A RAFT PILOT'S LOG 



and floated along catching a stray now and then, the last 

 one in Bellevue Slough, fifty-five miles from where the 

 break-up occurred. 



We had 1200 logs scattered over fifty-five miles of 

 river. We recovered them all and delivered at Musca- 

 tine without any shortage and only one day late. 



Captain Van Sant's presence was a great help to us 

 in many ways. He knew what to do and had the happy 

 faculty of knowing where to place each man in the right 

 place and get the most work out of him. He earned the 

 title cheerfully given him by the men on deck when 

 they pronounced him "A Hero in a Break-up." 



Captain Rutherford was on the "Silver Wave" six 

 seasons and she made a lot of money in that time. He 

 was not only an excellent pilot, but a man of intelli- 

 gence and good principle. 



One evening during a discussion in the pilot house 

 something said prompted him to face me and placing 

 a hand on each of my shoulders he said, "Young man, 

 remember this : 



Life lays its burden on every man's shoulder, 



We each have a cross or a trial to bear, 

 If we miss it in youth it will come when we're older 



And fit us as close as the garments we wear. 



I thanked him and asked if he knew the author of 

 this beautiful verse. He did not, nor do I. 



We made one long, tedious trip with a raft of lum- 

 ber from Reads Landing to Hannibal, in September 

 and October, 1879. The river was very low and Beef 

 Slough had closed down. We took this raft on charter, 

 so much per day, which assured us of a fair profit. We 

 grounded raft and boat at the mouth of Skunk river, 

 seven miles below Burlington. By two days hard work 



