Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Half-Deck

..."here the brassbounders" (apprentice officers lived...

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017

1. The Half-Deck Marker

Caption: (upper right) The four brass bounders of the ship Celtic Chief stand in the back row temporarily togged out in their "brassbound" shore clothes instead of dirty dungarees. In the front row are seated the captain of the Celtic Chief, the chief mate, and a couple of visiting shipmasters.

Inscription. Life in the half deck was, perhaps, the bravest start in this mortal life ever made by human beings. The stripling of 15 or 16 years of age had to pass through the fire, had to face the elements of wind and sea in their fury had to do a man's work and in port, had to resist temptations which wrecked grown men. Yet this baptism of fire made many a strong man out of a weak boy.
Not even medical students were more full of pure devilry than brassbounds... Sidney, Melbourne, Frisco, Callao - all the big sailing ports in fact, have wondrous records of the doings of sailing apprentices stored away in their police archives.
But... the palm must be given to the hard bargains of the four-poster "Springburn" for in 1896 these dare-devils earned undying fame in San Francisco by kidnapping the notorious Shanghai Brown and sending him on a winter passage around the Horn. -- Basil Lubbock in "Last of the Windjammers"," Messrs. Brown Son & Ferguson Ltd. Publishers.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 37° 48.581′ N, 122° 25.345′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in Fisherman's Wharf. Marker can be reached from Hyde Street near

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Jefferson Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2950 Hyde Street, San Francisco CA 94109, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Deckhouse (here, next to this marker); The Forecastle... (a few steps from this marker); Balclutha (a few steps from this marker); The Cathead... (a few steps from this marker); Towing in the Open Ocean (a few steps from this marker); Workin' on the Railroad (a few steps from this marker); Steam Tug Hercules (a few steps from this marker); Ship Balclutha (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

More about this marker. This marker is located at the starboard side of the deckhouse.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017

2. The Half-Deck Marker

The Deckhouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, March 4, 2017

3. The Deckhouse

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 229 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 11, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.