The Dollop with Dave Anthony and Gareth Reynolds 91 - The Shanghai Kelly's
Jun 25, 2015
Explore the brutal practice of Shanghai kidnapping and the decline of the American merchant marine in the 19th century. Learn about the exploitative practices faced by sailors, including schemes like 'runners' and the criminal operation known as Plant C. Discover the tactics of Shanghai Kelly, a notorious figure in San Francisco, who would drug sailors and sell them to ship captains. Dive into the shocking government complicity in the abusive practice of kidnapping sailors in late 1800s Shanghai.
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Shanghai Kidnapping Explained
- Shanghai was the term for kidnapping sailors to crew ships during the late 19th century gold rush era.
- It was a widespread, brutal practice fueled by labor shortages and harsh ship conditions.
The Crimping Scheme
- Sailors were lured from docked ships into boarding houses with alcohol and drugs, then kidnapped to work on ships.
- Legal loopholes and harsh penalties kept sailors captive, making crimping a lucrative but abusive trade.
Abuse in Crimping Trade
- Sailors were often drugged, beaten, stripped naked, then thrown unconscious onto ships to crew them.
- They were indebted to crimps for advance pay and forced into virtual slavery until voyages ended.