The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1902-07-02
HOW STORES OF DIXIE WERE RECEIVED.
Apathy of Natives at Fort De France "nen tne
United States Cruiser Arrived. Beggars Were After
Money Not Food. of the Cruisers Stores

hand toward the hills behind the city
and that La Pelee was angry again.
All this was, 10 say the least or It
surprising in view of the haste with
which the Dixie had been loaded and
dispatched to Martinique.
| In the main street of the town was
the Grand Hotel de pEurope and across
! the way a little pavilion cafe, where
in a score of Frenchmen, officers anc
| civilians, were taking their ease over
variously colored beverages in deep
/ glasses. They were talking OF the vol
cano. to be sure, and of the arrival OF
: the Dixie, but it was not in the tone
we had expected. There was no lack
of gratitude that the cruiser had
| brought relief. 1t was accepted later
bv the acting governor and the mayor
with utmost grace. but the city seemed
to accept it's fortunes and misfortunes
with complacency not quite French.
Early in the forenoon Captain Berry
of the Dixie and Captain Gallagher OF
the commissary department Of the ar
nv made formal visits to the city Off
Gals, which were promptly returned,
and arrangements were made for land
ing the cruisers stores. Cargo ports
were then flung wide, little green
and black launch from the French
cruiser Suchet came alongside with
lighters, and the work Of breaking out
the stores was begun.
From this time until the Dixie
steamed away to st. Vincent the news
paper correspondents heard scores of
conflicting stories about the landing of
the supplies. The officers of the Dixie
and the army officers aboard her,
whose position as national representa-
tives was now even more marked,
heard nothing, knew nothing, said
nothing they left these matters to the
correspondents with the stereotyped
statement, "You see we are getting the
stuff ashore as rapidly as can be ex-
pected.'
While this was true, it was no ex-
preston of opinion as to possible or
expected ceierity i'll unloading. We had
had been promised to do the unload
ing and that when time came for han
ding the cruisers stores only a hand
full of the blacks reported for duty
We had heard also that the working
blacks had struck for higher pay and
that considerable trouble was eXpe-
rienced ashore in getting the supplies
stored. But no one knew" Of these
things; no one on the ship had heard
of trouble, and ashore any inquiries
about it We're met with gestures OF
amazement 1t was impossible [shoul-
ders shrugged; there were the lighters
loading, coming ashore, unloading
what more [arms extended horizontal
lyl? 1t was no easy thing to work in
such heat throw mopped with per-
fumed handkerchiefl; you shall see,
you shall see La smile and bow with
hand pressed to breastl, and do you go
to st. Vincent?
All day long the bluejackets have
been toiling in the steaming holds We
are to put ashore here about 500 tons
of stores, and among these will be cod
fish IAN unpleasant shipmate through
out the Dixie's voyage), rice, bareback,
baking powder, bacon, flour, sugar,
timed milk, preserves, tents, axes,
shovels, spades, hats, suits Of clothing
for men, wrappers and underclothing
for women, shoes for each, medical
stores, needles. thimbles and thread.
We are told that all these will have
been taken out by noon tomorrow and
that Immediately thereafter we are to
weigh anchor and get under way for
Kingstown, st. Vincent, there to I'M
load the remainder of the stores.