Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-11-15
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Runcorn. The extensive distribution of
manufactured goods in Birmingham; of I'M
ports as well rs manufactures at Manches-
ter: of Yorkshire imports and exports ut
Goole, by way of the seaport of Hull the
tremendous shipments of Lancashire coal at
Wigan; and the bringing OF the Cornish
white clay TO the Staffordshire potteries
through the MerSey, via Runcorn, with tho
return craft laden with pottery wares, ac-
count for this.
All the English midland canals are of far
less capacity than our own. The bottoms
are In the form of an inverted arch, and the
locks are only seven feet wide. Conse-
quently canal boats here are very diminu-
tive They are usually from twenty-five to
thirty ton boats, SIN feet and six inches
wide, sixty-five feet long, and with only
three feet of keel. The cabins are there
fore scarcely one-fourth the size of those of
our boats. They are only five feet wide
and high. and eight feet long From three
to four feet of their height protru6es
above the deck. The exposed sides are
always covered with most wonderful paint
ings representing the highest expression of
art among these lowly folk, and n dog
kennel invariably surmounts the decorated
cabin-tob. Within this 200 cubic feet of
space are bed for the boatman and wife,
bunk beneath for the children, a stove,
locker and hanging table with an extraordi-
nary collection of crockery and cooking
utensils considering the space, and opposite
Is bench which is the parlor and dining
room by day and boudoir for grown-up
son or daughter, or male Grew" at night
Like the Gypsies, the English canal folk
live well, but everything is boiled Hodge
podges of beef and behring's, with the vege-
tables which are got for 4 song or for the
pulling, along their pleasant way, are the
favorite. In former times, when their con-
dltlon was more heatheniSh, their food, and
nj hnat fn,,a
with beats. They are now more intelli-
gent, independent and as consequence
better paid. More than two-thirds live in
their own home6, and while still conducting
the boats, as families, the little cabins are
almost wholly III the nature of temporary
accommodations for short Journey Be
sides, fully one-third of the boatmen now
OWN THEIR OWN BOATS,
as with our own canallers. Another one
third hire boats at about ten shillings per
week, supplying their own help, animals
and food, and earning good profits from
their responsibility and labor. The re-
mainder are owned by manufacturing con-
Germs which employ their own boatmen.
The dress of these lowly people is quite
distinctive and often unique. The men arc
always attired IN flannel jackets and shirts,
open at the neck and with a gaudy colored
or black handkerchief under their wide col
lars, similar to the London astronomers,
a billy-coc!i hat or fur cap with visor in win.
ter and sut-mer: mole-skin or flannel trous-
ers; and heavy hob-nailed boots. in the front
of which there must always be leather
tongue or flap, which falls down over the foot
and which is invariably decorated with all
manner Of curious nOtcheS and puncturss,
AL the women and girls wear flaming
quilted calico hoods, similar in appearance
to a small, old-fashioned ''sun-b onnet.n
Aprons match the hoods. A tiny red shawl,
pinned at the throat by massive brooch,
falls over the shoulders. The dress is of
heavy wooden stuff, usually dark in color
with short petticoats; and beneath these
appear high 'navyn hob-nalled boots, laced
with stout leather thongs. Undertaking
Is absolutely superhuity.
The girls and women steer the craft and
drive the animals, usually broken-down
cab horses. grasses, sitting astride. Only
about thirty miles distance per day is
made, as the English canal-bo always
''stables" for the night, and all ''reliefs, Of
labor are indicated by landmarks, such as
tunnels. locks, inns and bridges, aud are
not made at stated hours. At the side of
every English canal are found little inns,
no more than mile apart, which
are always public houses, where
there are also canal side
wharves. These inns provide stabling for
the animals, and sell their owners bags of
horse-food, consisting of mixed chopped
hay, oats and horSe-beans. Arrived at
one of these for the night, the crews re-
pair to the tap-roOm, where ''four-ale'' or
rum, as is the custom among the laboring
classes everywhere in England, are drunk
sparingly, while yarns are spun and an
cient and savory pipes are smoked, until
the closing, at 10 o'clock. At that hour
a hundred thousand canal-folk are turn
ing i'm for the night in their tiny cabins,
moored beside the bosky banks of canals in
the slumbrous English valleys-the women
first; the men afterwards. And all these
hundred thousand cow civil, simple and
honest folk are up and away at four o'clock
n the morning. EDGAR L. WAKEMAN.