224 A RAFT PILOT'S LOG 



say and Phelps Company certainly is a strong testimon- 

 ial of their appreciation of Captain Lancaster's work: 



Office of Lindsay and Phelps Company 



[Fred Wyman, George F. Lindsay, C. M. Cochrane, Edwin B. 

 Lindsay] 



501 Citizens Bank Building, Davenport, Iowa, March 13, 1928. 



Captain E. J. Lancaster, was master and pilot of the steamer 

 "Eclipse," owned by Lindsay and Phelps Company and the Cable 

 Lumber Company. 



This association continued until the Cable mill was destroyed by 

 fire, when the Lindsay and Phelps Company purchased the interest of 

 the Cable Lumber Company. 



During all of these years Captain Lancaster had the confidence of 

 his employers to such an extent, that he was given entire charge of 

 the steamboats, the "Eclipse" and the bow-boat "Everett," also care 

 and laying up of surplus logs in storage harbor. 



He was a man so conscientious, and of such sterling integrity that 

 the confidence reposed in him was not misplaced. He was a skillful 

 pilot with unusual ability in managing his work. 



It was a sad day when the "Eclipse" was sold, and the relations 

 were severed after so many years of such close friendship. 



Fred Wy.man 



When the rafting business played out, Captain Lan- 

 caster made changes and improvements in the steamer 

 "Eclipse" and operated her three or four seasons in 

 packet service; first between Clinton and Davenport 

 and lated between Prairie Du Chien and Dubuque. The 

 packet business not proving satisfactory, he sold the 

 "Eclipse" to an Ohio river party and took charge of the 

 fine little towboat "Marquette," towing gravel from 

 Meridosia to Moline. 



Captain Lancaster died on May 9, 1914. His son, 

 Harry, succeeded him and has been master and pilot of 

 the "Marquette" ever since. 



