The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1883-11-17
OUR FOREIGN NAILS.
How They Are Handled In New York

A New York newspaper man recently
sauntered down the wharf Of the Cunard
Line. The big steamer had been report
ed early on the pvevious evening, and her
mail had been distributed throughout
the city. The reporter expected to find
the ship snugly docked and the passen-
gers disembarling at the hour Of 10 A. NJ,
but such was not the case. At the end Of
the wharf was living ubiquitous steam
boat met at steamboat arrivals, depar
lures, regattas, excursions, fires, wrecks,
etc. In the pilot-house that he had filled
for nearly fourteen years sat Capt. j. q.
EmmOns, and him the reporter accosted
Where is the steamer!"
Outside the bar"
why is she not In?
The tide was too low when she ar
rived there. and when il rose the fog shut
her out"
But her mail is up!'
oh. yes; We brought il from near the
lighthouse and landed il here at 8 o'clock
last evening"
And then the captain explained that
the European mail was brought 10 town
and placed in the hsnds of readers while
vet the steamer that brought il was far
out at sea.
"When steamer is due" said the cap
tain, I'VE are ordered to be at the wharf
of the company, TO which the telegraph
report from Fire Island or Sandy Hook Is
immediately sent. Ne must have steam
up and the crew on board when lying for
a steamer at night, rs the competition Is
so great between the fast mail lines that
they will brook no delay. Soyou see that
/ am virtually . prisoner here much Of my
time.
.'We start immediately, no matter what
the Weather-ice, snow. gales. fOg-Se
must at least make an attempt. But We
seldom fail TO get the mail up ahead OF
the steamer If the telegraph gives us
prompt notice of arrival. They do not
always do this. however.
Our first stop is at the barge Office.
where We take on board an officer of
customs 20 see that nothing but mail is
taken from the ship. Then We make all
haste toward the ship, meeting her at
quarantine or beyond the bar, as the
case may be. If a gale Is blowing We
take the windward shore for smooth
water. If the ice Is running We try to
avoid it: If We cannot get around Il We
crash through II. | was once about two
hours getting from the battery 10 the
Cunard dock with the mail on board. If
il is foggy we proceed at half speed by
compass, sounding the whistle frequent
ly. listening for bells, horns and whis-
ties, occasionally using the lead. / had
queer experience once in the fog. tow
ed a vessel 10 sea safely and left her on
the lightship.
I'VE then groped our way back to the
hook. and steered for steamer S anchor
bell in the lower bay. Ii proved 10 be
the PdTthid. for which We were to vait
that night. The officers thought We
came down TO look for them and COIL
graduated US upon our skill IN fog.
We put the mail on board. and found
our way TO the .ity before the fog lifted.
But sometimes We go 10 quarantine or
sea on q false report. Occasionally We
find the steamer aground or disabled
when we reach her. and so are able TO
render immediate assistance. Yes. We
frequently take the mail outside in a
heavy sea. / never lost a bag of mail
matter.
after the mail is all on board and
safely slowed away out Of the wet, We
take an officer of the steamer on board
and make all haste for the city. The
mails are taken ashore and loaded in
huge trucks and ratified away to the
post office. We have had as many as 800
now is 800 or 400 bags When I first went
into the mail business in the George
Brlo6eLs, twenty years ago, there WAS not
SO large a number. Then the
steamer would anchor IN the stream, fire
a gun. and we would go for her. We
would take the dozen bags or more 10 the
old barge Office, throw them into an ex-
press wagon, and, If no horses were ready,
run them to the post Office ourselves.
The Australian and New Zealand mails
usually double the quantity OF bags.
Sometimes We take these mails out to a
steamer bound for Europe.
The tide occasionally prevents mail
steamers awaiting the arrival Of the
overland train from San Francisco. The
post Office officials are anxious 10 make
the connection and the fast time. 50 II Is
arranged with the CAPTAIN that ne will
wait outside the bar for the mail boat.
/ remember putting the mail on board
the Germania of the Sandy Hook light
ship once in a northeaster that was blow
ing great guns and the sea rolling even
with the steamships deck. We accom-
plished it safely, With only the parting of
some ropes. Capt. Kennedy put the ship
head TO sea and moved ahead slowly, and
the mails were piled into rope cheese
slinGs SIX at time, and whipped up
from the fore yardarm. Sometimes the
steamer will start for the city as soon as
we do. but we can cut across lots where
she cannot float. and SO We beat her up
Yes, these modern 'race-horses can beat
us or any other boat in the harbor. We
must watch for every advantage to get uI
ahead Of them. and We generally sue
ceed.'