Vancouver-city of adventurers. Ch.# XXVI. Craftsmen from afar.

                                     Vancouver- city of adventurers

 

                                             Chapter # XXVI

                                                      Craftsmen from afar

 

         The week started normally  enough. The pace of work had slowed on the construction of the Hotel Vancouver. Several skilled workmen were off chasing moonbeams in the Yukon.

Jim and Ian applied themselves as usual, doing what they could to make up for the missing workers. Midmorning, Mr. Conners approached them.

 

“Have you a minute, lads?” asked Mr. Conners.

“Sure, Mr. Conners,” said Jim, surprised that he was interrupting him during a work session.

 

“I think that I have a solution to the missing workmen. I wanted to run it by you lads and see what you think,” said Mr. Conners.

“Okay, Mr. Conners. What have you got planned?” asked Jim politely.

 

“Well, I am importing some skilled laborers from San Francisco,” said Mr. Conners.

“And?” said Jim, sensing the man’s hesitation.

 

“They are Chinamen,” said Mr. Conners. “I am told they are very skilled as plumbers, carpenters and Masons. But, they are foreigners and speak very little English.”

 

“Well, we can use the extra help. That is for sure. I am not sure of the men’s reactions to foreigners though,” said Jim. “If you would like, I will ask some of the lads at lunch.”

 

“That would be a help, Jim,” said Mr. Conners.” I know you two lads are leaving in two weeks. We will need all of the help we can get.”

That said, Ian and Jim went back to work, both thinking through the conversations they would have at lunch.

 

During the lunch break, the topic started, as always, with what was happening in the Yukon. They speculated on who had struck it rich, or claimed to have, and who came back broke and sorry for the adventure.

 

During a lull in the chat, Jim told the lads about Mr. Conner’s proposals. A quiet settled over the men as they digested this statement.

 

“Well, what do you think, lads?” Asked Jim. “Sure, and away, we need the help, or this project will never get done.”

 

“I don’t know,” said Spike McGee slowly. “We do need the help, but CHINESE? That will seem very odd to me.”

 

Red O’Neil chimed in, “Can they at least speak English?” he asked.

 

“I am told not well,” said Jim. “One of their lads is conversant. The other ones would have to listen to him translate.”

 

“Well, that is a problem,” said Spike. “Do they know how to wield a trowel and mortar hod?” he asked.

 

“Mr. Conners says so,” said Jim. “And you know he is a hard man to please.”

“Aye, you have that right,” said Red O’Neil. “If they pass his inspection, they must be good as what they do.”

The consensus seemed to be that the men were a little uncomfortable, working  with “foreigners,” but if that was the only help they could get, they were willing to try and make it work.

 

At the end of the day, Jim stopped by Mr. Conner’s office.

“I think the men will wait and see how hard and how well these lads work, before they complain,” said Jim. “That is fair of them. There are other lads here in Vancouver who simply wouldn’t work with Chinamen.”

 

“Thanks, Jim. I guess we will see tomorrow then. I have a Chinese mason, two carpenters and a plumber coming in to work,” said Mr. Conners.

 

“Okay, I will do my best to help them get settled in, Mr. Conners,” said Jim. “Good night, Sir.”

“Good night, lads. Thanks for the help on this,” said Mr. Conners.

 

On the way home, Jim and Ian talked of what lay ahead.

“Do you think the lads will really accept them?,” asked Ian.

 

 

“I guess we will find that out tomorrow,” said Jim. “If these lads work as well as Mr. Conners says they can and they are no threat to any of our lad’s livelihood, I think they will just appreciate the help.”

 

“ Oaky, Jim,” said Ian. ”Tomorrow will be interesting.”

The brothers headed home to eat and then turn in for the evening.

 

 

 

The next morning, Jim and Ian reported for work as usual. Mr. Conners waved them into his office as they walked by. Four men in dark clothing stood waiting. They were all Asiatic in appearance.

 

“Jim, this is Han Lee,” Mr. Conners said, as he introduced a broad-shouldered man, with dark hair and a pleasant face.

 

Jim stepped forward, extending his hand. “Welcome to the job, Mr. Lee,” said Jim.

 

Han Lee extended his hand and said in passable English. “Thank you, Mr. Mac Adams. Mr. Conners has told us that you will help get us started. We all appreciate what you are doing for us. I will interpret for my friends. Just show us what to do.”

Jim heard and felt the whisper of their hands as calluses brushed against each other. These lads were used to working. They were part of the brotherhood of the pic and shovel, that made up all of Jim’s family and friends.

 

“Fair enough,” said Jim. He led three of the men to stations, where Carpentry and plumbing were happening. He introduced the carpenter to Peter Sadler and asked him to look after the man.

“If anything arises Peter, just come and get me. Han Lee here can interpret for you.”

“Oaky, Jim.” said Peter. “I have lots of work for these lads. I will tell you how they made out at lunch.”

 

“Thanks, Peter, “ said Jim. He then led Han to his work site. He pointed to the trowels and hods and said,” That is where we are laying bricks today, Han.”

 

That was all that needed saying. Han Lee picked up his trowel, filled the hod with mortar and started laying bricks, like he had been on the job there for years.

 

As fast and as capable a mason as either Jim or Ian was, this lad kept up. His work was clean, neat and precise. Jim looked over at Ian and raised his eye brows with a smile.

 

During the lunch period, all of the Chinese lads sat together. They ate their rice and tea with gusto, enjoying the comradeship of their fellows and speaking softly in Chinese.

 

Peter Sadler, Red O’Neil and Spike McGee all stopped by and commented. “Where the hell did Mr. Conners find these lads?” asked Spike. “They have me pushing to stay ahead of them.”

“I found the same,” said Peter Sadler. “This lad knows his saws and has an eye for detail. I appreciate the help.”

 

Jim reported their achievements to Mr. Conners at day’s end.

“Thanks, Jim.” He said with a wave, and then went on to handling other problems at the site.

 

In the years to come, there would be a massive influx of Chinese  workers to Vancouver. They came from an impoverished land and they were willing to work as hard and as long as needed, to fit in and make their way.

 

Inevitably, there would be cultural clashes. Language barriers, different cultural practices and the oddity of interacting with people not at all like themselves, would produce strains and cause occasional problems. It was only later, when native peoples felt that their jobs and way of life were threatened, by a flood of foreigners, that real trouble would emerge.

 

For right now, the Chinese workmen fit in admirably. They filled the gaps left by all of the “Moonbeam chasers” who had gone off to the Yukon.

 

This dynamic  was all part of the Grand Saga that is the development of modern-day Canada. Their evolution, like that of the country below them in the States, was part of a concept the ancient Latins had called  “E Pluribus unum.”(from many- one)

 

                                        -30-

                                 ( 1,297 words)

                               Joseph Xavier Martin