Excerpt from - Cleveland Panic and Other Joys

Deckhand LLC — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:21:47 +0000

Loading coal was an even dirtier process than loading iron ore. A loud roar and a towering plume of coal dust accompanied each dumping of the railroad cars. As the coal was shot into the cargo holds more dust would be kicked up, covering the entire ship as it settled. Although we buttoned our shirts to the top and put rubber bands around our pant legs, we still found coal dust in our shorts. By the time we finished loading you would have thought we were in blackface.

After hours of loading coal we buttoned up the hatches as the captain guided the Hoyt into Lake Erie. The boat was filthy, and we had to hose down the walkways before we could knock off. The rest of the boat would have to be soogeyed the next day. It had been 36 hours since we reported for duty and we were exhausted when we made our way to our cabins. I stripped to my skivvies outside the cabin, not wanting to track coal dust into the room. Then I took a long, hot shower, ignoring my hunger, and collapsed on my bunk.