The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-31
THE RIVER MAN.
Talks With Purveyor for Junk
Shop and Morgue.

O@AOP GIN As4OA
Among tke many occupations of those
who follow the water for living none
is more peculiar or more speculative
than that of Hugh Townsend, or
''Hughey,'' as he is Familiarity called by
his associates along the North River
front. Born in Chicago, he came to
this city some twenty-five years ago,
and having been a sailor on the lakes
d. for many years, naturally turned to the
water for support. He invested his
savings in Whitehall boat, having had
boatbuilder to construct it after his
own design, easy to row and affording
plenty of room, and in which he spent
most of his time rowing up and down
the Hudson, gathering in any article of
value that may have been dropped from
passing boats. Living on the water, lie
sees phase of life little dreamed of by
the residents of cities. His stories of
struggles, deaths, and brutal affrays
along the docks would fill book. Sui
cides he has seen and murders most
foul, but in all his experience no one
ever touched old "Hughey." As he ex-
presses it, his life is gamble" never
knowing in the morning where he will
be at night, but still going at his work
with light heart and general desire
that the day may be aprofitable one. In
foggy weather he is of great assistance
to the river craft, pointing out the
docks, telling the location of vessels at
anchor and warning the steamboat
pilot of his proximity to the shore. His
value in this way can be understood
and is appreciated.
The junk shop plays an important
part in ''Hughey's" business by Dur.
chasing the old rope, canvas, copper,
brass, scrap tin, ETC., that he collects.
ALMOST every one has noticed these
peculiar old shops along the river front,
their sign an anchor and their business
denoted by the quantity of old iron and
brass, anchor chains and rusty pots,
pans and kettles on the sidewalk, piled
up until they cover the windows, ieav-
sng only the door to admit the feeble
Sight and occasional customer to the
INNER recesses ofmystery. Every night
after ''Hughey" has fastened his boat
under some convenient dock he carries
mis- load of waste to the old iunkman,
and on being paid, his days work is
done. Then his pipe is taken out, and
lighting 1t he starts for home and wife,
stopping at every corner at the hail of
some friend to pass the time of day and
talk over the latest river sensation, to
which perhaps one or both had been a
witness. The captains of the river craft
all know ''Hughey," and many stray
coil of rope finds its way into his boat,
propelled to its destination by willing
and generous hands.
During the summer months "Hugh-
ey" reaps rich harvest from the ex-
cursion harges aud river steamboats,
that pass continuously up and down the
river. Hats and bonnets are blown
from the heads of pleasure-seekers and
tired travellers alike, and they all 90 to
enrich "Hughey's'' collection. To see
him pulling his boat up the river, keep
ing his eyes on the water and stopping
now and again to gather in his 'sfind."
one is forcibly reminded of Dickens
-'Rogue Riderhood," who. with his
daughter, spent his nights upon the
Thames picking up the bodies of the
unfortunate dead, and, after riiing
their pockets of everything thew con-
tanned sometimes taking the rings
from their fingers and earrings from
their ears), casting them back into the
cold and pitiless river.
For many years ''Hughey" carried on
an extensive business with the Coroner's
office, his luck of finding bodies being
the talk of the river. The remark that
''Hnghey has another '6oater,'" be-
came by-word, and when his boat was
seen coming into the dock people looked
beyond it for the ripple of the waves
that betokened drag at the stern and
foretold a ''Crownerss quest" He is
often engaged to drag the river around
the docks for the body of some missing
person, whose relatives, wild with anx-
1ety, stand on the pier and direct his
movements. This branch of his bust
ness he has found very lucrative.
A newspaper representative lately
Glanced upon ''Hughey" and accepted
an invitation to accompany him upon
one OF his expeditions up the river. In
answer to a question referring to the
number OF bodies found now as COM
pared to few years ago, he said:
can not account for it, but there
are newer 'hoaters' found now than
when first took to the river. 1 run
against one now and then, but former
~ was disappointed if did not find |
one or more every week. As for valu-
ables on the bodies, you don't get much |
nowacays. a man generally waits
until his money is all gone before CON-
uniting suicide. If he falls overheard |
and IS drowned, he is nearly always
full, and the land sharks leave
very little in the pockets of a
drunken man whose footsteps wander
around to the docks and the streets that |
lead to them. To be sure, have found |
money on corpse. but act very often. |