Wichita eagle., 1888-02-01
MIDNIGHT ON THE DOCKS.
SHADOWS COME AND VANISH LIKE
GHOSTS IN THE DARKNESS.

The Lonely Life of Dock Watchmen and
the Queer Ways of the Remarkable
Characters Who Frequent the Docks
After Dark.
A sharp nor'wester had driven the watch
men of the North river docks to their stoves
and shelter. while pale moon Illuminated
the desolate scene outside, deepening the
sornber shadows around. On the pier at the
foot of West Twenty-sixth street q reporter
approached the wharf buildings, and peered
in at window through which light was
shining In the room, seated in an arm
chair, uniformed, his cap on his head, Ian
tern close beside him, was the Waterman.
A sharp rap on the door startled him, and
instinctively he seized the lantern and came
out
AZ the reporter withdrew the Waterman
held his lantern high up in the air and peered
around at the mass of timber and rubbish,
then closed the door and returned to his
shelter.
At an adjoining wharf canal barge
swaved gently on the waves Attracted by
a cheerful light which shoue from its cabin
window, the reporter went toward it. The
room was tastefully furnished with the ordi-
nary comforts of a chamber. 1t was suite
Of apartments gathered together in a space
about nine feet square. A kettle boiled
cheerily on the small stove in one corner, a
mirror in gilt frame hung from the ceiling,
marine chronos decorated the walls, littls
white curtains adorned the windows, and a
canary fluttered about in cage hanging in
the center of the cabin.
The reporter tapped on the window, and a
thin, lanky boy who was whiting beside the
stove got up, thrust bis nose against the win
dow pane, then climbing the companion way
raised the hatch and appeared head and
shoulders above the cabin. A few inquiries
developed the fact that the barge was named
Mary Jane, and that she carried lumber up
the Erie canal
care you all alone on boards" He replied
with slow nod of the head.
care you the captains"
Nav, dads gone ashoor," he answered
slowly. Just then the head of woman APP
peared beside the boy ant. d whispered con-
ference ensued
Are you the captains wife, MADAME
asked the reporter
Il reckon So" replied the woman angrily,
"but what do you want to know for7 Suth-
ms wrong, | guess" and panied expression
passed over her face as she looked with long
ing eyes toward the lights and the city in the
distance. In spite of assurances, her anxiety
aroused by the questions asked became
greater.
'Now if suthin's wrong, why don't We tell
me-" she pleaded. II know suthin's the mat
ter. I'm sure on it! Why don't We tell mel'
What is wrong!" asked the reporter.
"Well, We see my husband went ashore this
mornin' speeding to return at noon, and he
amt back yeti
1t was usless to ask further questions; the
woman was inconsolable, and refused to an
swer any. The reporter withdrew, leaving
the two figures outlined against the sky-the
wife looking anxiously toward the city, the
boy watching the lights on the river, while
the cabin within was desolate.
On the Wilson line steamship docks little
man leaned lazily up against a post putting
huge c.Uuds of tobacco from a pipe and gaz-
ing solemnly at the boards.
"Pretty quiet around here?' said the re-
porter.
eyes. Somethin' like graveyard to-
night, replied the man in deep, sepulchral
NSiCC, LIS " q sum hAsu oh thc SlolLLlO
was watchin the rats scamperin' about there
HIM! They're havin' a high old time to-
night; none of the mems workin' We see, and
they're undistrrbed."
A stout, muscular man clothed in pea
jacket and sou'wester, sauntered slowly up
and down the dock, humming the ''Girl l left
behind me" in a gruff unmusical voice.
'Wuz that two bells, mate!" he inquired Of
the solemn individual.
''One bell" replied the Waterman.
Goodnight for suicides." suggested the
Eyes, on even a murder" continued the
watchmani \gloomily. There's been many
an accident and mush loss of life happened
around here night times"
''Do you generally attempt rescued"
'Of course we do. Who else would if ws
didn't? You see we're so used to it that we
understand all the sounds and noises around
here We can tell the difference between
dash of the wave and the splash of a suicide.
Why, could detect the slightest footStep in
any part of this dock. Do you hear thatln
A low, plaintive sound like the moan Of
some one in distress echoed near by. 'Nov,
that sounds like groan, but it amt it's the
wind There, hear that? That's the side Of
some ship scratchin' alongside the wharf.
Some time ago soloon keeper had trouble
with his wife He took duckin', and when
we fShad him out he thanked is, took car
and went home No one was the wiser 'cept.
ing ourselves. Pretty women-tramps, broken
down bankers lovers, buns, all kinds, drops
over the side here into the river at night, and
we generally fishes EN- OUT
Don't you report these cases to the
police"
1--WE amt obliged to, cause we amt officers
of the law Then we don't often see a police
man above Fourteenth street. It's too quiet
for EN-, guess"
Schooners and small craft were anchored
alongside the wharves, while lights shone
from the cabin windows and their columns
of smoke poured from the small chimneys on
the bargeS. Attracted by light which hung
from a short mast drifting about in the wind
the reporter walked TO the end of a wharf
and found a canal boat lying a few yards
from the and. A solitary man paced the
deck endeaNoring in every way to dodge the
cold wind. In reply to inquiries as to what
was on board the man shouted in answer:
''Nuthin. Tn light"
Going to start."
Eyes, in half an hour; waitin' for a steam
tug now"
Two rough looking men vera walking
along in the darkest portion OF the road and
talking in subdued voices, when suddenly
they lodged out OF sight. Presently they
emerged on the deserted deck of barge.
"Hi, there, what dye wantln shouted one,
seeing the reporter. Muffin, ehl Well,
take it and git, them at the same time fol-
lowing his mate he disappeared over the side
Of the barge, apparently into the river. \
moment later and a rowboat glided out Of
the slip with two men Il it They rowed
close to the docks and steerei toward
Harlan,