Transcriber's note: Italic text has been marked with underscores. Please see the end of this book for further notes.

Old Times on the Upper Mississippi

The Recollections of a Steamboat Pilot from 1854 to 1863

George Byron Merrick

Cleveland, Ohio The Arthur H. Clark Company 1909

Dedicated to the Memory of My Chiefs

William H. Hamilton, Engineer, Charles G. Hargus, Clerk, Thomas Burns, Pilot, masters in their several professions. From each of them I learned something that has made life better worth living, the sum of which makes possible these reminiscences of a "cub" pilot.

Contents

Prelude 13

Old Times on the Upper Mississippi

Chapter I EARLY IMPRESSIONS 15

Chapter II INDIANS, DUGOUTS, AND WOLVES 20

Chapter III ON THE LEVEE AT PRESCOTT 29

Chapter IV IN THE ENGINE-ROOM 38

Chapter V THE ENGINEER 46

Chapter VI THE "MUD" CLERK--COMPARATIVE HONORS 52

Chapter VII WOODING UP 59

Chapter VIII THE MATE 64

Chapter IX THE "OLD MAN" 71

Chapter X THE PILOTS AND THEIR WORK 78

Chapter XI KNOWING THE RIVER 92

Old Times on the Upper Mississippi

Chapter I EARLY IMPRESSIONS 15✦

Chapter II INDIANS, DUGOUTS, AND WOLVES 20✦

Chapter III ON THE LEVEE AT PRESCOTT 29✦

Chapter IV IN THE ENGINE-ROOM 38✦

Chapter V THE ENGINEER 46✦

Chapter VI THE "MUD" CLERK--COMPARATIVE HONORS 52✦

Chapter VII WOODING UP 59✦

Chapter VIII THE MATE 64✦

Chapter IX THE "OLD MAN" 71✦

Chapter X THE PILOTS AND THEIR WORK 78✦

Chapter XI KNOWING THE RIVER 92✦

Chapter I EARLY IMPRESSIONS 15

Chapter II INDIANS, DUGOUTS, AND WOLVES 20

Chapter III ON THE LEVEE AT PRESCOTT 29

Chapter IV IN THE ENGINE-ROOM 38

Chapter V THE ENGINEER 46

Chapter VI THE "MUD" CLERK--COMPARATIVE HONORS 52

Chapter VII WOODING UP 59

Chapter VIII THE MATE 64

Chapter IX THE "OLD MAN" 71

Chapter X THE PILOTS AND THEIR WORK 78

Chapter XI KNOWING THE RIVER 92