HOW ABLE-BODIED SEAMEN ARE SHIPPED IN AMERICA.

Evening Star, Issue 3282, 27 August 1873, Page 3

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 board-ing-houses, always on the alert to trap the unwary who find their way to that city, whether from the 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 Sailors* Home on Wednesday could scarcely be found, On the 28th of March last, Michael Cantey, of County Clare, Ireland, a laborer, proceeded to America as a steerage passenger on board the steamer France—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, he was accosted by a runner, who offered to find him work, and took him to a boarding house, 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; some 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 spent all his money, and was then placed by a runner on board the City of Lahore, in the capacity of an able-bodied seaman, 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 farthing in their pockets, 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. —Liverpool Mercury.