The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-08-26
TRAMP BECOMES
OWNER OF BOAT
FATE ALSO MADE HIM SON-IN-
LAW OF CAPTAIN
Tramp Gets Aboard at St. Louis and
Gets a Feed" From the Captain
While on Way Down River and Dis
lodges at Memphis = Repays the
Captain and Buys the BOat-His-
terry Of His Family Now.

Soon after the Civil War tramps
became pests on the river. Captains
of boats always expected one to half
a dozen to steal on board at city
landing and hide down in the hold
among the freight. Sometimes they
managed to travel several miles, and
again they were discovered by the
Waterman, who reported to the cap
tain and the latter would set them
ashore.
Some Of the boat commanders had
considerable bad luck in DEALING with
these tramps. Occasionally the va
grants would get revenge by burning
a boat or doing damage to part Of the
cargo. If this was not accomplished
in a months time it was certain to
occur within a year after they had
been put off the steamer.
Finally, when it became TOO danger
Gus to set tramps ashore, boat cap
tain ordered them fed and hauled to
the next city, where sometimes they
were turned over to the police,
In 1871 the steamer Lucy Vaughan
backed away from her mornings at
ST. Louis and started down the river
toward New Orleans. She carried a
heavy cargo. Her commander was
Cant. Luke MCCULLOUGH said to have
been ore of the best steamboat, men
on the Mississippi river,
Cant. MCCULLOUGH owned other
boats. He operated line on the Mis-
souri, river. also up the Illinois river
He desired to command the Lucy
Vaughan because his heart had been
set on making her The most popular
steamer out of st. Louis. His wealth
was a great hacker to him in this re-
spect.
Capt. Vaughan lived in magnifi-
cent home that stood on the high
bluffs south of st. Louis. His family
moved in the best Of society. His
daughter, Lucy, was alcharming young
woman. She was so popular that her
friends demanded that Cap. McCul-
Tough name his finest boat for her. He
did partly, but he wanted to remember
an aunt who had helped him in early
life, and that is why the boat was
named the Lucy Vaughan.
When the Vaughan left Cairo
tramp was discovered hid behind a
freight nile on the lover deck The
watchman took him before the cap
tain. The fellow begged for some-
thing IN cat. He offered to carry
freight to pay for it.
Il have never permitted a white
man to carry freight on this boat.
Take the man to the pantry and feed
him." said the captain
When he Vaughan tied up at Mem
phis the tramp went ashore. saying to
| Capt. Mccullough: Il will never for
get you. Maybe ! can repay you some
time
A few years later Capt, McCul-
lough's steamboat business began to
show less profits. 1t went from bad
20 worse. He Withdrew his boats
from the Missouri river and disposed
of those in the Illinois river trade. He
chung to the Lucy VAUGHAN but time
came when she was advertis& for sale
bv the United States MARSHAL, That,
however, did not occur until Capt. Nc
Cullough's fortune was spent in at
tempts TO rebuild the decaying trade.
Other boats entered the trade, and
they pu. his back to the wall.
When the day of the sale arrived
h;dJare uyara nuY1neTous for the Lucy
Vaughan. A stranger who had
watched the bidding, got into the
game. He bought the boat In the
transfer he told the marshal to re-
turn the boat to Cant. Mccullough.
"Wbo are you? asked the captain,
offering his hand. ~ am the tramp
YOU fed between Cairo and Memphis.
| have paid you for that meal"
of course, there was great reioic-
ing. In the gathering TIE stranger
met Lucy Mccullough. Later they