The Delta independent., 1886-11-23
LOADING A GREAT SHIP.
An Interesting Spectacle at a New
York wharf-Picturssque Sur.
roundings and Notable
TypeS,

JfS'
The process of loading one of these
ships is more interesting than in the
case of the steamer-all the surround
ings are more picturesque. The read
er who would witness the performance
for himself can be gratified by visit
to Congress street wharf where two
magnificent American ships are now
loading-the S. P. Hitchcock, 2,178
tons, and w. r. Grace, 1858 tons. A
petroleum broker gets word from firm
in Valparaiso, Chill, that it wants s, 900
gallons of best refined petroleum, but
can pay only 2S cents gallon, deliver
ed. He goes on Change and finds that
the best he can do is to get his oil from
a New York company at 16 cents. Al
ter talking with this ship agent and
that he chooses the most advantageous
terms he can find, which are cents a
gallon for freightage. Next he consults
an insurance broker and effects an in
surance upon his petroleum at a rate
which amounts to half cent per gal
lon. This leaves him profit of IL
cents gallon, or S75 for his mornings
work.
Meanwhile the order is being carried
out. The oil is in the company's works
at Hunters Point, making that delect-
able locality odously odorous. A light
er is sent for it and the five thousand
gallons put on board. This oil may be
packed in two different ways-in ordi-
nary barrels or in tin cans holding five
gallons each, two of which are boxed
in lease" of thin wood. This latter
method of packing is employed mainly
for the fancy brands. A word about
the lighters: They are broad, blunt
nosed, sloop-rigged boats, all deck ex-
cept little hole of cabin, and used
about the harbor for the transportation
of merchandise to and from vessels at
anchor, or from wharf to wharf. They
are thoroughly i'll looking, always in the
way, and only to be excused for exist
ing on the score of their great useful
ness: The lighters are on the rivers
what the carts are on the streets.
The oil safely aboard, the jolly cap
tain and his jolly crew of one set their
sail and bowl along at snail's pace
down the east river until they heave
alongside the Valparaiso ship. Then
the jolly captain sticks his pipe in his
hatband and the loading of the oil be-
gins. A huge double pulley. technical
ly known as block, is suspended be-
tween the mastheads just over the
hatchway, and through it is reeved a
rope long enough to reach to the deck
of the lighter on one side, and. through
second block attached to the planking,
10 stationary engine on the wharf on
the other side. On board the vessel
itself staging is arranged, level with
the top of the bulwarks and reaching
to the edge of the hatchw ay, and then
the men descend perilous and shaking
ladders and disappear in the echoing
blackness beneath the lowest deck. The
oil is now in charge of the stevedore-a
man who makes business of loading
and unloading vessels. hiring such
laborers as he needs from the crowds of
men hanging about the wharves wait
ing for such chance to earn a dollar,
and who are called 'longshoreman. All
being ready the men, on the lighter
pile up eight or ten boxes in a double
flor orp,,pl FL =
sling, and attach the iron hook at the
end of the tackle; the man on the dock
whistles shrill go aheadr' to the
engineer, whose drum rapidly winds up
the rope until the slingful of boxes
swings over the deck, when it is seized
by brawny arms and guided over the
hatchway. when. obedient to the signal.
LET go!" the engineer permits his
drum to fly back, and the burden drops
like shot to the tune of Stand from
under" There the tackle is quickly
unlocked, an empty sling sent up. and
then the boxes are rapidly slowed away.
their number having been recorded by
the shipping clerk in his memorandum
book. The object to be attained-the
absolute necessity-in slowing is to
prevent all jostling between articles of
the cargo. and the boxes of oil are
crowded in sidewise, any way to hold
them tightly together, every crevice
being filled with wooden wedges, SO
that there shall not be the least move
ment- By this time the men above have
filled another sling, the whistle sounds
again, the tackle creeks, the "yo-he-e-
We, oh-stand from un-n-n-derr' is
heard, and down comes another dozen
cases to help fill the belly of the iusati-
ate monster. When all the boxes are
in the hold, the officer in charge of the
ship fills out the form of a receipt call
ed bill OF lading." This is sent to
the Office of the owners of the oil, and,
ii found correct, several copies are
signed by the captain-one for himself,
kept by the ships owners, another for
the shipper, and third. at least, to be
sent to the consignees in Valparaiso as
guide to their part of the transaction.
for the freigh age is paid ordinarily up
on delivery of the consignment, rather
than in advance.