The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-04-05
ON A NEW ORLEANS LEvEE.
Engaging Negro Grew For a Trip VI
the River.

Engaging Negro Grew For Trip Up
the River.
The negroes move continually at a
jog trot, and as there are some thou
sands on the levee the scene is a most
busy one. Every here and there on the
edge of the wharf stand barr els OF riV-
er water, and by each barrel two or
three tin cans which are in constant
requisition by some of the numerous
workers, who seen to be ever thirsty
and bringing.
The steamer has received all her
freight; she is only waiting now for
her working crew of fifty or sixty
hands, who will unload and load her
at each stopping place up the river.
These hands are negroes who between
the landing places have nothing to do
but to eat and sleep; at each place,
however, where the boat stops, they
must be quick and energetic-"a always
on the jump" as they say in river YER
nacular. 1t is the business of the mate
to hire them, direct them, make them
work, even to the extent of using some
terribly strong language and empha-
sizing the same with his stout walk
ing stick, if occasion should demand.
The negroes know this and expect it;
it is a part Of river life which could not
be dispensed with. When he is ready
to employ them, the mate takes as
many yellow cards in his hand as he
needs negroes and goes on the wharf
at the end of his gangplank and waits
The steamer then blows her whistle in
a particular manner which means 1--WE
want crew; presently the hundreds
of negroes within hearing collect about
the mate.
Come, boys" he says, "who wishes
to go with us?"
What yo' gwine glib us?"
Seventy a month"
There is not an answer; seventy a
month means at that rate; but q trip
lasts about a week and the hands are
paid off at the end of each trip. When
in twelve hours the boat is ready to
start again, there is a repetition of the
same trouble-for the average negro
will not work as long as he has lit
tie money in his pocket; it is only when
he is done dead broke" that he is
ready to ship again-which will give
him four square meals a day in addi-
| ton to these large wages. The busy
| season on the river being also the time
of demand upon sugar plantations and
| in the cotton fields for hands, the negro
| knows his power and uses it. Not one
accepts the offer of $40. The mate
waits; at last a man says:
| Make it eighty an we Is wild YOU"
| The mate does not hesitate a mo-
ment, but calls out: "Pile aboard we'll
give it," But the negro has craft and
no principle; not one moves.
The mate says, "Eighty-five!" Still
silence and inaction.
well, ninety, then" Still not a
| movement.
In minute a burly negro calls out:
Say 800, man; we got yo' on de hip
an we won't go for less dan dat"
The mate has to acquiesce; his shiI
is laden and the goods must be deliv-
cred on time, or the company will suf-
fer; SO "the hands" have it all theil
own way. A rush is made to secure g
| place at the coveted price; but "first
come, first served" The sixty cards
are soon distributed; the happy pos
SCISSORS file on board; the cable is slip.
ped, the wheel revolves, the steamer
is off and away on her trip up this
| most powerful of streams, the Missis
sippi-From Leslie's Weekly.