Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-03-14

memDereu. NO RrdnueT' sCeHelS thhii
that which borders the banks of the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers is to be
found; but even more picturesque are
the "roustabouts" employed on the riv-
er boats.
The negro, as a roustabout, follows
the steamers in the Western waters, !
and their actions have given passen-
gers many hours of amusement. They
are continually singing while at work
carrying freight. Their ability to give
the steamer on which they are EN-
ployed nickname is one Of their odd
traits. This name. once given, is at
tached to it as long as it floats.
A list of some of the steamers nick
named, past and present. has been got
together, and is published for the first
time here. Some of the meanings of
these names have long since been for
gotten, but steamboatmen who be-
longed to the olden time of navigation
helped toward giving their right def
milton.
The best known steamer was the old
Robert E. Lee. which was famous FOR
her fast runs. Some of the records she
made still hold good. She was dubbed
on that account the Hopping Bob
The John Gilbert formerly piled the
waters of the Ohio and Tennessee riv-.
ers as far as Florence. Ala. At that
port she took on cargoes of peanuts
and brought them to other cities.
The boat was named after her COM
mander, who is believed to be present
resident of Evansville. Ind. This boat
was named by the negroes Peanut
Jack"
The Bostona was well known here.
and the negros for short called her the
Boss"
The Bonanza at present runs to Pom
eroy, end the noise she is supposed to
make while under way earned for her
sobriquet of the 'Buzzer.'
The James w. Geff was commanded
by Commodore r.. w. Wise She was
called the go AS You Please"
The Return was small steamer and
was known among the negroes as
Come Back"
The Charles Morgan was given the
name or "Morgan's Rather" No one
seems to know why she was called that.
The Hercules Carrel is a towboat at
work in the Cincinnati harbor, and, so
far as known. has not been chri+tene'
by the negroes, but the rivermen in
general call her THE Walters Pet" or
account of the great attention which Is
bestowed upon her by her Captain,
Walter Quiggen.
The Telegraph had the sobriquet OF
the Red Wagon" probably on account
of some painting which generally
adorns the cabins of steamers.
The commander of the Andes. which
belonged to the past, was jolly good
fellow, according to present traditions.
His first name was Charley and he was
\ nearly always whistling. His boa:
was, therefore, called the "Whistling
Charley"
The City of Pittsburg, now in the
Memphis run, is called the Safeguard
The steamer Natchez was named af-
ter the celebrated Indian. On the side
of the steamer was painted large por-
trait of the Indian. She was known
as the big Injun."
The City of Madison was known as
the Blue Goose" probably on account
of some fact time records.
The Henry M. Stanley was named af-
ter the great African explorer, and the
negroes no doubt thought that was en-
ough for NO other name is known.
The Hattie Brown is a small packet
which formerly piled in the Warsaw
Madison trade. and on account of the
regularity of her passing certain points
she was known as the Thine Piece"
The Indiana is known as the Garry
ALL" or "Hoosier." She is named after
the farmer State and for her large car
rying ability.
The Nesbit sank January /, 1900. On
account of some difficulty in handling
her from the pilot house she was named
the wild Bill"
The Tacoma was dubbed Take Me
Home" When the name of the steam
er is said slowly 1t sounds like the So
briquet.
The Fleetwood. in the habit of t,.I-
ing everything before her, was dubbed
the Bull of the Woods"
The City of Louisville is said to be
the. fastest steamer afloat in this part
of the country, and is known as the
Greyhound"
The Buckeye State burned to the
waters edge in the Mississippi river
some weeks ago. She ran to New Or