondered
what had become of him. They
searched the shipping records In
the Norwegian seaports, but could
not find any trace of him.
After the lapse of years his wife
and children in Norway concluded
that he was dead. and it was not
until few months ago that they
found out that he was still living
and had turned over new leaf
He no longer imbibes third rail-
whisky, and the waterfront resorts
know him no more. He is going
back to Norway soon to start life
over again with his family.
In Columbia street, West New
Brighton, S. l., there is little wood
en- church. 1t is called the Norwe.
gian Free Evangelical Church, and
the pastor is the Rev. Olaf Thomp-
son. Mr.. Thompson heard about
Petersen and his habits some six
that the man had family in Nor.
way and that for years that family
had no word of any sort from him.
1t did not take the pastor long to
find his submerged countryman The
old sailors eyes were red and dim
from years of dissipation. His hands
shook and his manner and clothes
showed how far he had fallen. Mr..
Thompson gained the derelicts con.
fidence and then followed heart-to.
heart talks. Soon the effect was ap.
parent. Peterson told Mr.. Thomp-
son that he wanted to reform but
doubted if he could master his crav-
ing for whisky. But the pastor per.
sisted, and one Sunday morning the
little church in Columbia street had
new member. This was Jan Peter
sen. Several months have passed
and Petersen in that time has not
touched drop of liquor He has a
steady Job as Waterman now.
But there was something that wor.
ried the old sailor for weeks after
his conversion, and Mr.. Thompson
could not find out what it was A
few weeks ago Petersen told him.
81 owe a lot Of saloonkeepers for
whisky and beer" he said. land I
want to pay them. I can't do it
and live on what I am making. Y
know whisky put me where | was,
but I want to pay the saloon men
just the same, and I won't be happy
until do"
Mr.. Thompson got a list Of all
the saloonkeepers who had trusted
Petersen, and, putting some of his
own and some of his pensioners
money with the little that Petersen
had saved, he started out to pay the
old mans drinking debts. In every
case he found that Petersen owed
the money, as he had said. Most
of the saloonkeepers refused to take
full payment, and a few refused to
take anything when they heard the
story.
Petersen attends church regular.
ly. He wears good clothes. His eyes
were clear and bright, and there was
a look of contentment on his face,
for he was looking forward to the
day when he could sail for Norway
to pay his debt to his family.