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Old Times
On the Mississippi
By J. D. Barnes
Port
Byron Globe
March 21, 1935
Writer’s Experience as a Riverman
On the following morning, which, was Sunday,
Tromley, Walt Henderson, and the writer called at the
hospital, to see how Bill Webb was, and also learn the extend
of the wounds which he had received the night previous.
We found him getting along as well as could be expected under
the circumstances. The citizens informed us that one of
the best surgeons in the state was attending him. He was
a graduate of McDowell’s college of St. Louis, and on one
occasion had saved a man who had his throat cut, and so
feeling satisfied he was in good hands we left him. As
it was nearly noon we concluded we would go to the hotel and
get our dinner and now comes a case of man’s unkindness
towards man. We were all pretty hungry I will admit, but
because Henderson remained at the table a little longer than
the rest the landlord charged him 75c for the most, when the
usual price was only 50c. Henderson paid him, however
but under protest and at the same time declaring he would get
even with him before he left town and right well did he keep
his word, tho’ his act was not strictly in accordance with the
doctrine that teaches “if a man demand your coat give him your
cloak also.” The means, however, justified the end
in this case and he did right in getting even.
At three o’clock we all boarded the steamer Reserve worthy of
note occurred until the boat reached Horse Island, which is
situated a little below the city of Rock Island. It was
early in morning and the boat made a landing. The
passengers wondered what it meant. Presently several
deck hands walked the stage plank with shovels in their hands.
The truth was a man had died with cholera about an hour before
and they were going to bury him. He was an immigrant
with his family bound for Minnesota. The family were in
the cabin while he was below looking after his horses and
while doing so was taken ill in the night and died the
following morning. The occurrence caused quite a
commotion on board and it was astonishing to see the men all
flocking to the bar about that time and calling for something
to warm them up. I will state right here that the writer
was among the number and he found the remedy all right.
One of the first symptoms of cholera is a ‘squamish” feeling
then your finger nails begin to have a bluish cast and without
waiting for further developments powerful remedies should be
resorted to at once, and there is nothing better than good
brandy or whiskey.
My stay in Le Claire was of short duration for I boarded the
next boat due from the south, which was the old reliable
Canada and she had a big trip. Besides several raft
crews Reynolds and Saupough, bridge builders from Rock Island
with their whole outfit, were on board. They were going
to Minneapolis to build a bridge across the river at that
point and they wanted a man to take charge of one of their
teams so I decided to go with them as it would be a winter’s
job.
The trip up was a lively one and the clerk knew that he had
not collected near all the fares, and the boys were shirking
on him, so under pretense of cleaning and fumigating the boat
as a preventative against cholera, we were all ordered ashore
at Dubuque and after remaining a half hour were invited to
return, and the gentlemanly clerk examined our tickets and by
so doing collected something over $400. At Winona we
were transferred to the steamer Charles Cheaver, and finished
the run to St. Paul and on the following day started overland
for Minneapolis. At that time the latter place and St.
Anthony were two separate towns, but they are now consolidated
and Minneapolis is a flourishing city. I was very much
taken with the place at first sight and I predicted a
brilliant future for it. The inhabitants even at that
time seemed to realize that it was destined to become a great
city, altho’ at that time there was but one street that
amounted to anything which was Nicolet avenue.
The people were principally from the New England states and
Canada, and were full of energy and determination. The
town on the east side of the river was quite a different
place. It had but one street which ran along the river
front for about a mile and boasted of 12 saloons.
Gambling was the chief occupation of the male portion of the
town, besides the sporting fraternity of the neighboring towns
would gather there to ply their vocation. The work on
the bridge began October 1st and continued without
cessation until finished. Tho’ the thermometer often
indicated 35 degrees below zero. The first train of cars
passed over it on April 30th and we were
discharged. I decided that I would go over to Stillwater
and board a raft from down the river, stop at Le Claire long
enough to get my personal effects, then I would return to
Minneapolis and grow up with the place, but the fates decreed
otherwise and I never returned. I will explain more
fully in the next chapter.
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