THAMES BARGEMEN

Evening Star, Issue 19019, 14 August 1925, Page 2

THAMES BARGEMEN

FIGURES THAT ARE PASSING Tha Thames bargeman, butt of STST* inevitable, but when the oid-iasluonud barge has' disappeared the river wdl have lost some ot its especially in the readies between imfieet and Southend (writes a correspondent in the London limes ). P The barge’s beauty has beckoned to many of our marine artists, who have depicted them in ballast, or so heavily laden that their decks are almost awash -nr towering high with hay. fvowadajs, indeed, a barge with bulky cargo is e »ier found in a picture than on the i -er. Bigger vessels bear ott tne I rger loads, and there is always tho fa tlway and motor lorry to oiler quicker surveying from the nvtrside a barge under way, is apt to look upon barge work, et,pecmU> in summer days, as akin to yachting. Ho dr.3 not take into account its hazardcan nature or the unforeseen cucumEtances encountered on any voyage which takes tho barge beyond the seaboard of these islands. The mew (master, mate, and cook) are paid on A freightage basis, so that they are to b, large extent dependent upon tho kindness of the elements. A week ot wile or no wind on a run from Dovei M London would be as disastrous to Their economic prospects as u they ex- ') rrienced a gale in the river. Yet, '> ith a fair wind and a heavy freight, Saere is no cheerier being than tiie Whames bargee, though ho will not •band nonsense from those who are independent of the wind. A question of the (t rule of tho road has caused many a heated argument between bargeman and “ brass-bound pkipper, perched high on the bridge of a

passing tramp steamer whoso siren has been shrieking double blasts. And seldom has the bargee been scant of words or lost the palm for thrustful repartee. Whenever the time comes for the river to be bereft of sailing barges, none will be more thankful than masters of tramp and others of their kind. These dignitaries aro apt to forget that the typo which mans the barges helped to make London the chief city of the Lmpire long before steam was thought of. While_ yet wo have the barge with us, it might be well to revive the races between Gravesend and the Nore. Until about fourteen years ago they were an annual feature, well patronised. It was the day of the year when the barges looked their best, with hulls showing a lavish use of tnr, blackload, and paint, and sails testifying to abundant treatment with red ochre. All the waterside workers and their wives and families, or such of the latter as were equal to a possibly rough voyage, were thoro; and of musi6al instruments as many as could bo carried in tho limited space.. With a fair wind there was always tho chance of excitement. Great was the applause when a favorite by clever tactics managed to “ hlanKet a rival. The race called for expert seamanship and quick decision, barges when light being difficult to handle; a moment’s hesitation in a turn of the helm or in easing halliards might have serious consequences.