Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1917-07-25
ABLE sEAMEN SCARCE.
with Return of .swindjammers'
They Are In Big Demand.

with Return of swindjammers'
They Are In Big Demand.
A despatch from Boston tells OF the
sharp demand for ships, . demand 90
great that the whaling bark Andrew
Hicks OF New Bedford, built ct Fairhaven
in 1887, has Just been sold to foreign
account. Tue good bark will carry
cargoes custo mrarily borne by steamship.
All along the Atlantic coast the old
| windjammers are sought after. Dis
masted and made into coal hulks and
their shapeliness half concealed BY q
black smudge, we see them bounced upon
and sent to the yards for overhauiing and
refitting. Beneath the dirt are sound
oaken planks and fine sure lines that spell
swift sailing. Allthat are needed are paint,
sticks and top hamper. For these ships
were aristocrats born; give them their
due and all will acknowledge il. They
are the Cinderellas of the see.
But where are the men to be found to
man them?
Ships officers there are and plenty in
the making. But crews? A few years
ago England was full of sailors. Any
vessel could choose and pick dozen from
hundred men. Not so now, These
fellows are fighting in France or go to and
fro in the North Sea on warships or in
U-boat barriers. American ports have
never afforded so much material for the
foc'sie as those OF Britain.
The worst OF it is that steamships have
ruined seamanship. There are thousands
OF men who can wash decks or clean paint
work or perch in the crows nest OF
steamship whose uselessness on wind
jammer is pitiful. They cannot hand,
reef or steer, and are, therefore. not able
seameu. whatever their discharge books
may say. Could one OF these take the
weather earring in iopssii sqaail. He
would be helpless even IL he did not come
down by the run, that is, tumble to the
deck or into the sea. No more could be
steer full and bye. II you told him to
watch the leach of the mizzen royal he
would not comprehend a word. Fancy
such man at the wheel OF a ll-rigged
ship which had suddenly to be worn
around with all hands at the braces,
bellowings, confusion, running fore and
aft, and an excited skipper dancing about
the poop and uttering the startling senti-
ments that shippers utter in emergencies.
Now sailing ship has upwards OF
twenty sails generally, not counting stay
calls, but counting the headsaiis. For
each yard there are lifts and braces; for
each squsresaii there are ciewiines and
buntiines. The number OF ropes 10
amazing, and most OF them come down
to the pinrail and are Delayed side by side,
presenting a Chinese puzzle to the
! ordinary beholder. Their indentity is
not any clearer to the chap who has sailed
under steam. But getting hold of the
wrong rope on dark night, a matter OF
few inches one way or the other. may
cost mans life.
Sails preceded steam, and a knowledge
of the work ON sailing vessel is the only
proper foundation for seaman's
education. 1.-THE extraordinary condition
brought about BY the war results in the
training OF some thousands of real sailors
q great good will have been ACCOMPLISHED.
not merely in the reyiying of ancient
craft and skill, but in the restoration OF
a wonderful environment which breeds
true men and which has been d DESTROYED.
as i, appeared. forever.
The life OF stea mships fails to ineuIcate
the lessons that the sea ia capeble of
teaching. Ii is one thing to nick your
way easily through the Strait az Magellan
and another to win your wsy west ward bv
prolonged toll. about Cane Horn To re
a HE IN strike sfraiuht aeroas ha Att.rt,,