The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-07-30
ottumwa Belle. One Time Excursion
Steamer 10 Towing Big Lot OF
Lumber for Fort Madison
Saw Mill.
MAY BE LAST OF KIND
River Sees Few Of These Rats Now
adays and Voices Of saw-mifis
Alongside Of Streams Have
Become flushed.

popular excursion boat which used to
take parties out of Keokuk on sum-
mer moonlight nights is coming down
the Mississippi now with one OF the
only two rats that will be seen on the
river this season. The Fort Madison
Democrat says:
The Ottumwa Belle started today
from Hudson, Wis, with raft OF saw
ed lumber aggregating 1000. 900. feet,
destined for the $. & J. c. Aztec Lum-
her company of this city.
There will be another raft OF the
same magnitude depart from the north
ern city after the first one has been
delivered. The trip, 1t is anticipated,
will consume about twelve days, which
would bring 1t into this city August
g or 4.
These two RATS, 1t is said. will es
the only ones to be seen on the ME-
siss1ppi this season. The Father OF
" aters will for a short time how with
stern pride on toward the gulf as 1t
shoulders this remnant OF former days
and glory The Ottumwa Belle may
tow the last of the numerous rats
that have teemed on the river for
scores of years. Tho lumber industry
has subsidized in the middle west, whera
It once lead the world until today.
except here and there, the only yes
tige left is old and abandoned mills
and yards. v hat few mills are ope"-
ating are cutting the last millions 81
feet OF the trillions of feet OF lumber
that once existed In the valley.
Lumber Jacks Pass.
With the passing Of the lumber
trnflc picturesque class Of men have
gone the way of such into oblivion.
The old lumber jacks are seen no more
with their ruddy, looking countenancss
and water proof garb. in the winter
vari-colored mackinaws and heavy
boots. These men we're OF necessity
sturdy, strong and hardy, able to en-
dure any harship and equal to any
feat OF superhuman strength, and ex-
tremely agile Of foot, their lives de-
pending on ability to move quickly
from log to log. They were swimmers
and skaters and enjoyed life to the
fullest extent The class as . whole.
was good natured and all united to
see that fair play was extant.
When the steamer reaches Fort
Madison, Captain Walter Hunter Will
be on the bridge. one Of the old timers
on the river and . member of boat
crews towing RATS countless times.
As the Belle" and her tow pass BY
the up river cities there Is bound to
be great interest manifested in the
passage, and many an old Jack !
relegated to idleness by old age ana
lack of the work which fascinated
them so much. will view the passing
with misty eyes and heaving breasts
With the film over the eyes the vision
will not be impaired, however. for they
will see, mayhap, not the Ottumwa
Belle, but another steamer and anotu-
or raft and they will be on 1t with a
long pike pole here and there watch
ing with the vigilant eye of the raftsr
and again the muscles will tighten and
be for an instant the steely fibers OF
old But the Mississippi seems desun-
ed to again assume leading position
in the traffic world and fleet OF
barEes is even now under process OF
building, which will be viewed WIN
pride and qualification by these old
men Of the river, who have loved 1t
with all the fiber Of their being.