The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-21
CAPT. LUCK WAINWRIGHT
A VETERAN ALABAMA STEAM.
BoATMAN'S CAREEh.
The Esteemed Citizen is Still Well
and Hearty at the Age of
50 Years.

Clarke County Democrat.
The editor of The Democrat has been
permitted to publish this brief sketch of
one of our oldest citizens who, though
physically and mentally, and may be with
us yet many years.
Luck Wainwright was born in Coving-
ton La, February 5. 1915. and moved to
Mobile when or years old. In 1929 yell
low fever nearly depopulated the city.
in 1882 when only IL years old. he rode
the mail route between Mobile and
Greensboro, eleven Gays being required
he stopped at Mrs. Bates who resided
near the present Calvert. The second
night he stopped with Bill Beckham.
whose residence was six miles beloE Cot
feeville. He crossed the river at Old st.
Stephens. The third night he stayed with
DIR. Earl. in the vicinity of the present
Putnam. The fourth night was spent at
Spring Hill, thirteenm lies north of Lin
den, the fifth night being spent at Green's
boro, where he rested two nights and one
day before starting on his return trip.
Around Linden the switch cane was as
high as a man and the wolves were so
plentiful in the woods that they would
begin to howl an hour before shutdown.
In those early days the settlers used
whip-saws with which to cut their build
ing lumber, as there were no sawmillS
in the country. He continued to carry the
mail for nearly three gears. Then he had
saved about $780, which hes invested in the
bar on the steamboat Hunter. One trip
was made in his new venture, but on the
return trip OF her second run she was
burned below Fairfield, and again he was
penniless. Next he served Is cabin boy
on the steamer Eincennes. and then as
pastry cook on the Bonnets OBlue.
Young Wainwright was scared on the
mail route by the thrilling experience OF
Walter woodward who resided near St.
Stephens. He was travelling along the
mail route in Noodle County, when he
nv M 81 tied
to tree with rawhide thongs, A rain
softened the thongs and woodward work
ed his hands and feet out and escaped.
Our young mail carrier didn't wish TO
have a similar experience.
Captain Wainwrights steamboat career
embrac ed an experience from cabin boy
of the old time single engine boat to cap
tain of several of the large. hne ana
fast running double engine, side wheelers
of a later period. 1t is said of him that
no better pilot ever turned a wheel on
the Alabama River.
Next he comes to the front as a cub
pilot OF assistant and beginner. In this
way he worked nearly three years, be-
fore taking charge of a boat, and knew
the river as we'll as any pilot on 1t. never
stopping for fogs or rains, but keeping
his boat steadily moving. When asked
how he could run WHEN he could see
nothing not even the nearest bank, his
reply was that the river banks, all along,
gave back sounds. that the echo of the
pipes was different at each bend or blum,
and in this way he knew how to guide his
boat.
In 1887 he became a regular pilot his
first boat being the Niagara, then the Co
lumbus, the Cahaba Arkansas, Dallas.
Thomas Jefferson. Marengo' William
Bradstreet. Orline, St. John. l was with
Captain Jim Adams five years with Tim
and Jim Meaher. from 1887 to 1S47. After
leaving the Meahers | bought the Allen
Glover. Some trouble arose in reference