56 A RAFT PILOT'S LOG 



for getting me started right in discharging a duty which 

 in time became a habit that saved me from loss and 

 worry, and gave me real pleasure. 



Getting on board late at night, I took the berth as- 

 signed to me, by the mate, but did not sleep much. At 

 breakfast I was made acquainted with James Hugunin, 

 master and pilot, George Tromley, St., pilot, R. B. 

 McCall, mate, Thos. Wright, chief engineer. Add. 

 Mikesell, assistant engineer, Wm. Davenport, my part- 

 ner, Ben Shipley, cook, and Harry Carleton, cabin boy. 



Later I became acquainted with the firemen, John 

 Shannon and Martin Larkins. She had eight or nine 

 men on deck, of whom I remember only one, Johnny 

 Bagley, who often helped me by "watching the nigger" 

 when I had some work to do in the office, and he posted 

 me about my numerous duties and steamboat rules and 

 ways of doing things. Old Martin, the fireman, also 

 took interest in me, reminding me what my rights and 

 duties were. While I made a few bad cracks, of course, 

 with their help I made rapid progress in getting into 

 my place. We all were on the boat at the close of the 

 season, during which we ran logs from Stillwater, Min- 

 nesota, to Atlee's mill in Fort Madison, Iowa. 



The "Belle" was only six years old, with hull, ma- 

 chinery and boilers in excellent condition. She had a 

 nice, comfortable cabin for the officers, with kitchen, 

 pantry, and mess-room at the after end. 



The office was directly in front, and was fitted up 

 complete, including a good, small safe with combina- 

 tion lock. I was proud to work in this little office, and 

 determined to hold the job. Nothing but gatling guns 

 and police dogs could have driven me away from it. 



The pilot and mate were kind and helpful from the 

 start, as was the assistant engineer, and before the sea- 



