The Bossier banner., 1886-01-28
THE RIVER MAN.
Talks With a Purveyor for Junk
Shop and Morgue.

Among the 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 familiarly 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 sailor on the lakes
for many years, naturally turned to the
water for support. He invested his
savings in Whitehall boat, having had
"a 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, he
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 a 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 pur-
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
senoted 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, leav-
ing only the door to admit the feeble
light and occasional customer to the
inner recesses of mystery. Every night
after ''Hughey'' has fastened his boat
under some convenient dock he carries
his load of waste to the old iunkman,
and on being paid. his days work is
done. Then his pipe is taken out, and
lghting it 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. Z
Turing the summer months Hugh
~ reaps a rich, harvest from the ex-
eafslon barges aud river steamboats,
maj pass continuously up and down the
tlVer. Hats and bonnets are blown
nom the heads of pleasure-seekers and
.ired travellers alike, and they all go to
snneh ''Hughey's'' collection. TO see
nun pulling his boat up the river, keep
ing his eyes on the water and stopping
ao now ana again to gather in his ''find, .
ane ..p Is forcibly reminded of Dickens
,hogue Ritlerhood,n who, with his
naghter, spent his nights upon the
,ss es picking up the bodies of the
aaaiorsunate dead, and, after rifline
sr pockets of everything they con-
ts sslaed sometimes taking the rings
.'as au.n their fingers and earrings from
srsl asiI ears), casting them back into the
cold and pitiless river. W
II sor many years .Hughey'' carried on
a@s "a extensive business with the Coroner
NJ noe' En- ms luck of finding bodies being
IN ~ lnK OF the river The remark thai
ean eugney has another 'floater,''' be.
saaa a.e py-word, and when his boat was
bevaeo n coming into the dock people looked
~ ha he.ll ], Tor the ripple of the waves
foratS SSssokened drag at the stern and
ef,ss flu ~ 'Crowner's quest He is
ths A. Engaged to drag the river around
ucrsan aUoks ior the body of some missino
iers 'n' whose relatives, wild with anx:
H.