The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1891-10-14
C0ALlNG AT ST. THOMAS.
N..AHNY A@A7nNS WHO DO THE
WORK or MEN.

a
Iatlsu E.ife Old NsNcy-Thc Master Of
c.gepleptes pilh Congo Songs
E@seS Isborers.
| A correspondent who recently visited
il.Y West Indies writes:
+ The sceRe was a strange one to UNI
ragniaar eyes--this coaling of ship by
Iwoinen. You will witness it at st.
lriomas and Kingston. Jamaica, to the
HEST advantage. Scarcely had the AL
niance's nose pointed around the fort at
tthe entrance when numerous boats con-
flaming the "coa ladies' appeared ap-
kprsHhing the coal station. located on an
itiFasiti half d mile from the town. The
|sllip was quickly laid alongside the
fwharf, ard tie taking in of fuel COM
Eaenced. The coal is piled on the shore
a distance of 300 feet from Che ship, and
lao atrapping Wanches bore it to the maui
haoles Of the buniers on board. Each Of
the women carried on her head coarse
cpiint basket containing 100 pounds OF
coal. Their raiment was severely sim
plc---a cotton bodice and scanty skirt
drawn up to the knees by cord around
the thighs. Very black were the brawny
legs which appeared below the Eve-like
-dTapery, and large and naturally formed
were the bare fest with their hard, yell
low so}es.
Before the work commenced the dusky
Amazons stood in double row in front
on the helps of coal They grinned like
60 faauy monkeys, and their jargon-tho
strange, mongrel English the Jamaica
end Barbados negroes utter-poured
from their lips babelof lmcouth sounds.
Startling were some of the jokes they
threw at one another.
Sta. you see that woman'" said the
gent, as he pointed toward a powerfully
built woman with hard, shining black
racs and grizzled wool. "That is old
Nancy. She is 80 years old and is the
Tollest nouthed wench in the West In
dies. Every shipmaster who has sailed
IN these waters knows her. She espe-
cialiy interested Anthony Trollope when
ne eame to inspect the islands for the
British government. Froude, the his
torian, noticed her. She can carry 400
baskets of coal day"
A tall black man armed with heavy
stick was master of ceremonies. When
all was ready he called: stake your
baskets, ladies'" Each woman seized
her basket and turned toward the coal
pile. Ready" was the verbal signal,
and quickly the baskets were filled with
hIge Jumps and the dust of coal. After
ward there was no cessation of the toll.
The women would swing the heavy bas-
Let To the top of the head with single
and apparently easy motion, resting the
Eo4tom on small mat of cloth which
4syo the wool. Down the wharf they
tf0tted, some bearing the 100 pounds of
sssd weight without supporting the bas-
Get by hand. The tough "Old Nancy"
previously mentioned, drew her pipe
ffan the rags of her bodice, struck a
,Eratch, ignited it, and smoked after she
GRtl swung the basket of coal on her
'szars, and was jogging to the ship The
ladies" hustled one another in anything
sIrs. a ladylike manner. The more active
GIGS endeavored to get ahead of others
rxno were in their way as the living
.sg.r,s,m Of workers reached the gang
flank. The women are paid for each
Naslet Of coal poured into the bunkers.
81 they pass small building at the head
'esS the wharf with full baskets a cent is
GEnded to each Of the carriers. There
scss some women who can move 400 bas-
slsaday, o. 90 tons of 1000 pounds.
tsaers carry less number of baskets,
.Gssd NJ the gangplank admits only three
,ss1rers abreast, the slow ones hamper
ssss fSt workers. The latter endeavor to
a-..ahead. l saw woman drop almost
tz,Ser knees on the plank and, with bas
2as.sn head, sec, to crawl under the up
X.sad arm of tall wench in front.
Nhe'm master of ceremonies stood at the
s:S6sof the gangplank with uplifted stick
Assssn he detected any unfairness he ex.
J.sug.ed in warning tones, "Ladies!" The
n:s1se repeated led to adeprecating sob,
.ssnt do so, dears." Next came, "Oh,
sisw'hne, doant do dat" By this time
sunssnce was exhausted, and sharp call
.x~-CsroEine, or to Miss Glenn" or to
synu dar, Niger" was followed by
tsprnsndous whack of the stick on the
kszsS. or legs of the offender The sound
tt2,xblows would rise above the din of
iisse sailing. The victim would grin and
sIAse Shers would ieer at her, but no one
kssSrred to regard the punishment un.
lErsSiy, or for that matter seriously.
Ssw and then the women would break
<IsUx1.- no doubt, from their ancestors
sWisSDaIned in the Congo forests. Wild
rrzf weird the strange song rose above
tsisewstle of tie wharf. When the sun
OHszsd tire dark tropical night quickly
Seisau ship and shore, flambeaux-large
5ruz csges set on poles and containing
aHwuod-were ignited, and the flicker
iaH. flames cast their radiance over the
zEkxtfy throng. The energy of the women
nxned to increase when the beacons
ve,s ablaze, and they sang, shouted,
xssas, and laughed with greater zest
, s.ixo.aefore.
1rse hundred and forty tons OF coal
weS placed in the ship between and !
NsErk, despite heavy rain during the
.1Aacneon. And the coal once in. the al
t1n,s left the lights on the hillsides of
OaziBtte-Amelie behind her and pro
uRld southwark toward the equator.