New-York tribune., 1902-06-22
on THE EAST RIVER WATERFRONT
WHERE DARKY LONGsHOREMEN WORK
AND PLAY.

There are many things about the East River
front between the Wall-st. and Fulton-st ferries
which recall the levees OF the South II is there
that the steamers from Texas and from Cuba land
their Southern freight. Great bales OF cotton are
piled up along the shore, gaps in the huriap batng
betraying the fluffy white contents. The tobacco
products are carefully covered. but there Is
no nistaking the tobacco smell Even the structures
on the wharves low as they are in the south
it is the 1ongshoremeu. however. who contribute
the greatest part Of the Southern flavor TO this
norton Of the waterfront They black almost
10 a man. and are as careless ahout thelr dfesS
while at work as is the most Southern darky
During working hours they behave much as do the
white 'loneshoremen Of other wharves. 1t is when
they are at rest that they delightfully."- different
Saturday afternoon is usually resting time.
Freight Saturday boats is not received after IL
= m and they have the long afternoon to them
selves Most of them stay around the piers. held
hv most potent magnet. 1t is not the patterins
of tho waves rpon the bulkheads the continual
passing show of steamers out in the river. nor Is it
delight in the 1t is something even dearer
to their African hearts than cakewalk In short
it is gambling.
They gather In small groups along the edge of
tha shore bukhead which forms the river side Of
South-st Boxes bales and lumber screen them
from the shore side of the street. along which
paces the ever watchful policeman They curl up
on the dusty panking for games OF cards or squat
il, CIRCLES for the ever popular game of craps.
Pedro seven-up and casino are the popular card
games Poker and solo require chips and chips
cannot he carried around in ones coat pocket. Be
Sides they are hard to dispose of in case police
man should happen the wrong side of the street
The cards are greasy Steamboats,. and the stakes
vary according the financial condition OF the
n1ayars The 'longshoremen are great hands at
forcing their luck and good hands in the same
deaI generally result in darky going broke. You
can tell the who believed they had good
thine, when they hadn't They sit like sentinels
on top of lumber pile and look as If they had
been up against the "saddest thing of tongue or
pen. - -, o+fo. .o . .o-,o
Of the shooters exert an influence the black
spotted ivory cubes which puts the Christian Sci
ence theory mind over matter entirely behind
he Is necessary for
take a turn at shooting in order to play in the
negro In fact, some of the luckiest long
shoremen never touch the dice. They bet with an
other bystander that the shooter either wins
loses. The chances supposed to be about even
q: least after the first shot If the player shoots
seven the first time wins: if not, he dupli-
well I reckon dis here game has got to stop"
said of a group of lOngshoremen the other
afternoon.
The crowd looked about hastily. with perhaps
wild idea that the ghost OF the committee of fifteen
was swooping down them.
What's de matter?" asked the big negro who
had been winning steadily for half an hour
I'm done fat broke. dat's de matter.
Well: JUS you drop out o the game" said the
big darky.
"You mus done forgit dat desc bones belongs to
me" There accent the me.
shown that no else in the crowd had dice
with them AT last they had TO agree to his propo-
sition, Stake an the game goes on"
If white man approaches any of the gambling