The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-08
MISSISSIPPI DECK HANDS.
A Different Ragtime for Each Class of
Freight In Process of Handling.

From The Memphis Evrning Scimtt1T-
One who makes trip up the river and watches
the antics of the negroes and listens to their weird
songs and tales will not agree with the iconoclast
Who says that all the beauties and the picturesque
features have faded out of the steamboatman's
life As a line Of negroes goes up the hill under
the glare of the searchlght, with their peculiar
swinging tread and sing the music, which seems
somehow to b. an essential part Of the action the
sight is one which has a strange wildness ahoutit
and fascination, too The negro is not the same
as he was before the war Conditions have
changed too much for that But he has retained
his love for the fantastic and most Of those bar
barrie customs which civilization seems unable
to eradicate from the African mind
The first mate has undergone a marked meta
morphosis and to his change is due some por-
ton Of the new features in the deckhands char
actor Time was when the first mate had a vo
cabulary which would make ordinary sailors
parrot die for shame. lie had this vocabulary,
and the negroes held the same opinion as tho
one who answered, when asked i he did not OBJ
Jet to the mates abuse: No, boss DAT Thui
he's paid for Hes got Ter make out he's dom Ea,r
the deckhands actually 0be 10 being sworn
al when the oaths become too vigorous. The
even when the business is only moderately heavy
and last winter during the big rush crew Of
80 suit thcn, They were offered 500 n month
but wanted 500 for the trip
The first PECULIARLY which strikes the observer
about the dcClihand il his walk. He has elm ed
up the steep river cmhankment when there was
mud all over it, and he has come down that same
slide with heavy weight upon his back He
has adopted step which prevents him from slip
ping and this gives him peculiar shutting
step unlike any movement seen elsewhere. he
| combines with this hosting uf the shoulders
| and a peculiar turn Of the head acquired from
| shoulder These three traits are distinctive
| and give the deckhand strange appes rance
upon Ne lcvee, or anywhere oil a boat or away
| from the river
As he works going up the inclines or along
| the gangplank, prcCaTlOuSly resting upon a
| leyees crest, he has rhythmic sort OF chant
which fits in with his music. Always the same
class 81 songs sung. Usually there are no
| words but some leader chants and the others
voice the chorus as they bend 10 their tasks. There
| are sack songs and barrel songs, and music for
| the cotton tales and the ordinary package The
music varies with the task, as the movement OF
| the negroes bodies varies ! he cotton song,
as the bale is lifted forward and allowed 10 drop,
| has a catchy swing u it. Down go the sharp
| hooks AMI the hale starts up 70 ia I quick
| thud So does the music The other airs, like
| all negro music, are rHrnDnlpus not melod,e' =,
| who a-e timed to the labor
| The crap game can be seen in Its luA glory
| only when the 1eckhand plays il upon the boats
deck From the foot Of Presidents Island tc
| the city no Stops are made, and a like condition
| prevails in regard % boats from the upper river
| This is called the crap limit. The negroes ere
paid of before thoy reach tho city. ana usually
| at the last stop be.0re tho city, As soon as th'
pay il received the negroes gather and begin
| 70 shoot craps, and tho cries for big Dick, anc
1 Little Joe" and Ada" arc heard until tho boa
| has landed When IL does some few negroes
] generally poasoss the money paid " al