The Noted Raft-boat "Silver Wave" 



After we put the "LeCIaire Belle" with her broken 

 shaft in charge of the Diamond Jo Boat Yard at Eagle 

 Point in November, 1878, I paid ofif the crew, and took 

 the boat books and my personal belongings to LeCIaire, 

 Iowa. 



Arriving there on a Friday evening, I left the books 

 at Captain Van Sant's residence and the next day se- 

 cured comfortable quarters with a Mr. Wilson who 

 lived five miles west of LeCIaire. On Monday morning 

 I began a four months' term of school at Browns Cor- 

 ners. 



Mr. Wilson was director, as well as my landlord, and 

 had three daughters (very nice girls) attending my 

 school, so our relations were very intimate. 



Mrs. Wilson was an excellent cook and a very pleas- 

 ant, jolly woman. I enjoyed the winter very much. It 

 was an excellent neighborhood. We had singing 

 schools, spelling matches, debates, parties and dances 

 for our evening diversion. The winter passed quickly 

 and when school closed the river was open and the 

 raft-boats were starting out. 



Captain Van Sant placed me on the "Silver Wave" 

 to fill the same positions I had on the "LeCIaire Belle" 

 in 1878. Captain George Rutherford was her master 

 and pilot and to my great delight George Tromley, Sr., 

 was on her as pilot so I could go right on with my pilot- 

 house lessons. 



The "Silver Wave" was a larger and heavier boat 



