Lexington dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1917-1919, 1919-05-28
ga1d Shark Who Preyed on
Sailors Is Given His
Death Blow.
UNCLE SAM TAKES A HAND
chipping Board Establishes Govern.
aient Agency to Find Bershs for
Seamen-Evils of Old System
Are Swept Away.

merchant sailor ashore, must give up
his grip on Jack when he is in Ameri.
can ports.
Recent establishment by the United
States shipping board of government
shipping agency of national scope to
place seamen in positions afioat will
put the crimp out of business.
The shipping board agency, known
as the sea service bureau, aims not
only to protect seaman and ship owne,
against extortion, but to stabilize the
supply of mariners at various ports
by shipping men to ports where most
needed, preparing their fares,and look.
ing after their subsistence in transit.
This service will be performed at
cost, and a nominal fee Of so much
man will be charged the ship operator
calling for men.
The passing of the crimp is the most
recent in number Of changes In con.
ditions affecting American sailors
when ashore that taken together con-
stitute a complete departure from old
time standards of what was consid-
cred good enough for Jack.
Into the discard which now receives
the crimp went some years ago the
sailors dance hall, and its attendant
sisterhood, who welcomed Jack ashore,
entertained him until his money was
gone, and turned him over to the
crimp, who in nine cases out Of ten
was a boarding house keeper.
Passing Of Boarding House.
The sailors boarding house itself, as
it was known in earlier days, has suf-
fered eclipse by the welfare center,
where in a great clean building
sailor may get neat bed for 80 cents
a night, and meals at proportionate
cost, and where he can play games.
attend lectures end movie shows and
mingle socially with sober and self.
respecting companions.
Next on the list to 60 will be the
sailors grog shop, which now is on
its last legs. With that gone, the
props Of the old system for debauch-
ing Jack and plucking him will have
been sent to Davy Jones' locker. Few
will mourn the event, for new style
Of sailor is coming into the merchant
marine-a sailor to whom old-time ex-
cesses ashore would not appeal and
on whom the "land shark" would not
get fat.
The crimp will not 90 out of bust
ness willingly. He has too recent
memory Of days when to be a crimp
was to conduct a business of profit.
There are many crimps in business
today who recall with professional
pride the days of strong arm methods
In the merchant marine.
In those times the captain, whose
dignity and ethics did not prevent
him from accepting crew that had
been shipped by deception or force,
turned \ the crimp as to specialist
to be engaged for difficult cases. The
crimp responded with the alacrity OF
one who expects good fee. 1t was
in such cases that he shone, and his
methods were those of an artist in
guile. The fact that he was an out
law and that severe penalties were
provided for any one aiding or abet-
ting him, as well as for himself, did
not battle him.
Liquor, drugged or otherwise, was
his chief ally. He befuddled Jack
and worked his will with him. One
classic method of the old time crimp
was to tap the drunken sailor over
the head with a blackjack, tumble him
into a boat, row him alongside the
ship on which he was slated to make
a long voyage and have him hoisted
over the side.
Doom of the System.
The crimp knows where the worst
kind of men are, to certainty. lie
makes it his business to go aboard
ships as they come in-sometimes get
ting aboard in the guise Of a dock
laborer-to solicit trade for his board
ing house, offering inducements that
would not appeal to the newer type
Of American sailor, who in these times
lodges ashore under the protecting
roof of some friendly society.
One stroke of business brings an
other, with the crimp. He promises
Jack a job if he will stay on awhile
at the boarding house. When Jacks
money is gone, and the crimps fnan-
cial stake in the sailor must be made
good, Jack is sold to the captain or
operator IN need Of men who is will
ing to pay the board bill as well as
a fee. This practice received hard
blow a few years ago, when the law
forbade assignments of wages by sail
ors, but it has been staggering along
since. 1t is expected to die when the
shipping boards feeless shipping
agency gets into full play.
The sea service bureau has met