New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-23
MEETING An INCOMING STEAMER
EARLY MORNING SCENES ON A PIER.


HOW PEOPLE coMg TO GREET PASSENGERS AND
HOW PASSENGERS ACT WHEN THEY ARRIVE.
Next to going do wn the Ray in a tug one OF these
carly winter mornings and cruising about TO ca'cn
an incoming steamer. there Is nothing. perhaps
more cherries and uncertain than to wait along
the North River piers for that same steamer "
arrive IN dock To the unhappy relative VINO HAS
promised TO be on hand to welcome his aunt OF
cousins. the fond father. brother or husband VINO
hopes to help circumveut the customs ofhcers' 'no
busy newspaper reporter who must meet w.
three or O half dozen distinguished rersonases-"
all. in fact except optlmists and lovers-rt 10 -
weary, irritating ordeal from beginning TO emu
One hears for instance, that the Champagne OF the
Aursnia is due some Sunday morning at ociocA'
and on Saturday night ones miseres set IN. Inc
alarm clock Is set for halt-past and goes on AZ
that dismal hour with what seems TO DO douoiy
unnecessary and provoking uproar. One mas 10
dress by gasight give his forehead few extra dao'
with the sponge to keep awake and start breakfast
less WI town aud thence across the chilly anu
deserted side streets to the wnd-nwept pier lhere
is no ship there OF course and IL the Waterman III
charge is found he gill probably say that she mas
Just been sighted off Fire Island or-stiIl "or'o
luck-has Just left Quarantine. In the first case
one can 20 home again to bed and breakfast ana
trust that the steamer will not get in TIL nier@
In the other the shp may turn up at any momen'
and there is nothing to do but wait, The hotels
and beer-shops along West-st. are open, after inc
regular Sunday fashion. They are scarcely
inviting however, even to a breakfastloss man, IL
is too far to a Broadway or Fourteenth-st
restaurant aud one keeps putting of getting any
thing to eat until it Impossible even 10 drop
in at the Sailors Rest or any other OF the cheap
taverns near by. The only comfortable place al
hand is the sheltered forepart of the pier. where
one walk about and stamp and keep the colo
out at least If he cannot soOthe a sort OF gnawing
hunger within or temper a disguised frame OF mind.
A little group of people now gather slowly on the
pier the fathers brothers, cousins and protectors
generally of tho voyaCers down the harbor Mose
Of them are buoyant enough at first, but their
spirits are rudeIy shaken by the watchmans
apparert contempt for schedule time and his blunt
indifference as to whether the steamer is ever going
to arrive or not In half hour each face is GUM
with Indignation and despair Nobody about the
pier seems in hurry to do anything. though few
longshoremen appear and disappear lazily now and
then.
BY and by squads of customs officers como in
All have blue coats under their heavy overcoats
some we II go!d-laced caps and others only Derby
hat. with brass OF plated badges fastened TO the
crowns in front All of them have the air OF having
breakfasted leisurely aud make one think by their
deliberauon that IN their case. at least time and
tide have accustomed themselves to wait. The
little box OF an office half way down the pier is
opened, and some orders gwen out as TO picket
ing the aud loo phOies of escape when the
steamers passengers are discouraged The chlet
inspector tn a white gold-laced cap APPEARS. too
and behind him are a couple OF newspaper men who
nave slept late. one can tell by the noise the
cabmen outside are making. quarrelliDg for places
aud disputing over mag nary fares, that the
steamer will be soon. Several more expectant
friends and relatives rush in flushed and breathless
and the tired AMI hungry early comers. swearing at
their own stupidity IN turning ont so early, look
forward now tn a speedy delIveraDce. The gang
planks are got IN readiness by tn" wharf hands anu
the sliding doors OF the pier pushed wide open. III
IS getting light far down the river. Ths sun has
been up two three hours AMI tho last traces of
fog AMI mist have lifted from he water
At last the big hull of the steamer and her
painted smOke-stacks come in sight IL Is easy 10
that her upper decks are crowded with pas
sengers, the men with heavy OvercOats and double
brimmed sea caps on. and the women wrapped In
shawls ana cOaks. There Us a little waving Of
bandkerchiefs OF course. and Tutoring OF scarfs
and wraps from one end OF the vessel TO the other
As the voyagers come nearer tho waving becomes
vigorous and there In some attempt at singing
cut friends side. The steamer almOs.
drifts up alongside the pier, foot by foot. and the
e es r mpaence and %eariness s refSins s
passengers had ranged themselves along the leTt
side OF the ship as she turned unto dock ana are
10 good haillng distance all the way IN. De
three gangway doors are crowded successfully by
the contingent on the pier as the big vessel creeps
BY. Then the tedious mooring begins. with It's
are hoisied with clatter of puleys and cOgwheels
rhe bridges hang in air moment, then settle down
SLOWLY aud all is ready for the 'ong-expected disem-
baIkdtiOn.
II is pretty sight, of course. but not brave
affecting the sailing out OF port. The dangers Of
the voyage are a mere common p ace now
forcets them entirely in the presence OF bright
faces and cheerful salutatIons. CONGRATULATIONS
are sitter than farewels, and the most affecting
mretlngs are likely TO prove conventional on
crowded per of a chilly morning. Still it is
live picture, the gangDlanks are lowered and
the two streams of excited beopIe meet hallway
time TO get their luggage in readiness for the
inspectors and to dress themselves for driving i'm
mediatey to their hotels. few. however, linger in
the saloons meet their friends and others cannot
be torn away from the trunks and valises that begin
to pile up in huge proportions on the side OF the
pier 49,
and shake the dust of the chief customs inspectors
office from their feet They take their che ks and
pass readily through the Gordon OF watchers TO the
cabs outside No one who is ludlcOus In handing
over his k"ys need suffer from the enleut officers.
few travs are lifted the packages below rum
mayed for second, the closed lids tapped peeped
under and the inspection is over. But woe TO the
fussv and nervous, though honest, travellers. who
fall into the hands of tie blue-coats on the pier
Their private and treasured possessions are scattered
about. every box or trunk lid IS pred open, every
Notwithstanding parcel undone. while the I'M
fortunate owners hustle and demonstrate and by
their unhappy show OF worry make confusion
worse cOnfounded with their things. Unmarried
women most unIucky in this regard and with
their horror of disordered packings make them
Sc yes in the end. in the of tue officials.
snupglers of the deepest guile. lt is no unusual
thing in fact, to SEE half dozen trunks completely
spilled ont on the floor. the white caps the blue
caps hidden in their depths, while an elderly lady
stands by, picture OF anguish. which her coodol-
ing friends only make more poignant and
contemptuOus
In ali this Dustle and confusion the crowds on
,he pier gradually melt away. The little knots on
the decks of the steamer zone. too The officers
are half hidden amid their piles of spoils and oily
a small group of emigrants is left in the foreground.
looking strangely and awkwardy about at things
as they find them for the first time in New-York.
Their baggage TOO wooden chests and boxes chiefly,
is dumped down the pier. but they cannot pass
the police ont into the streets like the Others.
They liuger ahnut in stnpid sort of wonder till
the cCmnanY's ting or steambOat comes to take them