The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-07-17
ON BOARD A BIG CATTLESHIP
How Some OF Our Kansas Steers Act on tn
Pond.

l roma.
Kansas sends lots of cattle to Europe
How are they shipped? A writer who
| knows says: after the warm weather
commences We are not allowed to load
| the cattle at the dock, as we do all win
| ter" said the transporta ton agent. I've
take them on board out in the harbor
somewhere. usually off Bedloe's Island.
the horses we take directly from the
| city. We leave the pier al p. m. sharp.
the cattle-boats that are to meet us load
up long before that time, and by or
half-past the entire cargo is shipped and
we ere ready to go to sea. The cattle
are always more OF less worried by being
changed aboIt. and this plan admits Of
all the fret and confusion being over be-
| fore the sun gets hot. Our boats always
load up at the same hour without regard
70 the tide, although, wnen the current
| Is certain way, the smaller boats have
considerable trouble in getting up to US
in Just the right position for loading.
| New York, generally speaking, had just
turned over Cor its preliminary morning
nap before waking for the day. when
the Manitoba. the huge bilge-keel steam
er, the brag-boat of the latest and best
built cattle-shipS on the globe, backed
out Of her dock with sundry promoni-
tory tootings and whistles and slipped
off down the bay. For an hour before
starting there had been much hustle and
activity at the pier. Two hundred and
more horses had been He'd N In couples,
under the covered plank-way of the
wharf and consigned to their stalls, fore
and aft. on the steamer. Guided care
fully up the inclined plane that led to the
upper decks, few demurred at thechange
10 strange quarters. On the wharf groups
Of men. unkempt and shabby. stood
about, some having last business talk
with the official who gave them permit
for the voyage; others smoking possibly
the last good pipeful they might indulge
in for days 20 come: some looking idly
on al ehboat hands who were swash-
ing and scruboing the decks, furnishing
orasSes. securing paint. and otherwise
making ready for the start: for the big
fre:ghter carries other cargo than that
which is sold on the iloof and by tie
pound, and smidships are sivty or sew
enty staterooms. a diningroom and sa-
loon fitted up with as much regard TO
comfort and convenience as IL carrying
OF passengers were the man object OF
the line.
Always considerable trouble with the
stiffs just before starting" SAYS the
transportation agent. as he sinks into
deck chair with the expression that
says plainly, ella I'm through with
that Job"
The stiffs?" inquiries the visitor. "I
thought dead men never gave anybody
trouble"
Our s,iffs ara not dead men by any
means" he explains. They are very
much alive. as is proved by the fights
they get into on Inc voyage. Very often
i is necessary TO put irons on them.
WHAT did they complain about this
morn ing? On, Everything. as usual.
Some wanted more money. Some did
not calculate on doing the work that
they find viii fall 20 their share. and
others turned up after carouse so dag
ed that they didn't remember exactly
what contract they did make.
VIVA. do We do with them7 II they
have made bargain, We make them
sick 10 il. We can't go off short OF men
and after they are once on board they
can be made 10 work well enough. We
call them stiffs TO distinguish them from
the regularly paid hands. those that We
count on. and who have bean in our en-
ploy long time a good many OF the
s,.ffs are willing 70 ship for nothing. so |
anxious are they 10 make the passage:
others are given the value OF a pound Or
50 Il they hare behaved well on the vow
age There are men from all parts OF |
The world 70 whom anything in the |
shape of regular work is repugnant. but
who are anxious % get back 70 the old |
country again Sometimes stiff xs,s
in with some regular men and settles |
down into steady cattle hand. bp. not |
often Probably the toughest people |
- &c met WIKI in any business in the
weird show I'D IN this cattle trade
When the steamer nears tie !siaai l
where The great process o. enlightening I
the world is suggested. suniry business |
like looking craft are found regarding |