Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-05-04
THE Doono THE pECKHAND.

The Phiisdelphia american OF Saturday
last has an article upon "Western River
Sailors" by which it means the roustabouls
upon our river steamboats,. The writer ex-
plains that United S ates law puts these
deckhands in the same category as the men
in the forecaslle Oh the high seas. Like the
sailor before the mas, they are entitled TO
written contract, or to written articles specify
ing the time Of service or the voyage; in dis
putes the United States Admiralty Courts try
their cases, in sickness the United States hos
pitfalls provide them refuge and medical care.
In early days young, stout Americans used 10
perform duty as deckhasds,. with chance OF
promotion to the highest station on
the boat. Then, says the American, came
the German, VINO in time snrren-
dered to the Irish, and since the war,
except on the upper Mississippi, the
negro inherits the position after them all.
Dr.. WYman, e. surgeon at one OF the marine
hospitals, has made an especial report upon
'The Hygiene of Steamboats, upon Western
Rivers" DR.. Wyman reports the condition
compassion, as men received at the hospitals
"wbose breath, shortened By pneumonia, ex-
tremities nipped BY frast and joints swollen
by rheumatism, whose weakened limb, scarce
able to perform their functions, and whose
faces, distorted with pain, give simple evil
dence of the exposures 10 which they had
been subjscled on the river" They are COM
PEELED to live on an opeU, wind swept deck
without bench or bunk to sleep on; without
table, knife or fox at meals, oftsn put out Of
the nook they have crawled into
to make way for cattle or pigs, and
Shc, on cold winter nights, crawl
under the boilers for warmth. They are
usually FED from I.rgs pau from which
each takes ais pJrioa. T ON Piltsburg to
New O.itsus the ranges Il temperature are
great, the VIA i' y,er -aarply, and come
keenly, oV-r t4s uaDroken level of the
prairies and through the gorges of the
streams. The 'd.ckhand is exposed TO all.
At low water there is severe labor sparring
over the sandbsrs, in high water the men
have to plunge in waist deep 10 make fast
the line, in light or darkness, rain, sun or
snow. Perspiring at every pore after the
fatigue at the lsnding, they are exposed on
deck, unprotected, to the blast, acute disease
follows and physical exhaustion winds up
the sufferer in lifsof helplessness and pain.
The doctor then details the losses and cruel
ty the men lhifsr from deceptions and cruel
matee, the men at opportunity retorting
by jumps and desertions, and detail,
some shocking instances Of brutality and
murder, and Of men being left unfeelingly
and unassisted to drown. He states, how.
ever, that where the men have learned OF
the legal safeguards to hich they can have
recourse, they have secured more attention
TO their needs. He Gays that the attention
OF government should be given TO tbs
wrongs thess men too often endure, and ID
calls upon the public to befriend them, who
have care and kindness from none. HI
claims that they have the right 10 aplac'
to sat in with comfort, and to sleep at nigh
without inhuman and quite unnecessary ex
posture. But there is little hope Of his beinl
heard. Tewksburys OF one sort or arothe
have again and again been exposed in jailf
hospitals and charitable insiitutions-bu
these are at home, aud our eyes are set OF
Borrioboola Cha. The Greeks are at GU
doors, but there is more poetry and fame ii
sympathizing with griefs that are far away