lo A RAFT PILOT'S LOG 



The Clinton Nigger 83 



Invented by Chancy Lamb in 1874. The ends of the guy-lines 

 were made fast on the outside corners of the stern of the raft. 

 By running this double-spooled "nigger" to which the guy lines 

 were fastened, it paid out on one side and took in on the other 

 and kept an even strain on the lines. By this "nigger" the tow- 

 boat's stern was swung to either side and held in any desired 

 position to control the movement of the raft. 



Steamer Charlotte Boeckeler 87 



A large, powerful boat, owned by Shulenburg and Boeckeler 

 of Saint Louis. Captain Robert Dodds, master and pilot. She 

 was well built at New Albany, Ind., and came out 1881. Her 

 engines were fifteen inches by seven feet. 



Steamer Dexter 91 



This was an old boat when McDonald Brothers of LaCrosse 

 added her to their rafting fleet in 1874 with Captain Peter 

 O'Rourke in charge. She was dismantled at La Crosse, Wis- 

 consin, 1887. 



Steamer Silver Wave 97 



This steamer was originally called the D. A. McDonald. It 

 was built at LeCIaire, Iowa, in 1872. Owned by Van Sant and 

 Musser Transportation Company of Muscatine, Iowa. The 

 author was clerk and "nigger-runner," 1879-1881. 



Steamer Mountain Belle loi 



Originally a packet on the Kanawha river. Was brought into 

 the rafting business, 1874, by Hewitt and Wood of LaCrosse, 

 Wis. She was later owned by G. C. Hixson and then for sev- 

 eral years by McDonald Brothers of LaCrosse. Her last years 

 were spent in the excursion business at Saint Paul with Wm. 

 McCraney as master and owner, under the name of the Pur- 

 chase. She had a long and successful career, and was finally 

 condemned and dismantled by Peters and Son, at Wabasha, 

 1917. She never had a bad mishap causing any great loss. 



Tightening Crosslines with Spanish Windlass . . 115 



The lines holding the raft together and keeping it straight 

 had to be frequently tightened in the manner shown. The Span- 

 ish Windlass consisted of two light poles about four inches 

 through at the butt ends. One called the "upright," about six 

 feet long, was firmly held in a vertical position by one man 

 while another man carried about the ten-foot pole called the 

 "sweep." The hitch caught in the bight of the loose line could 

 in this way be wound around the upright until a good strain 

 was secured and, held by the windlass, laid down flat. 



