Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-02-01
STEAMBOAT WHISTLES.
Rooollcstions OF the Oid-rime Interest In
Western River Traflc.

Western River Tranlc.
Twenty years ago, when steamboat
ing was In Its glory on the Mississippi.
nearly every body had his ears trained
TO distinguish boat whistles, and men
could sit at home or rise up in bed at
night and say on hearing distant sig-
nal; "There comes the Natchez." or
That's the X, l. Lee coming in from
New Orleans
When the celebrated race between
the Robert f. Lee and the Natchez from
New Orleans to st, Louis took place,
the interest was intense. and on the
morning the steamboats, were expected
in the levee was throngel with people
anxious to see the result. II was about
noon when the Lee blew blast rs she
passed Carondelet, aud those who had
bet their money on this boat, knowing
the whistle was that OF their favorite,
set up n shout, Many bets which had
been made were paid even before the
victorious steamer came in sight, so
positive were all that she was the
winner. The reason every one
was so positive that 1t was the Lee was
that the Natchez had n whistle totally
unlike that OF any other steamer on
the river. 1t produced a warbling
sound which was rather musical. This
sound was brought about by suspend
ing ball in the cylinder.
The whistles Of tho boats were even
used as n means OF communication be-
tween pilots who had n code OF signals.
As their boats passed on the river they
would exchange greetings Ia this way,
aud some of them "had 1t down so
fine, :" 10 use common expression, as
TO be able to convey almost any infor-
nation they desired. Frequently the
passengers would be awakened at night
by the most uncommon shrill sounds,
and in great fear would inquire whether
there had bccn collision, and would
be comforted by the assurance that it
was "only the pilots talking to each
otherm
The whistles were all made in ex-
actly the same way, but owing TO their
difference in size, or TO the metal, they
produced different sounds, the differ.
encc, however, only being distinguish :
able to the practiced ear The first
real novelty was introduced by VIM.
Mcclellan. the present boiler inspector.
He imported newly whistle
from Philadelphia and put It on the
Rescue, n harbor boat. This produced
sound similar TO the howls of
wild animals, and by contrast was
dubbed "the mocking bird" The first
morning II was used IL caused quite a
sensation in the city. The pilot of the
Rescue kept blowing 1t at a furious
rate, as the boat went up and down
the harbor. and hundreds OF people
mistaking the blowing for the howls
OF wild animals rushed down to see
what It all meant The same whistle
is yet used on the tug George Rhea.
The decline OF the river traffic has
naturally caused decline in the gen.
trtl luNtEtob Nllub WIS buNb ldhtu III
the river, and all things appertaining
TO it. and there are very few now ex-
cepting experienced river men who
can tell the whistle OF single boat
that enters the harbor The Anchor
Line boats are known by the fact that
on entering the harbor the pilot al
ways signals their approach by one
long, two short and long blow, but
which one of the boats of this line is
approaching would be mystery, un-
less seen. TO nearly every body. None
OF the other lines or boats owned by
individuals have any regular method of
announcing their coming. The science
OF steamboat whistlin0 I" 'ast declin-
ing.-S ....s. - 40 !"
-. LoYis Post Dispatch