The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05
TowBoAr MEN WHO LIVE WE'LL.
Good Eating on the Tows That Garry Coal
Down the Mississippi.

Good Eating on the Tows That Garry Coal
Down the mississippi.
P~ITTsBURG. Dec. cities may have
their iron and steel mills, their glass houses,
their armor-plate factories. their foundries. but
Pittsburg possesses an industry Of its own tho
signs Of whose existence are just now strikingly
visible to the observer who may chance 10 visit
the Monongahcla River wharf. Pittsburg's
great business OF shipping coal by river lie said
to be peculiar to this city alone Of all tho towns
In the Unitod States. depressed by six months
low water, 1t has again become evident since
the rains Of tho last week have filled the Ohio
River TO n bo%ating.stage depth.
Tho most important phase Of preparations for
n towboat trip to New Orleans is tho procuring
OF the supplies for the deckhards. In hearing
the term deckhand the average visitor from an
inland town is apt to confound the towboat deck
hands with roustabouts. But here in Pittsburg
the difference between dcckhnnd and rousta-
bout is marked. and the former would resent
being classed with tho latter. The roustabout,
generally a negro. is accustomed to being driven
while at work by q swearing steamboat mate;
his 'ood is brought TO him IN n tub and no ea's
it OF n tin plate. Tho deckhand insists on being
respected; no captain or mate curses him; on
tho contrary, his feelings are carefully re-
gardcd, for q towboat with II load Of
coal for the southern Mississippi could i'll
spare the deckhands. who might desert II
they were not well treated. The deckhand's
servic = are in demand only a portion OF tho
year. but when needed he is needed badly. TIE
Captain who would expect his GccKhands to eat
from n tin plate would soon find a mutiny on
his hands. Tho men work hard oil day. and
take turns ri the watch At night. Their duties
consist in makins-up the tow for the steamboat
that is to convey it down the river and in TAX
Ing care OF the tow during the trip. Their work
is dangerous. walking along the edges of oarges.
when a single misstep on the planking would
mean sure death in the icy water, or working at
breaking bargcs, cutting loose those that have
struck u snag and must DO cut out to save the
rest o. the tow from being wrecked.
The. average towhoat, dcckhand may 1.-Two in
dull season. he may DO satisfied with n ten.ccnt
meal during. that period, but put him on u tow
shcrts. He doesn't want the fancy dishes that
are served 20 the passengers n the packets. but
he desires the suhstantials to he well cooked.
fuIiy. Al ''H :1;wboat TdeeKhanas are amer
lean, horn. .nd, as they are in the South for n
good part Of the navigation season. they have
nli the, Southern prejudice against the negro.
1t is related that once n Captain. against tho
warnings of other masters, hired q negro as a
tcrkhanG. TlG whites nurmurcd when the
darky zane TO work among them. but they
were re,rifed when he sat down % table with
them. When they recovered. as II IL was the
each side took iin, by the am. ed him put Of
The negro vas picked up ~ a passing skin. and
no more dnrkics were hirrd 5y that Captain.
The nverngo COOK on hnarS a towboat could
MI with case = Stmi!ar t1at on q passenger
steamer. The cooks arc SO perfect in their pro-
fcssion that they call themselves chnfS, and the
dcckhands SEQ so little that is ridiculous In the
name that ono speaks OF the chef and h!e ability
as naturally as II i we're ut Dclmonico's.
During tho last few days scores of towboa;s
have taken in supplies, and a visitor to the
wharf, could see roustatouts carrying In tho
best OF beef. pork. mutton. and bacon, barrels or
the finest grades OF -four. white sugar by The
barrel. fresh vegetables. and eggs by the case.
And the eggs were fresh. too. rE,r deckhAnd
recognizes n packed" egg with the unerring
eNDertn rSs o. an cDicure.