The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-23

Waiting for Work and Fighting for Thea
First Chance.

The Mirror for September
In sunshine or shower, in fog or fair weather,
the approaches to the docks and wharves of tha
metropolis are every morning thronced by
crowds of eager anxious men, struggling, nay
In many cases fighting like wild beasts, to obtain
work within the gates As the hour draws neafs
for the ringing of the great bell announcing tha
commencement of work, crowd of often a
couple OF thousand men press around the primer
pal entrance of the London Docks, and as the
big gates swing slowly open, the mighty mass cf
humanity rushes forward like an overwhelming
flood to the chain barrier where the superinten-
dent gives out the metal tokens emitting th@
holder to work within. Of course he shows
preference to those previously employed, hUt
there is always the chance of obtaining tickea,
and the men striye to clutch one of the precious
talismans with intense and passionate eagerness.
They push and jostle and struggle.
leaping each others shoulders, and fighting
and wrestling in the mad rush like famished
animals rather than human beings. The m0sE
desperate determination is written on every
face. and there is small thought in the mind OF
any man of that surging crowd for any one bat
himself For work means food-poor and
scanty, no doubt, but still something to keep
the terrible wolf from the door. Failure means
semi starvation or worse.
But Of the crowds who struggle and fight st
the gates, frequently not more than onet third
are selected and the remainder. bearing their
sad fate with as much philosophical fortitude 40
they can muster-perhaps it is stony despair
rather-turn disconsolately away, some to seek
work at other places which open later, and
others to wait for calls" which may occur at
any time during the day. Thus a visitor stroll
ing through the fine docks, and admiring ths
shipping and immense quantities of merchandise
piled on every hand, is suddenly arrested by the
strange sight of sea of white, anxious faces
pressing wistfully against the bars OF SIDE
entrance. Yes men are still waiting there ZOE
any call of laborers that may come during ina
day. And presently, as you wait the supersa-
tendent appears, and cries:
lone man wanted"
Instantly all the watchers spring up like Gagged
animals when food is brought them, yelling.
shouting and extending their hands. They leap
on each Others backs, and Chamber up to the top
most rail, and all this feversh excitement is Ton
obtain one little meal ticket-perhaps for oue
hours work-entitling the owner to fivepence on
sixpence at most!
One out of the large number receives tina
ticket, apparently by chance rather than by ANY,
other manner of selection. and then the noise
subsidies, and the men wait on, patient doggod.
hungry eyed, as before.
At another time call will come for two men,
and the same scene will occur again, and SO ON
throughout the day. But of the great numbers
who crowd the gates in their desperate struggle
to obtain employment only very few compar-
atively can ever be engaged. One in every
three or four appears to be the average number
who obtain work