A RAFT PILOT'S LOG 



This whole operation at a bridge is called "double- 

 tripping." 



Another way to run bridges is to move the boat over 

 on one piece, let go the coupling lines and back on the 

 boat's piece while the other one floats ahead until it can 

 be swung in just ahead and made fast close up to the 

 bow of the boat piece, making a "double-header" only 

 a half-raft wide and two rafts long. By backing slow 

 this long timber mass can be placed in shape to slide 

 through the draw span of most bridges. 



When below the bridge and clear of the shore the 

 two pieces are coupled up again while floating along 

 and the boat moved back to her place in the middle on 

 the stern of the whole raft. 



After bow-boats came into common use some pilots 

 quite frequently "split on the pier" at bridges like La- 

 Crosse, Dubuque or Sabula where each side of the long 

 or pivot pier was open and clear, and the shore span has 

 a sheer boom or stationary "fence" to slide through on. 



"Splitting on the pier" meant moving both the tow- 

 boat and the bow-boat over on the piece that was to run 

 the span on the outside of the long sharp-pointed draw- 

 pier. 



Holding on to the other piece with coupling lines 

 till they got it in shape, to let go so it would float and 

 slide along the fence or sheer boom the two boats one 

 at each end of the other piece, could back it out so it 

 would slide along the outside of the long pier and with 

 a little shoving by the towboat it was soon placed beside 

 the floating piece and coupled up. 



This was a very clever performance when properly 

 done and was the quickest method of all. 



Saddle-bagging an island, bar or bridge-pier meant 

 drifting or settling down on to it sideways, to either 



