The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-13

on Board the General Pike.
The changes on the western rivers
have been many" said an old timer one
evening. The first steamboat on the
Mississippi was, think, in 1871. Prior to
that time, and for many years after. for
that matter, the river commerce was car
ried on in keel and fiatbosts. A keelboat
starting from Pittsburg would reach New
Orleans in about sixty days with from
thirty to fifty tons of freight. Some OF
them carried passengers, families, travel
ers, hunters and others going down the
river frequently taking passage on the
keel.
THE keelboats were light. long and
narrow, sharp at both ends and round bot
toned. They were rugged with one or two
sweeps on side for propelling purposes,
and sweep on one end for use as a
rudder. These sweeps or bars were usual
ly made OF small trees about thirty feet
long and hung to the side of the boat on
iron pins. The big end Of the tree was in
board or on deck. The small or outer end
had an inch board, about foot wide and
eight feet long, nailed diagonally across it
to form the blade OF the oar.
These sweeps were used in still water
and for working the boat out Of bends in
the river, out of eddies and making cross
ings and landings. To work the sweep the
boatman would take the pole against one
shoulder, and quartering across the breast
would push, not pull, with walk up
about fifteen feet, carrying it back TO get
another hold in the water 1t was ex-
tremely hard work, and very trying on
clothes and shoe leather.
HARD WORK GETTING BACK.
"The boats were also rugged with mast
and square sail, and often carried small
cannon for protection against Indians and
lower river pirates. A keelboat would be
from three to six months on the return
trip from New Orleans to Pittsburg.
Down the river with the current was slow
enough, but against the current was tough
sailing Where bottom could be reached
poles were used, but in deep swift water
'warping' or 'cordella' was the motive
power. To warp is TO run line ahead
and fasten it to a tree on the bank, and
then all hands haul on the line To cor
della was to take a rope ashore, and all
hands get hold and haul or tow the boat
a very slow, hard process
''As steamboats, became more numerous
the keelboats dropped out of use, and the
tiatboat came into service A fatboat
would make the run down the river in
about the same time as a keelboat. but
they never returned, their owners selling
them at their destination for little or moth
ing. The purchaser generally broke up
the boat and used the lumber for building
purposes. They were rugged and manned
about the same as a keelboat, but were diff
ferently constructed. They were what the
name implies-fat, especially on the bot
tom.
1.-The deck or roof was slightly crown
ing athwartship The boat was from 50 to
100 feet long, IS to 20 feet beam, square at
both ends above water, with a short rake
or run at each end from the bottom TO the
deep water line. They would carry from
100 to $50 tons of freight, and their kind was
known by the cargo they carried, as pork
boat, hay boat corn boat live hog
boat pumpkin boat hoop pole boat
from Posey county, Ind; Chicken boat
from the Wabash and White rivers: salt
boats from the Big Kanawa river, and
coal boats from Pittsburg. The points
of destination were Memphis, Vicksburg,
Natchez and New Orleans, mostly the lat
ter. / have seen at the levee in New Or
leans as many as 200 fatboats at one time
BEATING THE WAY HOME.
"It was nothing uncommon 70 pass TWEEN
ty or thirty of them a day oil a steamboat
trip down the river. Some Of them would
be tied up TO the banks some at anchor,
others drifting along with oars at rest and
the crew having a Qualification. As soon as
q flatboat was landed at New Orleans the
entire crew, except one man, was paid of,
and as they had no opportunity on the trip
to spend their money they got their wages
all in pile Then they would start out
for high old time, and have il, too. They
would usually remain in Orleans until
their money was gone, or at least all but
enough TO pay their passage up the river
and, as they generally took deck passage
which was only &. 80 or t3. they didn't re-
quire much of surplus. Sometimes l5C
or 200 fiatboat men would be on one steam
err, and woe would be 70 the boat when
the clerk attempted TO collect the fare
They would not only refuse TO pay but
would often take possession of the lower
deck.
II was passenger on the General Pike
when there was just such gang on board
When the clerk called on them they gath.
cred on the after part Of the boat and re
fused to pay cent. Not only did they 70
fuse to pay, but they nearly killed the un
lucky clerk. The boat was landed at .
wood yard, and the crew, armed with
clubs, attempted TO make the iatboat men
pay or go ashore. The roughs were armed 4
with knives, and the most terrible fight IN (
the history of the river took place.
"The crew was driven for'ard 20 the
70 castle deck, the lines were cut and the
boat set adrift, and taking full possession I
Of the boat the engineers were compelled I
10 send the steamer up the river Two Of
the crew were killed, and the mate 50 badly /
injured that be did not leave his room
until we reached Cincinnati. At Natchez 4
the captain got assistance. and half the
rowdies were put ashore. The balance paid 4
their fare indianapolis News
Scientific Notes
A sawmill foreman has invented devics .
for keeping gum from the rim Of the band .
saw by causing q spray Of water 20 con .
Il Est 1afa