Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-04-21
FIFTY YEARS A PILOT:
TALK WITH WASH HIGHT

| fiftY-two years is somewhat out of
the ordinary. Few men have lived
such life. However. for over Il
half century. Capt. Washington
Hight, the rapids pilot, who is well
known among the river men of this
and other upper river cities, has fol-
lowed his vocation on the Father Of
Waters Capt. Hight is the rapids
pilot for the Diamond 10 steamboat
company, having acted in that ca
pacity since the year 1SS2. He *
perhaps the most widely experienced
pilot along the stream. and has Il
personal knowledge of the affairs of
the river away back In the sos. And
| in all his experience as pilot and
master of vessels. ne has never done
any Stcamboating Oh any liver but
the Mississippi. Capt. Hight is per-
Sonally acquainted with nearly every
pilot on the river and its tributaries.
The following history of his life. as
related by himself. will he read with
interest:
Il was born in Quincy. H.. and am
20 years of age. / have stood watch
since | was a boy of 10 years. The
very day was 10 years of age ] be-
came pilot. In those days any man
who thought himself capable of hand.
ling steamer was placed at the
wooden wheel and was not compelled
20 90 through the formality of secur-
ing license. / began my career as
Il rapids pilot on the steamer High
land Mary which was owned by my
brother. William e. Hight. and my
brother-in-law. William II. Cupp. The
Highland Mary carried passengers
and freight and ran between st.
Louis and 81. Paul. That was on the
third day of August, 1850. learned
the upper river. between ST. Louis
and st. Paul. during my term "a mas
ter of the Highland Mary. In the
winter when the stream was choked
with ice shipped on steamers i'm the
lower river as pilot in - while in the
employ of the Memphis Packet com
pany. steering the craft ON the lower
river I secured my license at Mem
phis After ! had proficient practice
on the lower river ! returned to st.
Louis and entered the employ Of the
Northern Line company. This boat
was named after the original owner,
man well and we were intimate
friends
In 1878 and 1879 was running be-
tween Cairo and 81. Louis in the en-
ploy of the Memphis Packet com
pany. In 1850 was back on the swift
running position OF the majestic
stream. pilot on the Port Eads of st.
Louis running into New ORLEANS.
While | was pilot on this boat | re-
ceived Il salary of $50 per month.
Those were days of gladncsS for the
river men and especially the pilot.
The wear 1881 found me pilot on the
steamer II. j. Wheeler doing govern
ment work. The Wheeler has gone
to decay but have many
warm recollections for this steamer.
The wear | was on the Wheeler she
was engaged i'm towing government
barges from Dubuque to Osceola.
Ark. This was the year when the
government first began to repair the
big waterway. And at the above
point was the starting place. The
next year. 1852. ] was in the employ
of the firm of Hughes q LOomis. Du-
buaue. ice shippers. That company
81. Louis. and | was captain of the
feet.
'.In the middle of the summer be-
came the pilot on the steamer Mus
catine. one of the Northern line pac-
l<et company's boats. operating be-
tween St. Louis and St. Paul. The
Muscatine cost $4,000 to he con-
structed. and her first year in the
trade she returned the amount of
S77.5Oo 70 her owners She was as
profitable boat as ever fioated this
river.
AT the conclusion of that year the
Northern Line company consolidated
with the Diamond 10 line and ! lIveG
up north then as rapids pilot and here
j am today"
This story was related while the