Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-02-20
MIDNIGHT ON The DOCKS.
SHADOWS COME AMI VANISH LIKE
GHOSTS IN THE DARKNESS.

A sharp nor'wester ha driven the watch
men of the North river docks To their stoves
and shelter, while pale moon illuminated
the desolatc scene outside, deepening the
sombcr shadows around On the pier at the
foot Of West Twenty-sxth street reporter
approached the wharf buildings, and peered
in at "A 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
As 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 a canal barge
swayed gently on the waves. Attracted by
cheerful light which shone from its cabin
window, the reporter went toward IL. Tho
room was tastefully furnished with the ordl-
nary comforts OF n chamber. 1t was II suite
of apartments gathered together in a space
about nine feet square A kettle boiled
cheerily on the small stove in one corner, u
mirror in gilt frame hung from the ceiling,
marine chromos decorated the walls, little
white curtains adorned the windows and n
canary iluttered about in "A 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 his 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.
"Are you all alone on board" He replied
with slow nod of the head
"Are you the captain"
Nav, dads gone ashOor," he answered
slowly. Just then the head of woman APP
peared beside the boy and II whispered CON
ference ensued.
"Are you the captains wife, MADAME
asked the reporter
Il reckon so, v replied the woman angrily,
"but what do you want to know for2. 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
met' she pleaded. ~ know suthins the mat
ter, I'm sure on it Why don't ye tell mer'
What is wrongF asked the reporter
"Well, ye see my husband went ashore this
mornin' 'specting to return at noon and he
amt back yet"
1t was usless TO ask further questions; the
woman was inconsolablo, and refused to an
swer any. The reporter withdrew, leaving
the two figures outlined against the sky-the
wife looking anxiously toward the city tho
boy watching the lights on the river, while
the cabin within was desolate
On the Wilson line steamship docks little
lpaDaI lnZilV n "a "a n1fIiuU
hugo clouds Of tobacco from pipe and gaz-
ing soennly at the boards
Pretty quiet around here!" said the re-
porter.
Eyes. Somethin' like a graveyard to-
night" replied the man in a deep, sepulchral
voice, his eyes still fixed on the ground. II
was watchin' the rats scamperin' about there
Hml They're havin' a high old time to-
night; none of the mems worlin' ye see, and
they're undistmrbed."
A stout, muscular man clothed in pea
jacket and sou'westeT, sauntered slOwl0up
and down the dock, humming the Girl l left
behind me" i'll grutf, unmuscal voice.
"Wuz that two bells mate" he inquired of
the solemn individual
Zone bell a." replied the Waterman.
Good night for suicides" suggested the
reporter.
''Yes, or even u murder" continued the
watchman, gloomily There's been many
an accident and much loss of life happened
around here night times"
"Do you generally attempt a rescueI'
"Of course we do. Who else would if we
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 a
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 thatf
A low, plaintive sound like the moan of
some one in distress echoed near by, Now,
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 a soloon keeper had trouble
with his wife He took duckin', and when
we flshed him out he thanked u.s. 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 'eIn out"
Don't you report these cases to the
policeF'
1--WE amt obliged to, cause we amt officers
of the law. Then we don't often see police
man above Fourteenth street. Its 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 short mast drifting about in the wind
the reporter walked to the end of a wharf
and found IA canal boat lying a few yards
from the end A solitary man paced the
deck endeavoring in every way to dodge the
cold wind. In reply to inquiries as to what
was on board the man shouted in answer:
"Nuthin. I'm light"
"Going to startP
eyes, in half an hour; waitin' for steam
tug now"
Two rough looking men were 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 a barge.
Hi, there, what dye wants" 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. A
moment later and a rowboat glided out of
the slip with two men in it, They rowed
close to the docks and steered toward
Harlem.
'River pirates, l guess" whispered a
Waterman to the reporter. The river craft
with their many lights moving in all direc-
tions diminished in number, and silence be-
came more impressive every moment. Dawn
was breaking over the gllmmer of distant
lights and a gentle gray light stole over the
entire scene till then so gloomy. Perfect
silence reigned for a time, then the sound OF
moving wagons and the sight of hurrying
figures showed that night on the docks had
passed New York Evening Sun.
Why Street Car Drivers Are Healthy.
"Do you know what makes us street car
drivers SO healthyF' asked one of that guild
as his horses were dragging a lettering car