The Afro-American advance. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1899-19??, 1899-07-29
THREE NAUTICAL posTMEE.
Dangerous work of Delivering Vail
from a Rowbont to Vessels
In Motion.

Detroit, which is one of the greatest
chipping ports in the world, is the pos
sessor Of unique mail service. 1t is
nothing more or less than the delivery
and collection Of mail matter from
ships going at full speed This eXtcn-
sion OF the free delivery system is the
wo.k Of Postmaster Dickerson of De-
troif.
Thousands of vessels enter and clear
at Detroit. and other thousands pass
without stopping.. 7 here is mail for all
of these. and many times it is of the
first importance that this mail be re-
ceiYed 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 practice, though
il was pronounced visionary by all who
knew of it before il was put in opera
ton. The plan adopted was TO make
use of a yacht which towed the row
boat directly in front of a 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 a dexterous
twist OF the oars placed the little boat
under the flank of one of the bows of
the steamer.
The bone" in the teeth of the steam
er then gave the rowboat a sharp thrust
10 one side, and as soon as the little
craft had ridden the foaming wave the
carrier rose in his seat to send a light
Kne TO the deck of the vessel, and then
resumed his seat. The line, was made
fast. and soon the kissing coil of 50
feet was paid out from the rowboat,
and with a leap like that of a monster
fish attached TO the line the rowboat
sprang forward, while the carrier in it
hung on with fierce grip to prevent
himself from being hurled overheard.
As soon as the rOwboat reached the
momentum of the passing vessel pail
was lowered from above with mail to
go ashore and in it was placed the mail
for the ship, after which the line was
east off and the rowboat was picked
up by the yacht to which it was at
tached. This feat of delivering mail
was always difficult in smooth water,
but on stormy days and when the river
was plowed up by strong southwesters
il was exceedingly dangerous as well.
Darkness added more danger to the
task; but week by week the service
grew and became a success. II is pro-
posed now to ask congress for an APP
preparation TO build swift and strong
vessel for boarding purposcs-one that
will be fast enough To catch any vessel
that passes through the river, and one
also that will not be damaged by the
shock of contact when the mailboat is
made fast 10 the other vessel.
The service is continuous one of
"a hours a day during the entire sea-
son of navigation, no matter what the
weather may be. During the busiest
months of the season these large YES
sells sometimes pass at the rate of one
per minute, and IL is almost beyond
belief that none of them is ever missed.
Upon one occasion last year 81 boats
passed during the space of an hour.
$50 pieces of mail were delivered and
% pieces collected during that time
with vessels both ways.
The first month that il was in opera
ton only 90 letters were delivered TO
passing ships, but before the close of
navigation there were 500 pieces of mail
delivered every day.
At present there are only three men
/ n.
of delivering and collecting the letters
These are NJ. 5. Randall, j. Hammes and
w. Yates. Three nerVier men do not
exist. They have gone out with mail
in the teeth of storms that make even
the most courageous shippers on the
lakes think twice before facing. and
never yet have they had an accident or
lost so much as n postal card.-Detroit
Cor. Philadelphia Times.