The Barrow Herald and Furness Advertiser. — 1873-05-24 (Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, England)

HOW ABLE-BODIED SEAMEN ARE SHIPPED IN AMERICA.  It is well known that the port of New York is infested with hundreds of river crimps and "runners" for boarding houses, always on the alert to trap the unwary who find their way to that city, whether from tho interior of America or from the eastern world. One of the chief occupations of these fellows is to ship men as sailors, for which they receive a handsome gratuity, often leaving their dupes without a penny. Two more flagrant cases than those which came under the notice of the manager of the S4ilors' Home, Liverpool, on Wednesday, could scarcely be found. On the 28th of March last, Michael Cantey, of county Clare, Ireland, a labourer, proceeded to America as a steerage passenger on board the steamer Fiance, a sister, who was living in Connecticut, having forwarded the money to pay his passage. On his arrival at Castle Garden, he wrote to his sister to inform her where he was, and whilst waiting for her reply lie was accosted by a runner, who offered to .find him work, and took him to a boarding how-, where he was detained for a week, and then against his will he was taken on board the ship City of Lahore, bound for Liverpool, acme one having signed articles in his name as an able-bodied seaman. In the other case, Edward Jordan, an American, employed as an engine firer on one of the American railways, left Pittsburg to see New York. He wandered about till he had spent all his money, and was then placed by a runner on board the City of Lahore, in the capacity of an able-bodied seamau, just as the ship put to sea. In this case the man had never seen a ship till he arrived in New York, and neither of the men had the slightest knowledge of navigation. In each of these cases the man who shipped them received 35 dols., and the poor fellows were landed in Liverpool without a Malting in their pocket,, not being entitled to any wages. They certainly did not exercise much judgment, or they would have protested against being carried to sea under such circumstances. Such cases as these demand the interference of the Government to prevent such a disgraceful system of kidnapping, and to stop the importation into the merchant service of men who know nothing whatever of navigation.  At Leeds, on Tuesday, George Larne and Anthony M'Donald, neither being more than sixteen years old, were committed for trial on the charge of highn.,y robbery with violence. The prisoner., who have been in a reformatory, attacked a woman with a hedgestake, and rendered her insensible, as she was on the highway near Leeds. Her condition is still very critical. When the poor woman was on the ground they stole her satchel containing money. John Greenwood, alias J. G. Taylor, was on Wednesday brought up at the Manchester police court.. and remanded for a week, charged with obtaining £2O from Messrs. Todd, Coston, and Co., by fa'se pretences. He obtained the money by inventing a story of the great distress caused by floods in East Lancashire.  James Stuart, miner, Dysart, and George Watson, miner, West Wemyss, left Wemyss harbour on Tuesday, for a pleasure sail, and in attempting to put into Dysart the boat was upset. Stuart managed to keep afloat until he was rescued by a fis/•ennan named Benjamin Allan, but Watson was drowned.  The executive committee of the Liberation Society have passed resolutions thanking Mr. Miall for his speech on Friday last, expressing regret that a majority of the House of Commons should have prevented the full discussion of his motion, and thereby deprived him of several votes, and determining to prepare for fresh and more energetic action to secure the triumph of their cause. An interesting incident occurred on the occasion of the recent visit of the Princess Louise to the Woodhouse Home for Young Girls. One of the inmates, when showing her work and writing, arrested the attention of the princess, who, after inquiring a the matron, engaged the young woman for the laundr; in her establishment. This is said to be the only instance in which any member of the Royal family has engaged a servant from a public institution.  Since the murder in Great Comm-street, London, the house in which the murder took place has been empty, and the utmost difficulty has been found in getting any one to become its tenant. The house is the property of some charity commissioners, and these have now given it on lease to Miss Rye, the lady who takes care of the gutter children. MSS Rye is to have it for two years rent free.