In the hardscrabble early days of Portland\'s seaport, shanghaiing" or "crimping" ran rampant.
Now historian Barney Blalock offers a lively and meticulously researched account of these colorful and corrupt men, revealing an authentic account of Oregon\'s malicious maritime legends.".
For nearly a century, the exploits of these notorious crimpers have existed mainly in lore.
By the 1890s, these shanghaiers had become powerful enough to influence the politics of Astoria and Portland, charging sea captains outrageous fees for unskilled laborers and shaping maritime trade around a merciless black market.
Shanghaiers like James Turk, Bunko Kelley and Billy Smith unashamedly forced men into service and stole the wages of their victims.
The proprietors of crooked saloons and sailors\' boardinghouses coerced unwitting patrons to work on commercial ships.
In the hardscrabble early days of Portland\'s seaport, shanghaiing" or "crimping" ran rampant
