Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1891-07-04
COALING AT ST. THOMAS.
eRAWNY AMAzONS WHO DO THE
WORK OF MEN.

the West Indies writes:
The scene was strange one to I'M
familiar eyes-this coaling of a ship by
women. You will witness it at st.
Thomas and Kingston, Jamaica, to the
best advantage. Scarcely had the AL
liance's nose pointed around the fort at
the entrance when numerous boats con-
tanning the "coal ladies" appeared APP
preaching the coal station, located on an
island half a mile from the town. The
ship was quickly laid alongside the
wharf, and the taking in of fuel COM
menced. The coal is piled on the shore
a distance of 200 feet from the ship, and
$50 strapping wenches bore it to the man
holes of the bunkers on board. Each of
the women carried on her head coarse
splint basket containing 100 pounds OF
coal. Their raiment was severely SIM
ple-aa 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
drapery, and large and naturally formed
were the bare feet with their hard, yell
low soles.
Before the work commenced the dusky
Amazons stood in double row in front
of the heaps of coal. They grinned like
so many monkeys, and their jargon-the
strange, mongrel English the Jamaica
and Barbados negroes utter-poured
from their lips babelof uncouth sounds.
Startling were some of the jokes they
threw at one another.
"Do you see that woman?" said the
agent, as he pointed toward powerfully
built woman with hard, shining black
face and grizzled wool. "That is old
Nancy. She is IS years old and is the
foulest mouthed wench in the West In
dies. Every shipmaster who has sailed
a these waters knows her. She espe-
cially interested Anthony Trollope when
ne came to inspect the islands for the
British government. Froude, the his
.orian, noticed her. She can carry 400
baskets of coal day"
A tall black man armed with a heavy
stick was master of ceremonies. When
all was ready he called: "Take your
baskets, ladies'" Each woman seized
her basket and turned toward the coal
pile. Ready" was the verbal signal,
and quickly the baskets were filed with
large Jumps and the dust of coal. After
ward there was no cessation of the toll.
The women would swing the heavy bas-
ket to the top of the head with single
and apparently easy motion, resting the
bottom on small mat of cloth which
lay on the wool. Down the wharf they
trotted, some bearil G the 100 pounds of
dead weight without supporting the bas-
llet by hand. The tough "Old Nancy,
previously mentioned, drew her pipe
from the rags of her bodice, struck a
match, ignited it, and smoked after she
had swung the basket of coal on her
cad, and was jogging to the ship. The
ladies" hustled one another in anything
but ladylike manner. The more active
ones endeavored to get ahead of others
who were in their way as the living
stream of workers reached the gang
plank. The women are paid for each
basket of coal poured into the bunkers.
AS they pass small building at the head
If the wharf with full baskets a cent is
handed to each of the carriers. There
IRE some women who can move 400 bas.
lets day, or 90 tons of 1900 pounds
Others carry less number of baskets
md Jas the gangplank admits only three
carriers abreast, the slow ones hamper
the fast workers. The latter endeavor tC
get ahead. saw woman drop almost
to her knees on the plank and, with bas
ket on head, seek to crawl under the up
lifted arm of a tall wench in front.
The master of ceremonies stood at the
side of the gangplank with uplifted stick
When he detected any unfairness he ex
claimed in warning tones, "Ladies!" Tht
offense repeated led to adeprecating" Oh
doant do so, dears" Next came, "Oh
Car'line, doant do dat" By this tim,
patience was exhausted, and sharp cal
, 20 Caroline, " or to miss Glenn, or Il
J you dar, niger, was followed by ;
} tremendous whack Of the stick on tn,
back or legs of the offender. The sounC
of the blows would rise above the din o
| the coaling. The victim would grin anC
| the Others would jeer at her, but no on
, appeared to regard the punishment un
| Kindly, or for that matter seriously.
| Now and then the women would breal
} down, no doubt, from their ancestor
/ who roamed in the Congo forests. Will
5 and weird the strange song rose abov
I the hustle of the wharf. When the SUI
} set and the dark tropical night quickl
: fell on ship and shore, fambeaux-larg
; iron cages set on poles and containing
| dry wood-were ignited, and the flicker
ing flames cast their radiance over tn
: motley throng. The energy of the wome
5 seemed to increase when the beacon
' were ablaze, and they sang, shouted
swore, and laughed with greater yes
Q than before.
? Three hundred and forty tons of Coz
l were placed in the ship between and
e o'clock, despite heavy rain during tn
r afternoon. And the coal once in, the a
a iance left the lights on the hillsides c
S Charlotte-Amelie behind her and pre-
: ceeded southwark toward the equator.
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