St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1889-01-12
STEAMBOAT WHISTLES.
Reeollections oe tho Old.Tlme Interest .
Western River Tramc.

Western River Trsmc.
Twenty years ago. when steamboat
ing was in its glory on the Mississippi
nearly every body had his ears trainet
to distinguish boat whistles, and mel
could sit at home or rise up in bed a
night and say on hearing distant sig
nal: There comes the Natchez," o.
That's the K Z Lee coming in from
New Orleans"
When the celebrated race between
the Robert Z. Lee and the Natchez from
New Orleans to ST. Louis took place
the interest was intense. and on tn,
morning the steamboats, were expected
in the levee was thronged with people
anxious to see the result 1t was abou
noon when the Lee blew blast as she
passed Carondelet. and those who had
bet their money on this boat, knowing
tho whistle was that Of their favorite,
set up shout. Many bets which had
been made were paid even before the
victorious steamer came in sight, 81
positive were all that she was ths
winner. The reason every ont
was SO positive that 1t was the Lee wa:
that the Natchez had whistle totally
unlike that Of any other steamer or
the river. Il produced q warbline
sound which was rather musical. This
sound was brought about by suspend.
ing a ball in the cylinder.
The whistles OF the boats were even
used as a means of Communication be.
tween pilots who had a code of signals.
As their boats passed on the river they
would exchange greetings in this way.
and some of them chad it down SO
fine," to 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 been collision. and would
be comforted by the assurance that II
.Has only the pilots talking to each
other.
The whistles were all naae in ea-
actly the same way, but owing 70 theif
difference in size, or to the metal. they
produced different sounds. the differ.
ence. however. only being distinguish.
able to the practiced ear. The first
real novelty was introduced by VIM.
Mcclellan. the present boiler inspector.
He imported a newly-fashioned whistle
from Philadelphia and put it on the
Rescue, a harbor boat This produced
a sound similar to the hOwls OF
wild animals, and by contrast was
dubbed ''the mOcking bird" The first
morning it was used it caused quite s
sensation in the city. The pilot of the
Rescue kept blowing it at q furious
rate. as the boat went up and down
the harbor, and hundreds of people
the blowing for the howls
of wild animals rushed down to sec
what it all meant The same whistle
is yet used Oh the tug George Rhea.
The decline of the river traffic has
caused a decline in the gen.
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 a 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
have any regular method OF
their coming. The science
of steamboat whistling is fast declin-
Ing.-St. Louis P0st-Dispatch.