DAILY SHOW OF MANY ACTS TO SHIP GAZERS’ ON LONDON BRIDGES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6844, 23 February 1929, Page 4

DAILY SHOW OF MANY ACTS TO SHIP GAZERS’ ON LONDON BRIDGES

Unloading Cargoes From Ships That Dock In the Thames LONDON, Jan. 37. Unless the weather is very unkind, London Bridge and Tower Bridge are always grandstands for a crowd of “ship gazers,” as these idlers are dubbed by those of us who come to London Town by water. Most of us are weekly traders arriving and departing regularly as per advertised times, some plying to English and Scottish ports while others make a trip to the Continent. A few are monthly boats and go farther abroad. But wherever we sail, our arrival at either of the bridges means a free and doubtless an instructive entertainment to those who gaze down upon our tiny ships. To those who have , seen na others, perhaps we seem quite large vessels, hence the interest our few hundred tons of mixed cargo has for our bridge audience. From Onions to Bird Cages.

The ship next to us is unloading onions in sacks (from Spain). Now and then from the hold comes what appear to be very long bird cages, made of oanc, also rush mats. These havo been among tho onions as a means of ventilation. A bit farther out in the river another ship is discharging a number of small motorcars. These go up stream by barge. Again by tho wharf’s side yet another ship is unloading live sheep. These pass down the gangway like soldiers filing off a troop ship, so orderly is the method of their removal. Near by is a boat being relieved of its cargo of eggs in huge crates, each carried out by four men. Somo Danish bacon being lifted from another port of the same ship makes a good show for to-morrow's breakfast,, While these various cargoes are being unloaded, assisted by the rattle of steam winches and shouts of “Up, Tom, “Lower, Jim,” from the stevedores to tho crane drivers; other ships utc taking in cargo.

A Big Show. The same applies to the largo ships which never sec the bridges, but are welcomed by the open arms of London’s docks. Our audience would have plenty to watch if they saw a big ship discharge the following goods, which, by the wav, is an average cargo brought by a ship in which tho writer sailed several times: 12,000 barrels of apples, 36 tons of soap, 400 cheeses, 48 motorcars, 3200 tons of grain, 500 logs of lumber, a quantity of loose timber, 50 barrels of extract, 10,000 bags of flour, 11 crates of shoes and several lawn mowers. . A ship bringing a big cargo like that just enumerated is described as a deep-sea packet, and her crew sign different articles from weekly boats. V\e who come to the bridges get paid weekly and perhaps have ono night home, while deep-sea craft aro paid at tho end of a voyage and get a week or more at homo before sailing again. I havo mentioned but a few of the wonders to bo seen by our audience on the bridges. To tlioso who have not yet watched tho busy scene, I will say, “Come and be entertained free! ’ Wo arc always pleased to see your kindly faccfe peering down at us.