The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-28
THE STIFLING FIRE ROOM
SOME PICTURES OF a STOKER's
LIFE ON A BIG STEAMSHIP.


Nothing When One is Used to It
You May Feel Cooler if You Read
This Truthful Tale.
From the NelC York World.
While the volatile mercury is climbing to
the top OF the thermometrical ladder 1t is
refreshing to think of, TO write of, to read
of people who, perforce, are hotter than
you are. There can be no doubt of that;
the creature fashioned in Gods own image
is essentially selfish. So this deals with the
firemen and the coal trimmers or stokers on
the steamships; the men who, far down in
the bowels Of the ships, feed INCREASINGLY
the fires that leap and roar for more; who
live in an inferno; who toll In an atmos-
pierre so hot that once in a while one is
driven mad by 1t or by the drink he has
taken to make him forget it, and plunges
overheard to death In the cool, inviting
waves.
WHY JACK SHIPPED AS sToKER.
Have you read Alphonse Daudet's
"Jackq' There is a chapter in it that gives
an admirable, a graphic, but e very
Frenchy picture of how life in a flreroom
looks to one new TO it. Best read it in the
French. Daudet loses in the translation.
Zone thought alone sustained Jack in
his sad life; his mother might need him and
he must work hard for her sake.
Unfortunately wages are in proportion
to the value of the work, and not to the
ambition OF the workmen, and Jack had nc
talent in the direction Of his career. He
was seventeen, his apprenticeship over, and
yet he received but 3 francs a day. With
these francs he must pay for his room, his
food and his dress; that is, he must replace
his coarse clothing as it was worn out; and
what should he do if his mother were to
write and say, i am coming to live with
you"
TRULY, HE WOULD "BE WARMED"
Look here,n said Pere Rondic, your
parents made great mistake in not listen
ing to me. You have no business here. Now,
how would you like to make voYagei The
chief engineer of the Cydnus wants an as
sistant. You can have francs per day. be
fed, lodged and warmed. Shall write and
say you will take the situationH
1.-The idea of double pay, the love of
travel that Madou's wild tales had awak.
ened in his childish nature, combined to
render Jack highly pleased with the pro-
posed change. He left Pordret one July
day just four years after his arrival. What
a superb day it was! The air became more
fresh as the little steamer he was on ap-
preached the ocean. Jack had never seen
the sea. The fresh breeze inspired him with
restless longing. Saint Nazarre lay before
him-the harbor crowded with shipping.
They landed at the dock and there learned
that the Cydnus Of the Compagnie Trans
atlantique was already lying outside-this
being, in fact, the only way to have the
crew all on board at the moment Of de-
parture.
''Sailors were hurrying to and fro, and
ROn6ln lAQrna1 of hat ha
chief engineer Of the Cydnus was in very
bad humor because he had not his full num-
Der Of stokers on board.
A CORDIAL WELCOME.
"We must hasten said Rondio, and they
hailed a boat and rapidly threaded their
way through the harbor. The enormou S
TRANSATLANTIC tic steamers lay at their wharves
as If asleep, the decks of two large English
ships Just arrived from Calcutta were COW
cred with sailors all hard at work. They
passed between these motionless masses,
where the water was as dark as a canal
running through the midst of CITY under
high walls, then they saw the Cydnus lys
ing, with her steam up. A wiry little man
in his shirt sleeves. with three stripes on his
cap. hailed Jack and Rondic as their boat
came alongside the steamer.
His words were inaudible through the
din aud tumult, but his gestures we're elo-
quent enough. This was Blanchet, the
chief engineer.
"'You have come, then, have your he
shouted; L was afraid you meant to leave
me in the lurch.'
"'It was my fault said Rondic; i
wished to accompany the lad and could not
get away yesterday
ION board with you, quickl' returned
the engineer. He must get into his place
at once
INTO THE HOT, DARK DEPTHS.
"They descended first one ladder, then
another aud another. Jack, who had never
been on board a large steamer, was stupe-
fed at the size and depth of this one. They
descended to an abyss where the eve accus-
toned to light of day could distinguish alb
soluUely nothing. The boat was sitting, and
and q final ladder led to the engine room
where the heavy atmosphere, charged with
the smell of oil, was almost insupportable.
Great activity relgned in this room; a
general examination was being male of
the machinery, which glistened with clean
illness.
'At the end Of the engine room was long
passage. That Is where the GOAL is kept,
said the engineer carelessly, and on the
other side the stokers Sleep
Jack shuddered. The dormitory at the
academy. the garret-room at the Rondics
were palaces in comparison.
THE engineer pushed open q small door.
Imagine a long cave, Redeemed by the rehec.
ton of a dozen furnaces in full blast; men,
almost naked, were stirring the fire, the
sweat pouring from their faces.
Here is your man. said Blanchet to
the head workman.
"'Al right, sir, said the other without
turning around.
Farewell said Rondic, take care OF
yourself, my boy and he was gone.
BASKETS ARE OUT OF DATE.
Jack was soon set to work; his task wal
TO carry the cinders from the furnace to the
deck and there throw them into the sea- II
was very hard work; the baskets were
heavy, the ladders narrow, and the change
from the pure air above to the sitting at.
mosphere below absolutely sutfocating. Or
the third trip Jack felt his legs giving way
under him. He found it impossible to ever
lift his basket and sank into a corner hall
fainting. One Of the stokers, seeiag his con
dition, brought him large flask of brandy
THANK you; never drink anything,
said Jack
THE other laughed. You will drink
here, he answered.
"'Never,' murmured Jack, and lifting tn,
heavy basket more by an effort of will thar
by muscular force, he assembled the lad
der. X
Jack, with his empty basket at his feet
stood looking at the passengers. X Z
rough oath and slap on the shoulder IN
terrupted his sad thoughts.
Wv hat the deuce are you up here for
sirs Goodwin to your postp 1t was the en-
gineer making his rounds. Jack went dowr
without word, Inundated by the re
proof.
las he put his foot on the last ladder