Wichita eagle., 1889-08-22

a
Devil Trick of Tom Gross.
The old time steamboatmen are not all
dead. Many Of them still linger on the stage
Of life, though in these days OF rapid transit
and railroad rush they are probably looked
upon as super1uous. Between them, how
ger, there exists a sort of freemasoury that
draws them closer and closer together as
their ranks are thinned by death. In all the
large river cities there exist little coteries-
some places only two or three; in others,
large numbers-who preserve among them
selves formal or informal club or aSsocia-
ton and meet at stated or irregular intervals
and talk over old times
The writer was one of a little group of
these kindred souls a short time ago, when
one of them recited a h5tle incident that viii
long live in the traditions of the Ohio river
QUEER CRAFTS CAPERs-
Two steamers were bound up the river be-
tween Cincinnati and Louisville One Of
them was a large side wheeler-either the
Silver Neon or Glendale, the narrator forgot
which Anyhow, IL was one Of the class OF
steamers known in those days as a "Cincin
natl tub with a model like a cheese box.
She was running in the Cincinnati and Mem
phis trade. The other was little stern
wheeler named the Volunteer, running in the
Cincinnati and Cumberland river trade. She
was a curious sort Of a craft and had decided
ly cranky habits. Her hull had formerly
been a canal boat a pair Of heavy towboat
engines had been put on this hull and a sort
of box cabin constructed. she could run like
a scared wolf, but, as stated, had cranky
habits. She had balance rudders that some
how or other were never exactly in the posi-
ton they should be- and altogether this queer
craft was a terror TO pilots. She belonged to
three men, all well known in ST. Louisat that
time, and whose memories are still cherished
here by hosts of friends. They were James
L. Maginnis, William Reilly and William
Burt.
On the occasion referred to the Volunteer
overhauled the Cincinnati tub and passed her
on the starbOard side, when the rudders got
crossed, or something happened to cause the
little stern wheeler to cut one of her cranky
capers. When probably her length ahead Of
the side wheele. she "took a sheer, and ran
squarely across the bow of the big boat
Hiram o. Brazee, well known pilot, until
recently inspector at Memphis, was, he
thought, in the pilot house. He saw there
was no use Of trying to pull her back, and to
Sop was to let theside wheeler run her down;
so ne simply pulled the wheel hard down, and
tie little stern wheeler actually ran clear
around the Cincinnati tue, coming up again
abreast on the starboard side Of course,
ahere was excitement on both boats, and
cheers and yeils, and not few curses, as Il
was thought the pilot of the Volunteer was
responsible for the boats maneuvers. While
this was going on, the little boat Strengthened
out up the river, and again gradually forged
ahead until we'll in the lead, when, to the
profound establishment OF everybody, she
again took Sheer" and again clear
around the big side wheeler, exactly repeat
Ing the former naneuver.
TON GROSS TRICK.
A little event in which this craft figured
was then related 1t was the habit i'll those
days for the steamers bound up stream to
take fuel barges-coal or wood-in tow, and
continue the "trip while transferring the fuel
from barge TO steamer. When the fuel was
transferred the barge would be. set adrift,
with one man on board, who would care for
and land it. There were two magnificent
beats plying in the Cincinnati and Louis
vile packet trade, the America and the
United States. They were probably the
finest, and, without doubt, the fastest boats
atioat. They were beautiful steamers, and
constructed on such perfect lines that their
pilots could control them as closely as craft
was ever controlled. The pilots of these
steamers used to indulge in little trick for
their own amusement which was cause of
great trouble TO she pilots and commanders
Of other boats 1t was this: On meeting an
other boat the signal would be sounded for
passing, but when the two boats would get
close together the pilot on the big packet
would turn his boat, as if with the deliberate
intention of running into the other boat
To avoid collision the other boat would
of course be stopped and backed. The big
boat, however, under perfect control, would
never slacken speed IN the least, but under
full Roadway run right up, and, curving
gracefully, pass on, sometimes SO close as to
make it appear that only a miracle prevented
a collision. These pilots had learned to con-
troll their boats so completely that they could
do this with perfect safety, and enjoy the
fright of people on the other boats. Tom
Gross, a pilot who had his life well nigh
scared out of him on two or three occasions
by these fellows, was at the wheel on board
the Volunteer on a trip up the river when
one Of these big boats was met. Gross knew
what was going to happen, and conceived
plan for turning the tables on the joIlers
The Volunteer had a wood barge in tow. and
had transferred the fuel, but at the request
of the owner was towing the boat TO point
up the river. Gross called a cub pilot to
take the wheel and went below, first caution
ing the cub nos 70 get frightened at the big
boat, but just to hold her straight up the
river and not ring a single bell" Taking an
ak in his hands, Gross stationed himself right
by the head line by which the barge Yves fast
ened 10 tine boat
On came the big steamer, bearing right
down on tie Volunteer, aud it was quite evi.
dent she would pass very close and on the
same side the barge was on Gross made a
guess as to just how close she would come,
and, ar what he thought was the right mo-
ment, he struck a blow with his ak tIat com.
pletely severed the I'm. and che barge, Of
course, swung right out cro5swise OF the
stream. Gross had guessed right for before
the plot on the big boat could turn his wheel
or ring a bell the steamer struck the barge
broadside and crushed it, and st the same
time broke 50 many tinbers for the steamer !
that she was compelled 10 run for shore. The !
barge sunk. but P-oSs had been careful that /
there should be o one on it, and only two /
or three persons had seen him cut the hne /
The owner Of the barge collected damages /
from the steamer that ran il down The big 4
boat had 10 I've put on the docks, and the pilot ,
was suspended Louis G.Obe-Democra- /
Conflicting Opinions
Vow that Wellesley is the subject, another