Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1894-02-23
A BANANA SALE.
PICTURESQUE SCENES oNANEw
YORK PIER.
Disposing OF n Cargo of the Fruit ut
Notwithstanding Longshorc-
men to Unload the Vessel
Sorting the lunches.

SUCCESS. III III estimated That July Sixty
per cent of the imported fruit is now
disposed to the highest bidder.
These sales, which occur irregularly,
whenever steamer arrives, are held
on Pier North River. Tho vessels
employed in the trade register from
800 to 400 tons. They are chartered
by the importing houses of New York,
and fly either the English or the Nor
wegian flag. Whenevera steamer bear
ing tho popular fruit is reported out
side notice is given to the trade. Tho
sale begins as soon as tho steamer
makes the dock and its matches arc
opened.
One of these sales occurred on tho
steamer America. 1t was announced
that she would reach Pier 8 Mt p. m.
AT that hour the pier was crowded with
chattoring Italians, representatives of
dealers and longshoremcn. The long
shoremen were waiting for chance to
work Mt unloading tho steamer.
Through what seemed to be IN i'm
penetrablo mass of barges, car-hoats
and other craft in the slip tho America
forced her way. AS she glided along
the pier, before she was even made fast,
tho owners of the cargo, the auctioneer
and his assistants, tho tally clerks, the
graders, the boss stevedore and the
prospective buyers, jumped aboard and
nnxiously gnzed into her hold. The
matches had been removed Tho
weather had been stormy, and it was
expected that in addition to tho usual
wear and tear to which the fruit is OK
posed it had suffered from the tossing
of the vessel i'll its tempestuous Jour
ney. The appearance of the fruit was
rcassuring. Ii Ind been well slowed
away and was in good condition.
Hanging platforms were rugged up
from deck to deck, and n number of
trucks backcd to the dock edge. Then
came curious scene. The boss steve
dore produced from somewhere small
canvas bng AS he was seen with it in
his hand the longshorcmen made rush
for him. With the assistance of n
policeman they were driven back and
kept mt distance from the stovetore,
who made his way across West street
and mounted nh empty truck standing
Mt the curb. The lonSshoremen mnssed
thcmselvesaround the impromHu stand
and, with cxpectnnt looks, Held up
their hands rs boys do in the school
room to catch the teachers eye
The stevedorc scanned the upiurned
faces. He was looking for men that
he knew were active and sober. As he
picked his men, he called them by
name-such namesns "Afixed Ale Pat"
'Big Steve" Shorty" cold Con
Molly" Freshly" and others not in
tended for publication. AS each man
heard his name or nickname called n
look of satisfaction came over his face
and he eagerly pushed his way to the
truck, where the boss stevedore handed
him, taking it cut of bag, small,
round, brass check, with stamped
number. A station on the pier, on tho
deck or between decks, also was rs
signed to ench man. He hurried to tho
ship and reported to the time keeper
for identification.
gnlg of twenty men were selected,
and it was announced that in half an
hour another set would be picked out.
AS the work of unloading progresses
more men are needed to pass tho
lunches from hand to hand from hold
to pier. AS II measure of economy the
men are hired only when they can DO
actually used.
When ell WAS in readiness, the men
i'll line, two trucks for each hatchway,
n grader after each hatch and tally
clerk for each truck, the auctioneer
mounted his rostrum. 1t was n tall
stand with II canvas awning. There he
called the buyers to order. These had
gathered on the ships bridge, from
whichpoint ofvantage they overlooked
the entire operation and saw the con-
dition of every bunch These were
handed up from hand to hand, and rs
they passed the grader he gave them
one look and classified them MS zone, "
"two" or dock" cones" were tho
so-callcd Chine hands )" "twos," the
so-callcd mine hands" rejected
(smaller bunches), and clocks" the
over ripe, damaged or loose and
broken punches. These are dumped
i'll old fruit boxes and disposed of after
the fruit i'll good condition has been
sold. Each truck bears sign on Il
| pole on which is challled the number
of the truck and the grade of the
bananas. AS soon rs the truck has its
full load of banana punches, which is
| zhe unit of these auction transactions,
the tally clerk informs the auctioneer,
who shouts the number of the truck
and calls for bids
Tho dealers nro ill Italians, and
most of those at the sale are familiar
figures Mt the auctions of California
fruit, which are conducted by the
same auctioneer.
If n person wishes to taste banana
in all its lusciousness he should eat one
of those which have ripened naturally
in transit. The full flavor of the fruit
is intact, which is not the cnse with
the punches ripened artificinlly by the
New York dealers. New York World.
Ancient Use of tIlc Parachute.
1t seems that rs early as 413 B. G. n
prisoner in Egypt astonished the ma
| fivac hu inn l. IL.