Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-01-13

Is sturdy built, alert eagle-eyed-a
typical riverman of the old days. His
Initial appearance In a wheelhouse was
made on the Sallie West In 1S45. He
quit the river eight years ago because
Of an injury received on land.
Richey Is a stall, smooth shaven man,
whose 6s years hang lightly on his
stalwart frame. He has absorbed
health from the American Nile, by way
Of the marine engine room, for fifty
three years. Every old engineer, pilot
and captain on the lower Mississippi Is
a thumb-marked book to these gray
veterans.
There was a clash of small bells in
the center Of the room and Rlchey
jumped to the polished wheel that
sends the steam into the Florence's
cylinders. The big wheel astern began
making cataracts and snow showers
as the ferry's nose bumped against the
current.
IF the Natchez people had put John
Bennett In the engine ROOM" said
Rlchey, after he had things going right
to make the crossing, you folks
couldn't kept In sight Of the Natchez
stern lights. Bennett could have got
more out of her engines than the build
ers believed was in them. There wasn't
his equal on the river at any time, but
he was as fretful as a mud turtle In a
fryin pan. Guess that's why they
didn't take him along"
Andy Pauly was all right" said the
old pilot, "and he knew his machinery
like a good little boy does his Sunday
school lesson, but he didn't like to take
chances. He was careful"
That's just what beat 'em. When
A man takes a hand In boat race he
wants to keep movin' and leave the
consequences to Providence"
you bet; we'd 'a'run that fog II
we'd "a known Uncle Charon was
waitln for us midway" said Jamison
grimly. "When 1t began dropping
down on us as we shot by Davis ISL
and, Enoch-my pard in the wheel
house, Enoch King-turned to me and
said:
"'we'n cut right through It, Jesse ?
"'Of course, said.
you could have knocked me down
with the wing OF a butterfly when |
heard the other fellows had tied up.
They had been holding on like bull
dog to a book agent clear up to Cairo,
and when Enoch and l were waited
out into mldstream on coal scow to
hunt easy water for the Robert L. into
St Louis we could look down the bend
and see the Natchez' smoke filling the
air like the battle of Waterloo. The
river then between Cairo and st. l.
comprised about 200 miles OF the
toughest plotting you ever saw around
these parts anywhere. There wasn't q
light house from end to end OF the
run and there were snags. bars and
operhanglng trees enough to 'dlscOur
age pilgrim ghost Jim Pell and
West Corners, who had steered all the
way out OF New Orleans, were "a
tlckled as schoolboys to see us. You
bee they had only studied the river tc
Louisville and were sent down by raj
to take the racer into the terminal
Captain William Holiday Of Cairo
had telegraph orders from Memphis tC
meet the Lee at Birds point, at tbs
mouth OF the Ohio, with a couple Of
barges Of coal. A tug was attached
to each barge and the fuel supply was
unloaded on each side Of the big steam
sr on the ny. The Louisville passen
gers had to walk the gangplsnk on Il
the jumpin coal fats. II was a bit in
terestin' for the ladies'. who regarded
II as very ungsllant. but the Lee didn'
have time to be polite that day.