The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-18
THE DOCK WALLOPER IN TOWN.
He Is Comparatively New Here and Cor.
responds TO the Roustabuut.


responds to the Roustabuut.
The riers Of the North and East rivers at
which coast line steamers discharge and
receive freight resemble the levees OF the
lower Mississippi Eiver and the Missouri
when steamboating was in its glory. About
them is seen the dock walloper.
The negro dock walloper is the antithesis
of the ooiored sport, or the colorei man In
easier circumstances. He is the roust-
about Of steam6oa at life, ashore.
He is q com oaratively new factor In New
York That is, he IL more numerous than
formerly. The decadenoe OF steamboating
in Western and Southern waters is re-
sponsible for his migration to this city.
But the city has not changed his lounging
pait, his serio- comic character. or his loose
and usually ragged makeup. OF course,
his calling would not permit him To dress
well, but aside from this, II one got a new
hat he would not be happy until 1t fell into q
mudhole, or q break smashed in the crown.
The best negro impereonators In burnt
cork get their manners and makeup from
the type that Is seen about the docks OF the
coastwise steamers.
A new feature in this life In New York Is
the old negro woman who serves the dock
wallpapers with food She Is the typical
negro woman Of the cotton field and the
plantation Of the South.
One seen In South street the other day
wore a ,insey frock and red and yellow
bandanna tied over her head. Her outfit
consisted OF a big coffee pot, kettle, tin
platters and cups, iron knives and forks,
and big pewter spoons.
She kindled blaze close TO the slip and
warmed up the contents Of the kettle and
the coffee. vi lie she busted herself she
hummed an old plantation melody. Ne
wors be ss xnen 1hey sns dock wall
lopers stood or lounged about a lot Of cotton
bales waiting for the old woman to serve
her provender. One stretched himself on
bale and slept and snored. Several others
sat upon the stone stree: ,h paving egi;c, ,,ols.
out OF place was the cigarette habit. The
such smokes. The little brown pipe or
the cob was what he liked: But the New
York dock wssi .Sp has aa,, become ci'ined
While the cook was stirring her big pot a
steamer from Havana arrived. Tho cook
served her broth with chunk OF black
breAd-something new to negro laborers,
who, In the South, knew only the corn
pone. But the old cook said she couldn't
IuAk0 C0fh popo ~. A'o" Oes
toners fell to on whatever she handed out.
Some paid, to others she gave credit.
She said she knew which ones to trust.
sDey dassent fool me- she said. Il
nsbber had none OBJ desc coons try to beat
me-
sBut II one should2" she was aaked.
Den do patrol tend TO dar cases,
To all Southern negroes the officer az
the law lie a patrol. The title eoee back
to the time when negroes in the hemp
walk and on the plantations had TO turn in
at certain hour. II caught out after
that the patrol gave them a drubbing.
The Cuban steamer was In her berth by
the time the meal OF the dock wallpapers
was finished and they lined UP for orders.
The old cook threw her utensils together.
counted her money. lighted her pipe and
smoked. Then she leaned against cotton
bale and went to sleep.
A policeman on the beat said she wou ID
lounge about the pier to see II she coui
get up another meal and then abe would
pack her traps and go to the loft where sho
lived. a few blocks up the street.
where do her customers sleep2'
IAN over One OF these coons lives in
Jersey City When the nights are warm
| some Of them sleep on the docks, or on the
cotton bales, anywhere that night over
takes them. Most Of them are newcomers
| from the South