The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-08-25
MIDNIGHT on the DOCKS.
-, Women and children Sleep
ing in the Open Air.
.,..s.~ from sne TsaeH,@Hs ss.is q
sew York. Grateful for :
Couch Oh the Piers

xxftz1 xea9 1sA~e
800 - heat Of July and the wresehei
s.r;,.;sv Of August N their bot and
D-.,,t,.ssed senemens-hoases. sur-
;ar nroporsion neTer breathe the
p I.s-.sh;ng breeze- Of coney island OF
-, handful Of green grass outside
-. ~;,r limits. They have one retreat
-. ,he basisg heat Of their over.
IT, NE rooms. which fortunately
~. 80. hen nothing and insures cool
80. rest. no matter how high the
,e,stare stands indoors This
- / the big quiet piers which
- far out into the waters OF the
I'D North rivers, and are always
- .fter nightfali. Here flock men.
- r,sn and children. glad OF the re-
~ from the lsbors of the day Iene-
u are deserted. and the whole
s.m;lv camps for the night on the
pesrest pier.
A reporter made tour OF the docks
a.. other night and pseped at the
sr.areds OF tired sieepers in the
s.lmx midsummer air. The docks
"a ,iers below Fulton street are
.-;vs,s property and are guarded By
- watchnen. The first open
,v.s found at the foot OF Dover
r.ss. The reporter walked down the
- Nth a crowd Of 'long-horernen.
" x,re bFIsiiy engaged talking ward
-.s;,scs Along the sides OF the pier
rsre stretched men afid boys. and
ss,s and there woman. snoring
s'ssiy AT the end OF the pier most
..taresane sight presented Itself.
e. string piece was crowded with
.snd 1ofnen. nearly every one of
- i.rter holding a baby, while the
-, children PLAYED near by.
To- air was delightfully."- cool and
..s,-shing. A short distance away
.sasi the great bridge towering above.
s;sh is electric lights like necklace
- diamonds. Their reflected light
uye the uneasy water an enchanting
shimmer and the green and red lights
n each end OF fhe bridge reflected on
4. surface and gave variety 10 the
.ssns The small boats had left the
,,ssr and ali was quiet, with the ex-
esrsion of the nneeasing splash OF the
ferry tDst psd,ii4s,
Ifnan one end Of the string piece sat
. gr.up OF boys. ranging IN ages from
isto ~ wears, all talking about Cham
n;,sr Sullivan. Suddenly one OF them
drew harrnonica oGt o. hi pocket.
sra IN a moment White Wings" was
xsising its way dreamily over the
waters. Ii was pretty good music.
too. and ii brought TWO of the lads to
their feet for q waltz. They locked
arms and started off in the install
Rowsry style. A little crowd soon
gathered. and several more OF the
Eovs started in. There was only one
styIe and they all danced it. Sud-
denly tao OF the couples coliided acct
deutaiIy. One OF the boy. initiating
the voice OF q girl, said; IF yon do
that again III slap yer in the lace.
The other boy took up the spirit OF
fun and replied:
You ssucy thing. il you do II slap
you right back sgain, and real hard.
too. There.
Somebody cried, let her go, jim
mie.' and the band played again.
This time, however. the music called
for lively jig 10 the tune of "Rakes
OF Kildare. The boys we're soon
doing all sorts OF lively steps. and at
iracsed the attention OF all the people
on the dock. An Old 'iongsnoreman.
who Law DOING on big packing-box
near them, told them 10 keep quiet
several times. but thev paid no alten-
ton TO him. When the jig was at Its
hvesest part he arose and. approach
ing the dancers, said:
"YOu young feilers got an idea Yer
can dance, but yer can't; see. Say.
Jimmie, give Us Der Windy Mornin.
aud I'll show you some steps. although
amt shak me fut in two years.
As the first notes o. the tune
reached the man ; ears he frightened
np and commenced to keep time with
one of his feet. Soon he shifted TO the
ether, all the time looking haughfily
at the crowd in front OF MIN. Then
he stood erect and started IN for q
genuine Irish breakdown. The crowd
became larger. and fer five minutes
the man kept up his dancing, chang
ing from step to step With consider
able ski.l and grace. When be finished
be ,houted
mind that, now - and then quietly
resumed bis couch on the packing
box.
The bows hal had enough Of music
fer ore night, ana ihey Wa KID over
Ia daik noaS in the dock. directly
under the shaaOw ul big ocean
sl.auler. and t,T about TIN min
uies were engaged in whispered
conversation. Ftua,ly one OF then
said. loud enough Tor the reporter te
bear.
Gene on. IelierS. and we'll do dat
rnSilin IN the Fort ward. " The re.
rorier's suspicious were confirmed
when he asked policeman at the end
Of the pier who the lads were. They
were gang of juvenile thieves who
20 about the docks and the street.
near the river front stealing anything
they can Law their hands on.
Al about the center of the pier and
hidden from the view OF general
passers-hy the reporter discovered
Tour boys, each about Is years of age
They had piled a dozen barrels ana
boxes around huge heap of hagsing
and were evidently making prepare
tons 10 turn IN for the night.
lhe Place had been built for abou
DAT The number, and they we're wrig
shhg atou, trying ~ make themselves
comfortable.
sav. Billy" voice cried, "wh,
aon yer keep Yer knees cut 'er m'
Wei, | was just shown yer how
had ter sleep last night. was the re
ply.
Holy ge-' Move over. will yer ?
lew more gruntS, one or TIVE
smothered ordinations and all Wa
quiet.
The pier at the foot of Market stree
WsS the uext one visited bN the HeTl,
reporter. Here the crowd WAS fail,
r. large As that ON the Dover stree
pier The only persons not asieeI
We're The women who held their babe
m thelr arms and talked about tn
St'airS ~ the neighboYhousl. The re
porter asked one OF them il she can't
10 stay all night.
Ne. | didn't." she replied. "hu
>oiae ~ the women 10. We comi
GOWN here about O'Clock and ge0er
any stay until l. or I o'clock That
my husband over there He gces &
sieep about q O'Clock because BE !
very tired st night with working il
The docks all day And. " pointing q
tao little girls asleep IN - corner
There arc my tso children. Iii TAX
then home with ne when ! ~.
- And does yonr husband sleep her
all night2"
Well. that's inst how be feels
shake h.m hen 20 aud II he Ike
ne can come ~ no II IL hot nigh