Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-30
CHARLESTON TO NEW YORK.
Scenes and Incidents Of the Trip on a
Clyde Liner.
nee Of the Yorkville ENQUIRER.

Correspondence OF the Yorkvil1e ENQUIRER.
Clyde Steamship Arapahoe, Off the
coast Of Virginia, II a. m, July 26.-
About 26 hours out from Charleston,
about % hours from New York, with
delightfully."- fair weather behind and the
prospects Of fair weather ahead, / find
myself in just the right kind Of humor
to fill up columns Of space, the only
trouble being that owing to the nature
Of the case can hardly hope to be
able to put into this letter anything
to command especial interest.
The Arapahoe reached Charleston
from Jacksonville yesterday morning
at about o'clock, and I went aboard
at 8, and for two hours watched the
swarm of stevedores, while they rush
ed aboard what must have been at
least q trainload Of cargo. There
were about six gangplanks running
from the wharf into the ship at differ
ent places, and over these planks the
cargo poured into the ship in contin-
uous stream for nearly four hours.
There were hundreds and hundreds Of
bales Of cotton goods from one Of the
up-country mills, consigned to Shang-
hal, China, many barrels Of rosin for
New York, quite large quantity OF
cellaneous assortment Of merchandise,
including household furniture and
other articles that would make an at
tempt at detailed mention quite tedi-
GUS. But the loading Of a ship Is not
an uninteresting process. The cargo
had been classified on the wharf, and
the foreman Of the stevedores has his
men so assigned that each knows ex-
actly what to do. The lighter stun Is
rushed along the gangplanks into
open ports, and the heavier stuff Is
picked up by big derrick and let
down into the lower hold through a
great hatchway. The stevedores, near
ly all negroes, work like killing snakes
and they do tremendous amount OF
work in a very short time. The ship
was due to leave Charleston at 10
o'clock; but owing to the large amount
Of cargo to go aboard the gangplanks
were not taken down until half past
10. Just as the last truck load was
going in, big, black negro walked
around the ship beating tremendous
brass gong as signal for all who
were not sailing to go ashore, and
within two minutes after the sounding
Of this gong, we were backing out OF
the slip into the harbor.
While the ports were being closed,
the great crowd Of negro stevedores
swarmed around the doors opposite
three commenced like this: Nov,
white folks, niggers have been sweat
in hard to get you off. Amt you
please going to throw this Niger a
nickel?" They held out their hands in
the most comic duplication, and 9TH
ers about them assumed attitudes
which said, that IL a nickel comes
over this way. the best man will get
it." The situation, Of course, appealed
strongly to the passengers, and In a
moment the nickels began to fly into
the crowd. The scramble that fol-
lowed was interesting and exciting.
The negroes fell all over each other
for the small pieces Of money, and
several Of them came near falling into
the water. In number Of cases after
an eager negro had slapped his hand
down on a coin, another would go af-
ter 1t and knock 1t into the water.
They did not seem to mind this, how
ever but Immediately transferred their
interest to the coins that were still
coming from the ship.
The Arapahoe Is one Of the finest
ships in the coastwise service. 1t Is
about $50 feet long and 46 feet wide,
can carry $500 tons of freight and has
for about 200 passen-
gers. On this trip the passenger list
includes los people, and the crew
numbers SO persons. Most Of the pas
sengers are Florida, Georgia and south
Carolina people, with a few northern
ers, who have been been to Florida,
and the West Indies, returning home
Travel Is rather light at this season;
but those aboard are generally pleas
ant and sociable, and everybody seems
to be enjoying the trip immensely.
Generally services are held on board
on Sundays; but there were none yes
terday. There was no minister among
the passenger list and although sew
eral passengers expressed regret at
the omission Of services, nobody vol
unteered to lead and the day passed
without any effort at congregated
service. l was agreeably surprised,
however, to note the strength OF the
sentiment among the passengers In
Of the situation. Some
ladies' and gentlemen, too, were out
spoken in saying that it was a shame
that such an important matter should
be neglected, and believe they really
felt that way. But to the credit Of all
on board be 1t said, the Sunday OBJ
servance was good. Not being accus-
toned to such things, was not i'm
pressed yesterday; but thought peo-
pie were just conducting themselves
as they always do on their trips. But
there is some contrast today. Gentle
men and ladies are playing whist in
the social hall today, and there are
parties of men in the smoking room
playing poker for small stakes. l saw
lothing Of the kind yesterday, and I am
informed that 1t Is altogether because |
Of the inclination Of the passengers, |
who are allowed to do just about |
whatever they like, so long as they do
not encroach on the comfort or priv
loges of others.
Just before left home, Miss Lowry,
The Enquirer's efficient proofreader, |
who by the way Is quite sailor, hav-
ng been down the Pacific coast from
San Francisco to Panama, and
through the West Indies back to New |
York, bet me five cents that l would |
De sea sick before l got to New York. |
am only about half way now; but |
t looks as If 1t Is my money. The