The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1899-08-05
THREE NAUTICAL pOsTMEN.
Dangerous Work of Dellyerins Mail
from a ROwbOat TO Vessels
In Motion.

Detroit, which is one of the greatest
shipping ports in the world, is the pos
SCISSOR Of a unique mail service. II Is
nothing more or less than the delivery
and collection Of mail matter from
ships going at full speed. This exten-
sion OF the free delivery system Is the
work Of Postmaster Dickerson of De-
troit.
Thousands Of vessels enter and clear
at Detroit, and other thousands pass
without stopping. There is mail for all
of these, and many times 1t is of the
first Importance that this mail be re-
ceived as soon as possible. City, town
and country received their mail
promptly on time, and Mr.. Dickerson
determined that the shipping interests
should be equally well served.
From this sprang the system, which
has worked 50 well In tsetie., ~ aga
1t was pronounced visionary by all who
knew Of 1t before 1t was put in opera
ton. The plan adopted was to make
use of yacht which towed the row.
boat directly in front of passing yes-
sci and left II there. Then came a fine
exhibition Of workmanship. Just be-
fore the steamer crashed down on the
rowboat and its occupant dexterous
twist OF the oars placed the little boat
under the flank of one of the bows Of
the steamer.
| - t,.k Aha faath Nff tho at az M
er then gave the rowboat sharp thrust
to one side, and as soon as the little
craft had ridden the foaming wave the
carrier rose In his seat to send light
line to the deck of the vessel, and then
resumed his seat, The line was made
0 fast, and soon the kissing coil of 80
feet was paid out from the rowboat,
4 and with leap like that of monster
q fish attached to the line the rowboat
sprang forward, while the carrier In II
a hung on with fierce grip to prevent
$ himself from being hurled overheard.
y As soon as the rowboat reached the
y u momentum Of the passing vessel pal
d was lowered from above with mail &c
= go ashore and in 1t was placed the mai
u for the ship, after which the line wal
m cast of and the rowboat was picked
)f up by the yacht to which 1t was at
1t tached. This feat of delivering mai
= was always difficult in smooth water
y but on stormy days and when the rive
80 was plowed up by strong southwester
u 1t was exceedingly dangerous as well.
az Darkness added more danger to tn
task; but week by week the servic
es grew and became success. 1t Is pre-
"a posed now to ask congress for an az
he propriation to build swift and stron
a. vessel for boarding purposes-one tina
ne will be fast enough to catch any yesst
Sc that passes through the river, and on
or also that will not be damaged by tn
ed shock of contact when the mailboat
10 made fast to the other vessel,
p- The service is a continuous one {
m "a hours day during the entire SET
U' NV son of navigation, no matter what tf
weather may be. During the busiei
Of months Of the season these large We
OF OF sells sometimes pass at the rate of OF
As per minute, and it is almost beyor
no belief that none Of them is ever misse
AN Upon one occasion last year 81 boa
len passed during the space of an hou
of 1856 pieces of mail were delivered al
lre os pieces collected during that tin
s,n ,en with vessels both ways.
DID, The first month that 1t was in oper
18th tion only 90 letters were delivered
pussing ships, but before the close
navigation there were 500 pieces of mi
delivered every day.
At present there are only three m
who are actively employed in the wo
Is Of delivering and collecting the lette
These are NJ. S. Randall, j. Hammes a
w. Yates. Three nervier men do n
IL, exist. They have gone out with m
~ In the teeth of storms that make ey
for the most courageous skippers on I
Il lakes think twice before facing, n
do never yet have they had an accident
'he lost so much as postal card.-Detr
be Cor, Philadelphia Times.