Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-03-23

W. ATERMAN came into town
w and demanded right then
and there to have a shipshape
inquiry into his voyage and
methods. The result was he was
acquitted of any brutality or
shocking treatment. and sailed
out of San Francisco Bay with
his nose in the air.
But here's all the truth of that
voyage that's ever come to light.
You see. in 1851 everybody who
could walk or crawl was off to
the goldfields in California. Why
there were dozens of ships in San
Francisco Bay without a man In
'em; captain. mates and crew all
deserted to try their luck In
Sacramento. Why owners were
offering common sailors $4,000
a month all found to man their
ships.
Well, the result was that sailor
men were scarce as feathers on
a frog, and when Waterman got
the Challenge he found in her
the dirtiest collection of long
shore filth that he'd ever had the
pain of smelling. Only six of
'em had ever been to sea before;
they were corner boys and gut
ter snipes all. who wanted to get
to California and pick gold off
the streets or out Of better
mems pockets.
Waterman looked 'em over and
almost wept. He was a pious
sort of man in a way and he held
back his feelings. He called them
aft. Only two of 'em were
Americans: there were fifty-six
so-called men and eight boys.
They skuiked along that clean
deck and their stink was an Of
Tense TO the air off Sandy Hook.
Waterman was whispering to the
mate who walked TO windward
of them as he hurried for'rard.
Now, you dribble-nosed craw-
Inns of Brooklyn sewers" says
Bully Waterman. pleasant-like.
II don't like the look Of any one
of We, and II had my way I'd
wear ship and set you all ashore
where you can crawl back into
the middens you came from. But
thatd cost money, and you amt
worth the expense Now listen
TO me. we're bound for San Fran
cisco, around the Horn. This Is
a good ship. a comfortable ship.
the grub's well cooked and plen-
tiful. you'll get the same in the
fo'c'sle as comes to the cabin.
l don't allow spirits for'rard. nor
guns nor pointed knives. When
an officer gives an order, you'll
jump lively"
He went on talking to them
until he saw the mate and bosun
come out of the forecastle where
he'd sent them to go through
the crews ditty-bags. They
threw whisky, rum. knuckle-
busters. sand-bags and revolvers
oversize. enough TO start a
young war, and the captain
grinned.
Now, pass along TO the main
hatch and every man drop his
sheath knife there"
They did it and the ships car
penter snapped off every point,
until the blade ends were square:
that was to stop stabbing.
Now, mister" the captain
sung out. Choose your watch,
and heaven help us all"
What a time Waterman had
Only six men could handle the
wheel and most of the rest were
diseased. At one time seventeen
of them were down with 1T and
four of 'em died and five landed
in San Francisco still in their
berths That was the crew Water
man took in the most extreme
clipper ever built around Cape
Horn. How he did il is still a
marvel to sailormen.
FOR the first week or so Water
man and his officers never
stepped on deck without their
pistols in their belts. Then they
decided TO try the men out.
off Rio one noon Waterman
was shooting the sun to get his
noon position when he heard a
yell from the main deck. He put
down his sextant and ran for
ward TO where Mr.. Douglas. the
mate. was backed against the
port bulwark defending himself
with his bare fists against four
of the crew who were hacking at
him like wolves with their knives.
Waterman saw red. Gosh, he
was mad. AS he ran he jerked
out big iron Delaying pin from
the rail and gripping 1t with both
hands brought it down on one
mans head with crash that