WHAT BECAME OF THE RAFT-BOATS 177 



who used her on the Illinois river towing grain barges 

 and other general work. 



We sold the "Netta Durant" to the Van Sant and 

 Musser Company who rebuilt her for a bow-boat and 

 named her the "Lydia Van Sant." She was later sold to 

 the Taber Lumber Company of Keokuk. 



After the "Volunteer" laid up idle during the sum- 

 mer of 1898, I sold her to our Carnival City Packet 

 Company for $7000.00, put her on our ways at LeClaire 

 that fall and during the winter extended her cabin aft 

 so she had sixteen nice staterooms and gave her a swing- 

 ing stage and outfitted her for a short line packet and 

 she made a good one. The next spring (1899) when 

 ready to start, she was totally destroyed by the great fire 

 in Kahlkes yard at Rock Island. 



The "Saturn" (the first), owned by Captain George 

 Winans, and the "Mascot" and our fine excursion barge 

 "Comfort" were destroyed in this fire which originated 

 on the "Saturn." Her engineer crew had arrived on her 

 the afternoon before. It was cold. After supper, leav- 

 ing a big fire in the stove, they turned in and later they 

 turned out- too late to do any good. 



The "West Rambo," rebuilt into the "Virginia," was 

 one of a number of light-draft, stern-wheel boats 

 bought by an agent of H. jVI. Flagler and taken to Flor- 

 ida where they did excellent service in building the 

 extension of Flaglers East Coast railway to Key West. 



I traded the "J. W. Mills" to Parmalee Brothers of 

 Canton, Missouri, in the spring of 1894 for the "City of 

 Quincy," paying $5000.00 difference. 



Parmalee Brothers dismantled the "Mills" that sum- 

 mer and used her engines, shaft and much other stufif in 

 the "Ottumwa Belle" which they built at Canton and 

 later traded to S. and J. C. Atlee for the "J. C. Atlee." 



