The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1888-04-05

out the year the arrival Of banana laden
steamers viii average four each week, or
say 200 per year. An average cargo: Is
90, 600 punches, and the punches will each
average 200 separate pieces OF fruit. But
here was the Amicitia, from Baracoa,
Cuba, and 200 sweltering. half mad italian
and "dag0" Cuban fruit buyers. An en-
tire cargo Is disposed Of as rapidly as It
comes out of the hold. In the old times
three to six days were, required 10 unload
little schooner. Now Q great steamer
will discharge a cargo Of bananas in ten
hours. The consignee has notified every
dealer in the city, and they arc nearly all
here, motley lot whose iabberinR, ours.
ing and perspirafion are something ter
rible indeed. They swarm over the
steamers deck and drive bargains -
though their very immortal souls de-
pended on the higglo haBsNnB over that
load, or that bunch, OF bananas.
Gangs of from eight 70 sixteen men are
required at each hatch, and these fellows
who woriin the hold IN tho most fearful
stencil ever Whitfield by basnaE nosez1e-
ccive % cents an hour. They are the
lowest species OF beings existing along the
docks. They possibly get two days work
a week. That Is enough. They live on
UdlfitHuS, SSvlAA duu StsELVstSc, oIlkO1 UJesxu.
ing house rum, and lie along the burning
pavcments OF South and West streets In
sodden, opcn-mouthed stupor, with less
manners and brains than swine. Relays
are formed from the hold, and the punches
tossed thence, one at time, loipg caught
on their way ont by each man with hands
fiat, palms upward and bowed forearins,
which act as sort Of pillowfng for tho
fruit. - ...,--:. -. 49, ....;
The rapidity rnd safety of tho. move
ment of EeEe bunehes arc marvellous.
At each hatch on deck are q tallymnn for
the vessel, aud u talIyman who is also o
''selecter" for the consignee. THO lattcF
grades the lunches as they come. flying
from the hold with incredible swiftness
and accuracy. A few feet below On the
docks are scores Of dealers wagons, and,
according to the grade, q constant stream
of punches flows into each. In these they
are carried to the ''sweat rooms" of the
wholesalers, where they are hung much
like curing tobacco, and kept at about 10
degrees Of heat night and day for from
three to i've days, when the punches,
which were originally nvid green, are
ripened and transformed to the tempting
yellow clusters which lure Us to tho stalls
of Lorenzo the Magniflceot's descendants
upon the streets.
The grades are simply ""drsts,' "see-
onds," "culls" and '.ripss." 'Tirsts"
are punches containing the most and
finest fruit. Seconds are oil other
prime condition, marked table punches.
"Culls" are the lowest grade fruit, and
'ripes" comprise the overripe and partly
decayed bananas. The ''culls" are piled on
deck in freckled, unsightly heaps, and
you will have to wade ankle deep in
''ripes" until they are sorted and corded,
two tiers lengthwise, in old orange boxes,
one-quarter of a cargo possibly being in
this condition. The price secured for
bananas by the vessel load is about 81. IL
per bunch, and the retailer gets them at
$1.40. AS the punches average 200 pieces
each, any one can estimate the profits In
the street banana trade.-Edgar L. Wake
man in Globe Democrat.