Evening star., 1909-04-11
By B. w. Atkinson


passing it.
At the end of the line are small
boys, who gather up the empty baskets as they
fall on the deck beside the last member OF this
hold. These boys run to the side of the ship and
throw the baskets down to the deck OF the
scow, where they picked up by other boys,
who place them ready for the shovelers.
These little baskets made of soft grass
material and are about the size of good sized
cowboy sombrero and when filled weigh about
fifteen pounds.
Four Tons . Minute
I BECAME SO interested in watching this end
less stream of coal as it flowed into the hold,
much in the same manner that water flows out
of the buckets on the endless chain OF pump,
that | timed them they reached the end of
the chain, and found that they were dumping
the coal into the seemingly Unsuitable stomach
of the transport at the rate of sixtytlve baskets
a minute. As we were being loaded at eight
ports, little work with pencil and paper will
show the rapidity with which we were taking
on fuel.
Gangs relieve one another at stated periods;
but these periods were long ones, and we mar
veled at the endurance of the little japanese
women, who can stand for hours working like
beavers and all the time laughing and chatting
in the best of humor. They receive for their
day work about ten cents and some food during
the intervals of rest. The boys receive about
three cents for their work. On goes the loading
by daylight and, if necessity demands, all during
the night. Huge electric lights are hung over the
sides, making 1t as bright as day, and the little
figures in their bright colored dresses and heads
wrapped IN bright cloths to keep out the coal
dust make a most weird scene during the night
when all who are not compelled to be up
sleeping. Then the noise of the chatter almost
ceases, and only hum murmur seems to
come up from the side of the ship to lull one
to sleep, as it did me the night in question.
At 1t Ali Night
FRIGHT and early the next morning the same
scene met nv ewes when came on deck
There had been no let-up during the hours had
slept Toward the middle of the forenoon the
ship seemed to be satlated The ladders or steps
were removed and the swarm of little bodies
piled down to the empty scows or into the
native sampan, reminding me of those dear
Brownies of Palmer Cox whose antics delight
both the Young and the old.
They had come to their work clean. Now
they were dirty and black with the coal dust; ;
but weary they must have been with their
hard work, they with the cleanlv habits of the
Japanese were soon at work washing them
selves in the water of the harbor by leaning over
the sides OF the scows or by throwing buckets
of water over one another, removing part of
their dress for the purpose.
As the busy. putting tugs towed away the
scowloads of little people, their upturned faces
were covered with smiles, and they waved their
hands and called out broken English goodbvs.
Those who did not crowd on the scows got
into the native sampan, which is little sharp
pointed fiat bottom boat half covered by low
cabin roof and so low that YOU have to crawl
to get into it When YOU in, YOU wish You
were out; for the teetering of the boat as it is
sculled ashore keeps You in constant fear that
1t will upset and YOU will be d1 1owned like rat
IN trap. As soon as the ship could be cleared
of the peddlers, who infest it from the
time of its arrival till it sails (who sell what
looks like the finest kind of sverware in the
shape OF belt buckles cups. pins, and the like.
which usually turn black before YOU have been
at sea day., the pilot gave his orders. AS we
were heading the wrong way, the helm was put
away over, the propellers started, and we
swung on our fixed buoy till were pointed
outward; when the cable was slipped from the
ring and we were off in the direction of Gods
country" with most pleasant recoectons of
our stay at Nagasaki.