A RAFT PILOT'S LOG 



several fine hammers and finished them off as nice as 

 any store goods. 



We said Uncle Henry (as we called him) could 

 make any tools required in the engine room but mon- 

 key wrenches. 



In those days there was a great movement of "harvest 

 hands" northward, from Missouri and Kansas to the 

 great wheat fields of Minnesota. On one of our trips 

 we picked up an even hundred of these men at five dol- 

 lars each for Winona. This fare was for transporta- 

 tion only. They could sleep on deck anjrwhere and get 

 sandwiches and coffee at the kitchen; only a few of 

 them paid fifty cents for a full meal at the cabin table 

 as they were out to earn and save money. 



At noon the next day when passing Spechts Ferry, 

 twelve miles above Dubuque, our main hog chain on 

 the port side let go on top of the after main brace. This 

 let her stern down on the side and put wheel, cranks, 

 pitmans and engines in such a twist we could not roll 

 the water wheel over. 



The pilot headed her for the shore, her headway car- 

 ried her there and the mate and crew got lines out to 

 hold her. 



Captain Sam Van Sant was riding up with us this 

 trip fearing we might have some trouble with so many 

 deck passengers. 



When the boat was tied up he came back to see the 

 situation at our end of her and he looked pretty blue. 



Speaking to the engineer, he said, "Well, I guess the 

 only thing to do is to send these men to Winona by rail 

 and then have the boat towed to Dubuque Ways for 

 repairs." 



Mr. Whitmore said, "Captain, you do what I direct 

 and give me some help and I'll see what we can do." 



