The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1851-09-18
SteambOating in the West.

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SteambOating in the West.
In the earlier days Of s,ea,nboating 10 the
West, the captains and pilots were men
who had served their tiuo and learned their
trade upon the broadhorns or keel-boats,
and u rough set they were. Almost born,
and really educated upon the river, passed
their Gays either in floating down stream,
exposed To the dangers OF the voyage or
yearly working their boat up again in the
face of the rapid current, liable at any time
to be attacked by some one Of the many
gangs of robbers that infested all the region
through which they passed., exposed to hea,
and cold, To SNOW aud rain, plying the oar
by day and the ~ whiskey bottle am. fiddle
bow by night, they formed class strictly
sui generfs, and a devil-nlay-care, rOyster-
ing, ready handed, and open hearted one at
tbat.. ggs a 3's~
BY these men were the earlier boats off,
cered, and now for the boats themselves. -
Differing in every particular from those OF
the present time, they were built with hulls
very clumsy indeed, but seryiceable in re-
resisting the attacks of the frequent snags
Their engines were all low pressure, and
their cabins upon deck. Accidents were
then of frequent occurrence, hut almost in-
varaLly the result Of a contact with d sna.
Fires aud explosions were not then so com
mon as now, but perhaps The greatest pro-
poriional sacrifice of human life occurred
after high pressure boilers were introduced,
and before lower deck cabins were dISpens-
ed with. The captains were a fresh water
variety of the old sea-kings; doing pretty
much what they pleased with the boa. aud
passengers, freight and wood yards.
man who had been for ipany years a
mate upon the river boats, and whom fell
IN with while travelling, told me many
amusing incidents of his life afoat, bur "a
uong all his yarns, one touching certain do
'ngs OF two ancient pilots of the wellknown
old steamer Uncle Sam, amused me most
Ihe Uncle Sam was the largest boat of
her day, and had two of the best pilots on
the river. Between these men, whom we
viii call for the nOnce, Smith and Brown,
there existed bitter feeling of rivalry
The first engineer sided with Smith the first
pilot; and the second engineer with Brown.
Que day when the boat was leaving Match
eZ, Brown who was steering, ran her a
short distance down stream in order TO pass
the town under full head of steam. Jus.
as he was abreast Of it, the first engineer,
who was working the boat, shut the steam
nearly off, nor would he put it on again un-
al they finally and very slowly passed The
town. Brown saw The finger of Smith in
his manRuvres, and determined to be re-
venged in kind. He was. On the mex,
down trip, heavy fog arose at sunset, and
/ Smith, who at that time abandoned the
wheel to Brown, ordered him To run the
boat until nine O'Clock, and then tie her up;
to have steam put up all night, and if the
fog should lift, to call him.
| "Tie the boat up" exclaimed Brown
81 can run her in any such fog as there is
Tonight. III run her till twelve, and lhe,
tie up, as you are afraid"
81 can run her any night, and any where
that you cam" replied Smith, "and if you
do move her till twelve, call me then-thal's
ALL"
Browu kept on for time, but the fog
came on heavier, and having made sure hi.
coadjutor was fast asleep, he rounded the
boat to q wood yard and tied up. Hi,
friend, the second engineer was on duty
and according to Browns directions, the
wheel was, unshipped and tn. steam KEEP
up. At twelve, Brown went to the whec
again, and sent waiter TO call Smith, who
soon made his appearance, rubbing hi,
eyes, and anything hu, pleased at the pros
pect before him; although, strictly speak
ing, prospect there was none, for he could
not fairly discover the tip Of his nose ful
the fog.
"Hallo 70 said Brown, "are you there
Pve called you according to orders, now
think you had better just tie up ami turn ia
again, or you'll make a smash before NOR
ming" Smith growled our that he was abl,
to steer any boat in any fog, and took the
wheel; Brown went below. The boat wa.
fast to the bank, but neither bank nor any.
thing else could poor Smith see. Th,
wheels which were ungearcd, turned round
and round with the swift current, and ,ht
splashes reaching his ears, the Kissing o
the steam in her low pressure boilers sound
ed all right 10 him, and so cursing his ha.
luck, Browns obstinacy. and his own stu
Pldlty IN accepting the banter, he turned III,
> " heel now this way, now that, expecting
every moment 10 hear and feel the boa
crash against something. A thousand times
during his dreary watch, did he deternin
to give up his desperate undertaking, an,
as often did pride step in and prevent him
and 70 finally, having made up his mind {,
let the worst come, he gave tubular orde
TO the engineer 10 work her very slow an.
Ke!n on, rs ne supposed. About sunrise
Brown. accompanied by the Captain an,
other officers, assembled the hurricane deck
Halo Smith," said Brown, sis Iha
you?"
"Yes, it is," replied Smith, Grossly c
nough.
"fOu haven't been running all night,
reckOn!" continued Brown.
"Don't you see havei'' answered Smith
"Don't you know where you are?" Ifyo
doo't, you had better get your eyes scrut
bed out"
"No," said Brown, 81 can't say I do
Where are we!"
"Just above Naichez," was the reply.
"Weil, matey," said Brown, "you hav
. done il this time, aud wouldn't be in you
boots for hogshead Of niggers."
"What have done, and what do yo
mean!" demanded Smith ferociously.
"Ooue! Done enough!' - roared Brown
81 left the boat tied up to old Jones's par
tation, and if you have gone and towed tn,
down to Natchez, they'll have you up f.
abduction, and nigger stealing, and putin
distractions in the channel OF the river, an
: the Lord ha' mercy on ye."
a very moist raw of the sun pee,,i,,