Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1908-12-26
CAPT. MELLON
TELLS Of WORK
AS RIVER PILOT
Boating On the Colorado Was
Strenuous Business In the
Stirring Times Of Early
Days.

YUMA, Dec. 25.-Today the United
States reclamation service engineers
are digging up the bones of the good
old ship Mohave, as they construct a
protecting levee ia the slough where
she lies buried in silt.
Yes, madam; / took her over III
Wager slough and stranded her myself
when she got so old she couldn't run
any more" regretfuIly and wistfully
answered Captain Jack Mellow of the
Colorado tiyer.' as he trnly and pic
turesquely registers himself at the
Southern Pac- tic hotel in Yuma.
The history of the Colorado river
since in was included in the United
Estates territory is the history of Cap
tain Mellon. and vice versa. He has
navigated it since 1868, and today
his ship Cochran lies at harbOr in the
port OF Yuma, well cableds to resist
the floods that are sweeping down.
and TO prevent her taking a SOLITARY
trip to the high seas while the captain
greets old friends ashore.
A thorough old salt, yet favored
with the sweetness of fresh water
navigation, the captain has reached
the age of delightful "reminiscences.
He tells the story of the river with
the interest and thrill of long expo
rience. At one time, covering a pc,
riod of ten years he was never half a
mile beyond its banks. and he has
nayigated q good score of boats from
the Gull OF California to the last
dock in its nav;gable channel.
He brought his first river boat tC
the mouth of the Colorado on the deck
of a sailing vessel from Frisco
There he put her together, with the
assistance OF sailors and Indians, and
from that day to this ne has never
been without command of good
ship TO steam up and down these
shifting channels.
Yes, I've seen some stirring fights,
but was never attacked myself" con-
tinued the captain. You see, the In
dams, they are supeTstitious about a
steam boat, and wouldn't come near
one. They weren't water folks along
these banks, just used RATS and ferries
but didn't know nothing about rowing
or padding a skiff till we came along
and taught them.
Then they learned and made good
hands for us. We had heavy loads
those days, | tell you
The statistics he gave in his own
inimitable sailor style ARE pregnant
with interest to those who now realize
the value and advantages which
should be derived from the entry port
at Yuma.
This wonderful river made possible
the colonization of the rich lands Dor
dering its banks. lands isolated by
desert and mountains. Through the
channels of the Colorado came the
early settlers, the troops for their pro-
lection the supplies which fed and
clothed them, and all the advantages
which follow in the wake of civiliza-
IiOn.
Down the channels were carried rich
shipments fro mthe treasure hills, ad-
vertisements which drew Increasing
population. For a time the railroads
have met and satisfied the demands
made by the territory.
The people are now awake to the
mighty power of the river for advanc-
ing untold benefits. Irrigation of arid
lands from it's channels is now as
sured. 1t has yet more to yield TO in
telligent demands. The pesple of Yu-
ma have risen in masses to claim ad-
yantages former water transportation
gave this territory and the people of
Arizona are gradually massing to as
sist, knowing what benefits one ben
efitS all.