The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-04-19

U bolts are not broken, ana that the
heavy load just dumped has not bro
ken the sheathing or otherwise injured
the hull The doors Of the big barges
are below the water line and the in
spection is therefore made by head
divers so-called. although they sell
dom need to put their heads below the
surface of the muddy water. They
climb down into the happers and feel
around the hinges and door jams with
their toes. Frequently a rock catch
es between the door and hte jam, ma
king it impossible to close the doors
tight. In such case a line from shore
Is attached to the door and pull by
one OF the winches opens it enough to
let the rock fall out. Actual repairs
are not frequent, although they also
come often enough to make necessary
the maintenance Of the repair shop.
Recently a. gang Of naked divers re-
manned in the water eight hours ma
king repairs to a. hinge.
"One of the larger tugs, the Taver-
n1Ila, brought two empty barges along
side at the station; the supervisor,
megaphone at lips, directed: Big one
and a Moran, The Tavernilla sheered
or from its empty tow at 4:15 a. M,
turned its nose towards the lake, and
with a few turns of it's screw dropped
alongside the big one a 1,OOO-ton
barge loaded until the rock stood
ten feet above the bulkheads. Gu the
bridge turning the wheel, playing the
searchlight. signalling the engineroom
shouting orders to the bargemen, stood
the captain. his own navigator, mate.
and labor foreman. The bargemen
are West Indians, willing and obedient
but not too bright They grabbed O.
line and ran with it to the wrong
stanchion, whereat the captain spoke
IN the language of seaman and they
hauled 1T to the proper post. Then
FaXT GRO 1NEN = ,
three times around a 'niggar head
leaving one part slack.
A Mans Job.
Again the captain spoke from the
bridge, but the men misunderstood.
Then the captain became a third mate.
He ran down from the bridge, jumped
upon the barge, and, becoming a sea-
man, showed the bargemen how to
make fast, expostulating meanwhile in
deep-sea manner. Incredibly quick
he was back again upon the bridge.
The second barge was made fast in
like manner and eight minutes after
she had case off from her empty tow,
the Tavernilla was steaIning down
the canal towards the dumps. Under
any circumstances the captains is a
mans job. To do it well and quick
", without violating the rule forbid
ding profanity in discourse with sub
ordinates, is especially difficult.
"A smell or Goldfish from the gall
ley was followed by the aroma. of cof-
fee. The captain and the engineer
met in the cabin and there sat down
to as good meal of soup. fish, steak,
chops, potatoes. peas, timed peaches,
cake. and coffee as hardworking men
could ask for on a chilly night in the
middle of Gatun Lake. Aft, the
crew also was at it's supper.
Shortly after this the lights mark
ing the dumps at Darien were picked
UP. Presently the calling of orders
from the bridge was resumed, the
men 1eaped upon the barges and the
rattle of chains followed as the doors
were Unmatched and the load of earth
and rock was allowed to drop through
the bottom to the bed of the lake.
-Four hours after the Tavernilla
left, with, her tow she was back again
at the barge station, leaving the emp
ty barges and picking up two loaded
ones.
"Twenty-four hours day this rou-
tine continues; seven days in the week,
only stopping for Christmas and July
4; from eight in the morning until
four In the' afternoon, from four in
the afternoon until midnight, and from
midnight until a. m. This last
trick of duty is not liked by the men:
therefore they call it the graveyard
watch a.