The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-10
EAR[Y DAY F[ATB0ATS.
Life on Western Streams Before
Steam boats Had Put in
an Appearances.
rip by Keelboat from Pittsburg
to New Orleans and
the Return.


the Return.
Fitched Battle With Flatboatmen ON the
Steamer Con. Pike-Working
in . Pinch.
There is no business, probably, that has
|adergone greater change than the carry
Eg trade on the Western rivers, and old
|ver men delight to talk of the days gone
4, when there were no fast freights or
yhtning express trains. Recently re-
brter of the Indianapolis News found one
i the old timers, and piled him with ques-
ons concerning early times on the rivers.
1.-THE changes on the Western rivers have,
deed, been many" said he. ''The first
eamboat on the Mississippi was, I think,
1911. Prior to that time, and for many
,ars after. for that matter, the river COM
cree was carried on in keel and fatboats.
keel boat starting from Pittsburg would
ach New Orleans in about sixty days,
tn from thirty to fifty tons of freight.
me OF them carried passengers. families,
avelers, hunters and others going down
river frequently taking passage on the
ell.
1.-THE keelboats were light, long and mar
W, sharp at both ends and round bot
med. They were rugged with one or two
eeps on side, for propelling purposes,
d sweep on one end for use as rud-
r. These sweeps or bars were usually
,de of small trees about thirty feet long,
d hung to the side of the boat on iron
rs. The big end of the tree was 'inboard,'
on deck. The small or outer end had an
III board, about a foot wide and eight
1t long, nailed diagonally across 1t to
I'm the blade of the oar. These sweeps
re used in still water and for working the
at out of bends in the river, out of eddies
d making crossings and landings. To
yrk the sweep tho boatman would take the
Ie against one shoulder, and quar-
ing across the breast. would push,
b pull, with walk of about fif-
In feet, carrying it back to get
other hold in the water. It was ex-
mely hard work and very trying on
thes and shoe leather. The boats were
% rugged with mast and square sail. and
EN- carried small cannon for protection
inst Indians and lower river pirates. A
slboat would be from three to six months
the return trip from New Orleans to Pitts
.g. Down the river with the current was
Oh sailing. Where bottom could be
" enough, but against the current was
ched, poles were used, but in deep, swift
ter, 'warping' or 'cordelea' was the mo-
power. To warp is to run a line aheao
fasten it to tree on the bank, and the.
hands haul on the line; to 'cordelea' wa
cake rope ashore and all hands get hole
4 haul or tow the boat-a very slow, hare
As steamboats, became more numerous
keelboats dropped out of use and tht
boat came into service. A fatboat woulc
Ike the run down the river in about tho
ne time as keelboat, but they never re
ned. their owners selling them at thei.
tination for little or nothing. The pur
ser generally broke up the boat and use
9 rugged and manned about the same n
,elboat, but were differently constructed
" we're what the name implies-fat-es
ally on the bottom. The deck or 'rool
slightly browning athwartship. The boa
from SO to 12O feet long, Is to ofe
IN, square at both ends above waite
4 short rake or run at each end fro.
I'D carry from 100 to 15O tons freieL,
their kind was known by the cargo the
- corn boat live hog boat .pumpLi
T. 'hoop-pole boat from Posey county.
lana; Chicken boat from the Wabas
White rivers; salt boats from the b;
Java river, and coal boats from Pitts
z. The points of destination were Mem
Vicksburg, Natchez and New Orleans
tly the latter. l have seen at the leve,
Jew Orleans as many as 200 flatboats q
time. 1t was nothing uncommon t.
twenty or thirty of them day on I;
mboat trip down the river. Some o.
q would be tied up to the banks, som,
lnchor, others drifting along with oart
est. Jug of whisky and tin cup Oh
X. and the crew having iolli1cation
boon as flatboat was landed at New
aans the entire crew, except one man
ty on the trip to spend their money
got their wages all in pile Then
would start out for high old time, and
1t too. The canalboat men the News
e about few weeks ago were angels
pared with the fiatboatmen. They
Id usually remain in Orleans until
money was gone, or at least all but
Ugh to pay their passage up the river.
as they generally took deck passage.
. much of a surplus. Sometimes 15O
20 fiatboat men would be on one steam
nd woe would be to the boat when the
attempted to collect the fare. They
ID not only refuse to pay, but would
4 take possession of the lower deck.
was passenger on the Gen. Pike when
was just such gang on board. When
,lerk called on them they gathered on
after part of the boat and refused to
cent. Not only did they refuse to pay,
they nearly killed the unlucky clerk.
boat was landed at wood yard, and
crew, armed with clubs, attempted to
!, the fiatboatmen pay or go ashore.
roughs were armed with knives and
host terrible fight in the history of the
took place. The crew was driven
I'd to the fo'castle deck, the lines were
nd the boat set adrift, and, taking full
,ssion of the boat. the engineers were
elled to send the steamer up the river,
div injured that he did not leave his
until he reached Cincinnati. At
aez the captain got assistance and half
,wdies were put ashore. The balance
their fare"
ID you ever fatboat it," asked the
ter.
1ever made but one trip. I shipped as
cargo on boat from Cincinnati loaded
cork, hams, lard, flour and apples to
Or a market. Our crew consisted of six
and We showed out from thu landing
loinnati on the 1st day of February,
Ny arrangements with the owner of
pat was that / should be treated the
as passenger-that is, was to have
ng to do with the management of the
except to order landings and depart
It was also stipulated in our contract