The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-08-25
WAR ON THE RAPIDS.
Pilots SlashIng Each other on Tow
iue--The Cause of it,


river men are interested is nevertheless
of considerable Importance and is being
waged now between the pilots and own
ers of rival towboats on the upper rap
ids. The towing over the rapids at this
stage of the water is done mainly by
three small boats the West Rambo, Jen,
ME Gilchrist and Pilot. The Gilchrist is
owned by Jack MeCaffrey and J. N, Long
the Pilot is owned or operated by David
Dorrance and the Rambo is named after
it's owner who has charge of her. The
war is being carried on by Dorrance
and Rambo, as against McCaffrey
and Long. There has been an
existing rivalry between these pilots for
some time, which has finally eliminated
in open warfare, and cut in the rates for
towing RATS over the difficult passages
of the rapids, which skilled and expert
enced men alone can do at the present
low water
. The immediate cause of the present
difficulty seems to have been misunder~
standing of signals between Mccartney
and Dorrance short time since, when
they met on the rapids. Mccartney was
coming down with a tow with the Gill
christ, and Dorrance was going up with
the B. Hershey. As was his place to do,
Dorrauce gave the signal whistle
which side to take, and Mccartney failing
to answer as he should have done, Dor
rance in landing gave the Gilchrist an
uncomtortably close shave, and then
Mccartney reported Dorrance to In
spectors Burns and Scott, at Galens. and
Dorrance entered cross plea charging
McCaflrey with violating the marine law,
in not responding to his signal. The in
spectors sat as court on the case, and
the result has not yet been made
known.
McCaffrey Immediately sought re-
venge by inaugurating cut in the
prices of rapids towing, giving
notice to captains that he would
take RATS over the rapids for S25 for
bow boat aud pilotagc. This was a big
cut, the customary charge being 500,
which comprised S45 for bow boat and
$40 for pilota9e Dorrance Immediately
met the cut, and SO they are having it.
The cut will save the boat bringing the
raft to the head of the rapids 500 on
each raft, for when the water on the
rapids becomes low. raft is cut and di
vided into halves at LeClaire. and two
pilots take charge of half, one in the
pilot house of the tow steamer and one
in the pilot house of the bow boat-a
small steamer which is placed at the
leading end of the raft and guide it
down the rapids ard through the gov>
where their service ends. They then re-
turn to LeClaire with both steamers, and
bring the remaining half down in
the same manner. Here the Two
parts of the raft are united, and its
steamer goes on south with it, while the
bow boat returns to the head of the rap
ids for more business. Now, before the
war was commenced the pllotage of a
raft from LeClaire to Rock Island in the
manner described, cost the owner not
less than $110.-or So for the trip of
each half Now the whole business
costs but S50.-a saving of $50 for the
steamer.
The pilots are at no little expense in
conducting the contest as they do. When
no raft is IN waiting at LeClaire, the bow
boats will steam up the river. often for
many miles, until they meet business.
And there is some pretty nice racing Of
ten between the opposing bow-boats.
Then often a captain in charge of raft
will say. Il promised this tow to the 9th
er party. and l will have to give it to
him" Now, it is said that inducements
are held out 10 captains to favor this or
that party to the contest.
Dorrance and Rambo having two
steamers at their command TO McCalfreY's
one, are likely to have the lions share of
the business, tor one may wait at the
head while the other lows the strings
over. II Is said though, that Mccartney.
IN the meantime, goes sailing way up the
river even as far as Clinton, to meet
rafters with logs. in order to secure the
rapids work, but he was come up with in
an amusing way the other day A raft
had been promised to Dorrance. when
Mccartney offered to undertake the tow~
ing for less than S25, the cut rate,
in order to get the job away from
DOrrance, who heard of 1t and was
so enraged that he signed an agreement
to do the towing for 81, and was given
the work. The raft was in charge of the
Musser and though Dcrrance lost money
by the operation he came out ahead in
the long run. How long this warfare
will be carried on cannot be surmised as
the re is considerable bitterness of feeling
between the contending parties.
Meanwhile the rapids pilots for the
freight steamers and the passenger packs
cts continue the even tenor of their way,
and receive the old price of $40 trip for
pilotage up or down the rapids. They are
disinterested spectators of the tow and
bow boat row. 1t is fun for them,
Police Points.
Geo lambert was hound over to the