Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-02-24
MIDNIGHT ON THE DOCKS.
SHADOWS CONE AND VANISH LIKE
GHOSTS IN THE DARKNESS

Inc Lonely Life Of Dock watchmep and
the Queer Ways Of the Remarkah,a
Characters Who Frequent the Docks
After Dark.
a sharp nor'wester had driven the watch
nieh Oh the North river docks to their stoves
ana shelter, while pale moon Illuminated
.ne oesoiate scene outside, deepening the
somber shadows around. On the pier at the
1901 OF West Twenty sixth street a reporter
approached the wharf buildings, and peered
Ia al q window through which a LIGHT .vas
sainihg. In the room, seated in an arm
chair, uniformed, his cap on his head. a lam
Tern close beside him, was the watcbnan
sharp rap on the door startled him and
instinctively he seized the lantern and came
out '''A '''A'ie
AS the reporter withdrew the watcbman
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 bis
shelter 40
AT an adjoining wharf a canal barge
swayed gently on tho waves, Attracted nv
cheerful light which shone from II, cabin
window, the reporter went toward n Tho
room was tastefully furnished with the orli-
nary comforts of chamber. Ii was suite
=, APARTMENTS gathered together in a space
about nine feet square. A kettle lo;led
cheerily on the small stove in one corner :
mirror In git frame hung from the ceiling.
marine chromos decorated the walls, little
"hite curtains adorned the windows, and a
canary huttered shout in a cage hanging in
tho center of the cabin.
Inc reporter tapped on the window, and
.hih' 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 few inquiries
:. Veloped the fact that the barge was named
Mary Jane, and that she carried lumber M
the Erie canal
Are you all alone on boardr He replied
with slow nod of the head.
Are you the captainT'
Nav, dads gone ashoor,n he answered
slowly. Just then the head of a woman an
peared beside the boy and whispered con-
ference ensuei
Are you the captains wife, madam,
asked the reporter.
Il reckon SO" replied the woman angrily.
but what do you want to know forg Suth.
ms wrong, guess" and panied expression
passed over hor 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
mei' she pleaded. 81 know suthiu's the mat
ter. I'm sure on i'll Why don't We tell mey,
What Is wrongn asked the reporter.
"Weil, ye see my husband went ashore this
mornln 'specting to return at noon, and he
amt back yet"
1t was usless to ask further questions: the
woman was inconsolable, and refused to an
swer any. The reporter withdrew. leaving
tho 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 post, putting
huge clouds Of tobacco from pipe and gag
ing solemnly at the boards
Pretty quiet around here'n said the re.
porter.
"Yes. Somethin' like a graveyard to-
night, replied the man in deep, sepulchral
voice, his eyes still fixed GA the ground Il
was watchin the rats scamperin about there.
HIM! They're havin' high old time to-
night; none of the mems worlzin' We see and
they're undisturbed.n
A stout muscular man clothed in pea
jacket and sou'wester, sauntered slowly up
and down the dock, humming the ''Girl left
behind me" in gruff, unmusical voice.
'Wuz that two bells, mater he inquired of
the solemn individual
Soma hall n r,anliad the patohp,or
''Good night for suicidessn suggested the
reporter.
Eyes, or even murder continued the
Waterman, gloomily. "There's been many
An accident and much loss of life happened
around here night times"
DO you generally attempt rescue?"
"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
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 thatin
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 thata 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 fished him out he thanked US, took a car
and went home. No one was the wiser 'cept-
ing ourselves. Pretty omen-tramps, broken
down bankers, lovers, buns, all kinds, drops
over the side here into the river at night, and
we generally fishes em out"
Don't you report these cases to the
police3n
"Wc amt obliged to, cause we amt officers
Of the law Then we don't often see 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 short mast drifting about in the wind
the reporter walked to the end of a wharf
and found canal boat lying 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 startF
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 wantF shouted one,
seeing the reporter 'Nuthin, 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 glded out OF
the slip with two men In 1t Ihey rowed
rlosa to the docks and steered toward