The Strike for a Messboy
When the crew of the whaleback steamer 'Wetmore' demanded a messboy to clean their quarters, the captain faced a labor standoff that revealed the grim realities of maritime life in the 1890s.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The firemen and coal passers on the whaleback Wetmore struck last night, on the ground that the captain refused to give them a messboy to keep the forecastle clean and carry them their meals. Captain Hastings finally decided to concede the demand, so it is probable the men will return to work this morning. The firemen and coal passers claimed the forecastle was filthy and that sailors and firemen were in constant conflict over the maintenance of the shared space. Captain Hastings, while initially indignant and threatening to lay the vessel up, eventually consulted his chief engineer and decided to grant the request to avoid further trouble. The dispute also involved a tense standoff between a tall sailor and a fireman over the size of their bunks, which nearly resulted in a physical brawl. Captain Hastings expressed frustration with the union's interference but acknowledged that he wanted to treat his men with respect. The Wetmore is expected to finish loading and head to sea today.
“It is customary for seamen the world over to keep the forecastle clean themselves... but the result is that it is the most filthy hole I ever saw aboard a ship.”
This 1892 labor dispute over workplace hygiene and basic dignity on a steamer echoes today’s ongoing battles for essential worker protections and the right to a clean, safe, and respectful work environment in the Pacific Northwest's maritime and gig economies.
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