BEGINNINGS OF THE RAFTING INDUSTRY 45 



added expense. Naturally the packet companies were 

 against the use of towboats helping these rafts down 

 river and carrying back the crews. 



One of the Northern Line packets, going up river in 

 the night, ran into a raft, under way, and did it con- 

 siderable damage. George Tromley, the pilot of the 

 raft, made a claim on the Packet Company, when he 

 delivered his raft to Saint Louis. He was told to leave 

 his bill and they would submit it to Captain Hill when 

 the steamer "Dubuque" returned. Captain Hill refused 

 to O.K. the bill and Captain Tromley's lawyer libeled 

 the steamer "Dubuque" in United States District Court. 

 The bill was then promptly paid, with costs. 



Some time later, Mr. Tromley, with his crew, were 

 in Saint Louis to go back up river on the first steamer, 

 which happened to be the "Dubuque." Not long after 

 starting, Captain Hill met Mr. Tromley near the office 

 and bar, and began raking him for making such a big 

 noise to the company and libeling the boat. Mr. Trom- 

 ley, in his pleasing manner and rich Canadian dialect, 

 said, "Well, Captain Hill, I bring my crew and ride 

 your boat today, don't I?" "Yes." "I pay my way for 

 all my people, ain't that so, Mr. Clerk?" "Yes, that's 

 true, Mr. Tromley." "I ride on your boat before, ain't 

 I, wit my crew and kit?" "Oh, yes, Mr. Tromley, you 

 have traveled with us many times. You are a good cus- 

 tomer." "Always pay my way, don't I, Mr. Clerk?" 

 "Yes, indeed, Mr. Tromley." "Then," turning to Cap- 

 tain Hill with his peculiar smile, he said, "Now, Cap- 

 tain, you hear what the clerk say, and these gentlemen 

 (passengers) they all hear too. Now when you come 

 and bring your boat and crew and take ride on my raft, 

 don't you think it only fair you pay your fare same as 

 I?" 



