Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-12-15
ANOTHER LETTER FROM BARNEY
AGNEW.


the Mississippi river, will soon have
left Us. Since the rs;lroad tapped the
pinery in 1873, very few fleets have
been run out the river. There are a
good many of these boys scattered
about the country; good many are
still left with US, but they are nearing
the age of three score years and ten;
many have grown rich, others have
not, but all like to read of the strenuous
days of the sixties. The river boys
were lively set and did many things
that would make them no end of
trouble if perpetrated in these times.
In those days it was for the fun of she
thing; the excitement and the love of
adventure. There were no kindlier,
bigger hearted, generous men than our
lumber jacks and river boys, but they
would fight; they would have their fun,
and the more excitement they en-
countered, the better they liked it.
Many of these, scattered all over our
country, are today the very best men
of our republic. They know what it is
TO endure hardships and in their fight
in the business world have profited BY
the trials through which they passed in
their early days.
In the sixties, the Agnew brothers
were pilots on the river and experienced
men in the camps. They became
known throughout the valley, more es-
pecially because they were bright young
men and because they were among the
best in the pinery with the hog.ng gloves.
Barney Agnew is living at Glendiye,
Mont, and he has writ IN the WAUsAU
PILOT several letters during the past
few years, relative 20 the early river
days, and he writes another which we
publish below 1t must be remembered
by our readers tina, in those days, of
deviltry going on, and when one was
finally caught in the act of his funny
business, matters were adjusted salts
factory to all. The letter will be inter-
esting to many here, and is as follows:
Glendiye, Mont, Dec :, 'OS
Friend Thayer:
thought would write few lines
to let your readers know that | am still
OH this side of the river. | received a
letter from my old friend, Jack Meehan,
the other day He is living at Thief
River Falls; he conveyed to me the sad
news of his brother Patrick's death,
who passed away on the 10th of Sept
Jack says he is getting stiff in the joints
like myself, and calls for assistance
when he wants to turn around, but
that's nothing, ! have TO call into use a
steam engine when undertake to do
the same stunt. Oh, how | would like
to see some of the old boys once more.
You see | still yearn for the early days
of fun and adventure, which seemed to
te Unborn in every mothers son of as
in the early days, and what fun we did
have.
| was in hopes of getting over into
the old camping ground while ago,
when went to see DR.. Till, at Summer
set After the DIR. put that plaster on
my back land l understand he treats
everybody the same in that respect)
| forgot old friends and everything else,
except to fly for home, which place |
reached alive, but | had my doubts Of
doing that when | started, for | was
blistered from my shoulders down and
had to do my eating and hours of long
and sorrowful reflection, standing up.
| think | will wear out the effects of
the plaster in time. My trouble, well,
the plaster has made me in measure
forget it.
| have received several letters from
the boys lately, since they learned
where was and | have taken great
pleasure in answering them. All asked
after my brother, Ed, and sympathized
deeply with him in his affiiction. He is
now with the Little Sisters in Mime
apolis.
have been thinking about the good
old times we used to have up there
years ago. | made one trip out of the
river in the fall of 1865 or 1869 which
will never forget, nor do | think any of
the boys who took it with me will ever
forget it. The fleet belonged to Mike
Stafford or John Rany and there were
nine RATS, three abreast, fifteen deep
and six cribs long. The bowsmen
were all old pilots and some of the tails
men were also old pilots, so it was an
unusual crew. Jimmy OBrien, Jack
Finch, Nose Lad, Sailor Jack, Mat
Sluts, John Bell, Bib Martin and, /
think, Jack Meehan, were in the bunch,
also Ed, myself and fellow of the
name of Jack Smith, Norman from
Salt Lake City. 1t was tough trip;
we handspiked from Wlisuey rapids to
the mouth of the river. Nothing Wort =
of mention happened until we reached
Ssuk City We reached there in the
afternoon and decided to tie up until
the next morning and have all the next
day to handspike over the Honey creek
flats There was not cent of money
in the crowd and what to do to have a
little fun was a conundrum. After
supper we sat around talking and jok-
ing, when Smith says: Boys, let's go
up town." He was met with the ques-
ton: What's the use We have no
money" To which he replied Il will
make it all right So Dinny Griffen.
Bib Martin, Nose Lad, Ed. and myself
followed Smith up town We stepped
iato a bowling alley and watched a
game. When il ended Smith hailed
the crowd and said. Il will play any
man in the house for one dollar a
game. 1hs bartender was fast to
take uP she offer and the game com
set up the pins and received
25 cents game from the house. live
games were played and Smith came
out winner in each, so we were So . to
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