Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-10-14
LOADING A GREAT SHIP.
An Interesting Spectacle at a New York Wharf
Picturesque Surroundings and Notable
placnS

The process of loading one of these
sbips is more interesting than in the case
of the steamer and the surroundings are
moro picturesque. The reader who would
witness the performance for himself can
he pratifed by visit to Congress street
wharf, where two magnificent American
ships are now loading the S. p. Hitch
cock. 2178 tons, and the W. r. Grace
1S63 tons. A petroleum broker gets
word from firm in Valparaiso, Chill,
that 1t wants 5000 gallons of best refined
petroleum. but can pay only % cents a
galloA delivered. He goes on change
and finds that the best he can do is to get
his oil from New York company at 16
cents. After talking with this ship agent
and that he chooses the most advanta-
oeous terms he can fiud which are cents
gallon for freightage. Next he consults
an insurance broker and effects an insur-
ance upon his petroleum at rate which
amounts to half a cent per gallon.
This leaves him profit of = cents a
gallon, or $75 for his morning work.
Meanwhile the order is being carried
out. The oil is in the company's works
at Hinier's Point, making that delectable
locality odiously odorous. A lighte- a
sent for it and 5000 gallons put on Loard
The oil may be packed in two different
ways-in ordinary barrels or in tin cans
holding five gallons each, two of which
are boxed in ease of thin wood. This
latter method of packing is employed
mainly for fancy brands A word about
the lighters: They are broad, blunt
nosed sloop-rigged boats, all deck except
little hole of a cabin, and used about
the harbor for tho transportation of
merchandise to and from vessels at an
Choir or from wharf to wharf. They
are thoroughly i'll looking, always in the
way, and only to be excused for existing
on the score of their great usefulness.
The lighters are on the rivers what the
carts are on the streets.
The oil safely aboard, the Jolly captain
and his Jolly crew of one, set their sail
md bowl along at n 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 begins. A huge double
pulley, technically known as a block, is
suspended between the mastheads inst
over the hatchwBy, and through it is
reeyed a rope long enough to reach to
the deck of the lighter on one side, and
through a second block attached to the
panking, to a stationary on the wharf on
the other side. On board the vessel
itself a staging is arranged, level with the
top of the bulwarks and reaching to the
edge of the hstchway, and then the mer
descend rerilous and shaking ladders and
disappear in the echoing blackness be-
meath the lowest deck. The oil is now
in charge of the stevedore-a
man who makes a business of loading
and unloading vessels, hiring such
laborers as he need from the crowds of
men hanging about the wharves waiting
for such chance to earn a dollar, and who
are called long -shoreman. All being
ready the men on the lighter pile up eight
or ten boxes in a double tier, pass around
them fold of rope called sling and at
tach the iron hook at the end of the
tackle; the man on the dock whistles a
shrill go ahead!' 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!n the engineer per-
mits 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 stow
ed away, their number having been re-
corded by the shipping clerk in his mem
orandam book. The bject to be attain
ed-the absolute necessity-in slowing is
to prevent all iostling between ar
ticles of the cargo and the boxes of oil
are crowded in sidewise any way to hold
them tightly together, every crevice being
filed with wooden wedges so that there
shall not be the least movement. By this
time the men above have filled another
sling, the whistle sounds again, the tackle
creaks, the "yo-he-e-eye, oh--stand from
uu-n-n- der!' is heard, and down comes an
other dozen cases to help ill the belly of
the insatiate monster. When all the
boxes are in the hold, the officer in charge
of the ship fills out the form of a receipt
called bill of lading." This is sent to
the Office Of the owners of the oil, and, if
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 con
signees in Valparaiso as guide to their
part of the transaction, for the freightage
is paid ordinarily upon the delivery of
the consignment rather than in advance.
The process above described is sub
stantially that used in loading whatever
be the merchandise shipped. The main
features staging across the decks, broad
gang planks hung over the ships side to
prevent marring her paint, complicate d
block-tackle and steam-engine to wind
il or horse power TO walk away with it
men to manage the great weight swung
about so easily by the tackle these are
always present and only the details vary.
If barrels of the cylindrical iron cases
which caustic soda and other chemi-
Gals are packed are to be lifted there are
attached TO the end of the hosting rope
two iron arms with curved ends like half
closed fingers, which clutch the chains
but often three or four barrels or a
heavy hogshead of tobacco or sugar are
put Ia a sling, Bales of cotton, rags
late, mating, etc, are clutched on OPP
posite sides by grabbing hooks similar
20 those used in handling
ice, which dig into their soft
..des; but this will not do for bales OF
cloth, upon which You see printed the
warming; Use no hooks" Iron Trails
ar4 sur,r,I4 frst IN fha mid