Connecticut western news., 1883-05-09
AWAY DOWN SOUTH.
UP THE MISSISSIPPI FROM MEMPHIS.
Steamboat Mate who didn't even Swear,
 and How We'll His Work wns Done.

 "The Dean Adams will leave for up river ports at o'clock D. m.'
 She is lying at the levee at Mem phis, and go aboard an hour ahead of time to see her finish her loading. Since early day she has been receiving and slowing away freight of every de- scrlptlon, and yet on the bank abreast aboard. A Mississippi River steamer is a great cavern into which hundred shippers may cast their bales and boxes and leave room for hundred more. The Adams is taking on machinery, tools, feed. dry goods, groceries, furni- trlre, hardware, crockery, clothing, notions, mules, horses, wagons, oil, meat, flour and what not Up to this hour the fourteen colored deck hands have worked steadily, but after their own fashion. Now look out The mate suddenly appears on the scene.
 I expected to see two or three triggers knocked stiffer'n bar iron before that mate was ready for solid business, and my surprise and disgust can be imagined when 1 heard him call out m cheery voice.
 
 we gol |"
 I hunted up the clerk and says, says I |:
 Haven't you got a mate on this boat?"
 We have"
 "Where is he ?"
 Stands there at the gang plank"
 "And he's mate who doesn't rip, 
 niggar, is he?"
 Sullivan and swear like trooper, but man. He can get more work out of @ | crew than any other mate on the big river. Sit down and watch him.
 How cool and easy he was! Four teen darlies, each one on a dog trot, were bringing aboard bales, boxes and bundles of every description, and as word or a nod directed him where his carry was to be slowed. | "Those chairs on the hurricane deck that bacon over here--four down there-mule on the other side-plows let's be lively, lads, for times flying :" ! 8 threat. I wondered if that muddy stream really WAS the old Mississippi, and if that man really could be mate. Alas it was too true Times change men change-but I supposed that a steamboat mate on Western river had some life in him.
 can hardly diminish the size of the ! f1aI Iohf over the cobble stones with boxes of soap and candles and bags of groceries - wagons rush down with tables, chairs anu bedsteads -- hacks bring passengers porters bring trunks-men drive down cattle and horses and mules.
 The clerk catches everything on the point of his pencil before it goes up the gang -plank-the mate maneuvers his forces with the skill of an old soldier The boat must take everything, gang. ways must be kept clear, goods for the various landings assorted, and not foot of room can be lost. Great side pieces of pork and bacon chink in here anC there; boxes are wedged in among barrels :; mules are surrounded witt woodenware; COWS and oxen are backed into pens made of machinery, and there is never mistake or a misfit.
 The bell clangs loudly as signal thai time is almost up, and now the mate speaks quicker, the men move faster and there is 8 growing of steam from the engine-room. Carts are still coming scores of negroes are streaming aboard and yet the great cavern can take more freight The docile, patient COW has scarcely set eyes on her first steamboat before three or four hands whisk hel along so fast that she is aboard before she can wink twice. The mule is mal1 ing up his mind to die in the last ditch when hands are laid upon his halter ano his ears, a third roustabout gives his tai persuading twist, and old obstinacy is made fast to the rail on the port side and left to wonder at mans dominion over brute creation.
 The second bell clangs out. In ter minutes we are off. want to bet 8 plug can't get away in thirty. There is al enormous pile of freight on the levee, and I can't see where they can stow an. other box aboard.
 "Come, lads, up with you, hearties r calls the mate, and now comes the climax. It is jump--dodge-twist--skif ny. NOb uOOp IS DIOk6u lIOE Il DOA br1rsted. Just now, where the mule haC space to hang back, as if about to sit down, rests half g ton of sacks. The space in the gangway is narrowed 8 little more, the oxen driven little closer, anG To ! I turn to look upon the levee anG the great pile of freight has vanished I have seen fifty tons of freight brought aboard without an oath or collision o1 cents worth of damage and now comes the last warning. Lines are cast off at nod, the gang-plank rises and is swung in board, and the Dean Adams steams away up the mighty river, which is now booming with great flood.
 "All hands p sings the mate, and the fourteen blacks gather around him on the bow.
 "Divide un?'
 Seven step to the right and seven to the left.
 "That's all, my lads-all here and all right P | And as the twilight gathers around us and the lights of the city twinkle afar off. the larboard watch raise the song:
 "I went courtin' 'toder. night, Golly golly goly! I went courtin' 'toder night Went to see my Pollyr p And the starboard watch takes up the | chorus:
 O-o-o-oh how Tub dat yaler gal, An how she lubs her Moses An how Tze gwine to say to her, She's sweettr dan de roses. M OuAD