Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-04
BY THE HENNEPiN.
The New Canal Boat and Her Pilot
Other Milan News of Interest.


MILAN, Oct. 3.-The L. S. towboat
Marion, designed and, built at the
shops of the United States by NJ
Meigs. U. S. c. E., at keokuk for
Major W. l.. Marshall. came out Sept.
IS, leaving Keokuk at O'Clock and
reaching Rock Island at 10 o'clock
Monday, making the run of lao miles
in about 10! hours of actual running
time. The Marion is SIS feet long
and IS feet wide and in appearance
looks somewhat like the Mac. but she
is far superior in every way, being
well equipped in every way. Capt
Franklin Wild. of Albany, the pioneer
steamboatman OF the Mississippi.
who has been on the river for is
years, So Of which he has been pilot,
has charge OF the steamer and in
conversation with the captain he
told of his early life. He said: u am
i Rock Island boy and went to school
in the Old brick school house which
stood near the present site of the
Harper house. My school compau-
ions were nearly all boys who be.
came associated with the river trade,
among them being Van SAINT, an old
time riverman. Quincy Mcneil was
our schoolmaster. After leaving
school l worked on the Fortune
until the boat was wrecked, and then
went aboard the Wisconsin, a boat
built and fitted with the machinery
of the old Fortune. Capt. Griffith,
OF st. Louis, had charge of the Wis
consin, and he is pioneer old nortk-
ern liner, being now over 80 years OF
age. He still makes his home in St.
Louis" Speaking of the old bridge,
ne said the current near the bridge
was very swift, and it took an ex-
perienced man to go through with
safety. cit was at the old
bridge that the Lady Jane was
wrecked, this being q good
many years ago. After long
service on the Wisconsin under Capt
Griffith, next came down and later
on l took charge of the Josephine. u
When asked in regard to the old
canal at Sears, the captain said
How we'll do l remember the days
walked out from Rock Island to fish
in the canal and Rock river. Tho
steamer Edith then hauled coal from
a coal bank about seven miles above
the Moline bridge over Rock river.
Speaking of the canal at Milan the
captain said it had many advantages
over the Keokuk canal, being o.
greater depth, and while the lock:
were not SO large as the Keokus. they
were filed and emptied by easier ant
quicker means, and then besides
the canal here has fine harbor fol
wintering the boats in. Captain
Wild is very pleasant man anC
takes special pride in his presen
charge, the Marion. which is as fin,
boat as ever hOated on this part O
the canal.
Milan NewsIets.
DR.. H. j. Huyct:'s Hackney stall
lion. Lord Palmer. left Thursday il
charge of John Wittrick for the St
Louis fair. The horse is a beaut
and could not be in finer shape thar
he is at present.
The Jones musical family gave
splendid entertainment AZ the tow:
hall Tuesday. A fair sized audience
was present and all were very mucl
pleased with the program given
From here the family went to tn
new town of Sherrard, where the,
had 2-night's stand.
A very unusual occurrence is thu
crop of raspberries grown this montl
on the farm of ID. W. Matthews
The berries are very fine and al
though not having many bushes, al
have their share of fruit