The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

danger OF being stove in by sharp rocks,
or being forced sideWise to the current,
and thus upset; but the rivermen knew
every rock in the river. and every trick
OF the current
The batteau vas furnished, with can
hvass covering OF some eight or ten feet
IN length, stretched over hoops. al one
end. and flst piece Of iron. large enough
TO build q fire on. was laid IN front Of
the canvass covering Here the cooking
was done. and under this canvass was
the boatman's home. Living was easy
and cheap for him. The pigpen OF the
chicken house Of any one Of his patrons
along the river furnished meat for him.
which he obtained between suns by the
exercise OF a little slight Of hand. The
corn fields furnished roasting ears in
season. or ripe corn. which he could turn
into coarse meal. all along his route
close at hand to be appropriated as need
ed without let or hindrance.
Ready for n Customer.
The river furnished him, hsh. so thar
it may be concluded the b4tteau-man en-
joyed life. He would steal noiseiessly
along the shady river bank and tie up
at the landing place Of some weII-to-do-
farmer whose crop Of wheat or tobacco
was ready for shipment. report his readi-
ness for business. and await the con-
venIence Of his patron. Meantime he
would be invited 10 "shindig'' fdancel in
the neighbOThoOd by some OF his dusky
friends. where p0ssum and sweet po-
tatoes. hominy and shoat. along with
some good corn whisky. were served.
There is an old song. often rendered by
the bCatmen. a song so old that its be-
ginning is lost IN the mists Of that coun-
try's traditions:
Dance the boatman dsncs
Dance tie bostEaa dance
Dance al rizht
Tiu the brssd day light
And s. houae With the GALS II the no-zing
Il IS best rendered on the Jews harp.
and would bring tears 10 the eyes Of any
old boatman Of that river II he could
hear Il now as in the days OF that river
life.
When a fuH-orbed moon was in the sky.
as the battesu glided along with the
current. on some placid stretch Of the
river. the banjo would be in evidence
and a rich. sonorous voice would break
the silence % the night; voice even
more enhancing than that OF "Adrias
GondOlier. by distance mellowed over
the waters sweep. awakening the
echoes far and near
Prophecy Not Ful6lIed.
Some time before the Revolutionary
war Lord Gotham Travelled through Viz
ginis and crossed James River at Car
tersviIle. very small village on the
south side, where he noted many batteaux
tobacco for market Carters-
vile was then the shipping point for
many square miles around Lord Cob
ham made honorable mention Of this VII
lage IN the memoirs Of his travels. on
his return to England. predicting that
Csrtersville was destined 70 become a
great city.
The noble lord was not a good prophet:
Gainesville has had but few houses added
10 L since. When the canal was finished !
the batteaux used IL from the lock al /
Alaiden's Adventure dam 70 Richmond !
This entaiIed some hard work upon the I
two 0atteau men fl turn. because. there i
being no helping current in the canal. 1
one OF the men dragged the boat with a /
rope tied across his shoulders. while the 4
Other acted as helmsman. BY this slow 4
out-sUre method the cargo was delivered I
IN Richmond But the glory OF the bat
-eau has departed It's death knell was i
sounded when the railroad engine blew 4
is whistle. Crops are at present hauled 4
across the river in ferry boats to the de- I
pots. entaiIing much annoyance and hard 7
work upon the farmer.
The occupation Of the James River
is gone forever. and he lives
now. II ne lives al all. on the reminis-
,enees Of a happy past which. for him.
an never be repeated