266 A RAFT PILOT'S LOG 



Towed by "Ottumwa Belle" 



These three reminders of the old days were towed 

 through by the "Ottumwa Belle," the only survivor of 

 the great fleet of ninety raft-boats that were in the busi- 

 ness on the crest of the wave in 1880. The season of 

 1914 will see the end of the rafting business, when the 

 "Ottumwa Belle" will take three rafts through, the last 

 three rafts ever destined to go down the river, and the 

 knell of the once great traffic will be rung. The "Ot- 

 tumwa Belle" is owned by S. & J. C. Atlee of Fort 

 Madison. The master of the "Belle" is Walter Hunter, 

 one of the few remaining raft pilots. 



And the masters, pilots and crews who manned the 

 big fleet! Of the army of pilots, numbering over two 

 hundred and fifty, who were the guardians of the fleet 

 in their trips up and down the river thirty years ago, 

 but seventy-three are known to be living. There may be 

 other survivors, but they are not known to Captain W. 

 A. Blair, who has compiled the complete list of those 

 who were engaged in piloting in the early days. 



Of the seven-three members of the profession, for it 

 was indeed a profession, several have attained high 

 places politically, others have abandoned the river and 

 taken up a less romantic vocation, and still others have 

 drifted to other navigable rivers to continue their 

 chosen work. 



Old River Men Meet 



Prominent among the one-time raft-boat pilots is 

 Colonel E. W. Durant, who is perhaps one of the most 

 noted members of the body. Colonel Durant, who was 

 once Lieutenant-governor of Minnesota and twice 

 served his state as state senator, at the age of eighty- 

 four years is hale, hearty, healthy and happy. 



