18 On Down the River

                                                            

The Log Marty

July 2
Jess Lee Matson, Columbia St Boat Harbor, New Port Ky. Jess had a little floating harbor at the foot of Columbia St. He looks as bad and wizened up as an old rat. He batches in his houseboat and is more particular than an old maid. He is short and scrawny. His teeth are most pronounced. Each one is misshapen and half rotten. All are stained a dirty yellow from tobacco. We floated all night.

July 3
Slept at Louisville.

July 4
US Coast Guard Sta. Louisville, KY “Always welcome,” Walter T. Farrell
G Keal, “Dude, I am a good man, yet at 60. New Albany, Ind.
Alex Wilson, Hykins Fertatize Watchman. “I hope you boys have a nice trip all the way through.”

Joseph S. Wilson 31 W Wilson St. New Albany, In. “Write letter to John.”
George Flora, “I am glad I seen you two boys and hope to meet again.”

July 5,
Mike Rainforth, Lexavernworth, Ind. Dam 44, nightwatchman gave us shelter during storm. Floated until 2 AM, left at 5:30 AM
“I, Mike Rainforth, the writer of this note had the experience of 29 trips on floating produce boats to New Orleans. I only wish I could make this canoe trip as I want to go over the river trip again.”

July 6,
Rockport, Ind, L.G Jolley, 714 Vine Street. “My sport is playing ball. I play ball 3 times a week. I catch and play, second and am very fond of ball games. I read over the ball news every day. I hope someday I will be in the Leagues. I am 5 ft 10 in, brown eyes, brown hair. Weight 132 lbs. Also I play ball with the North End Access and Rickland Stair.” L. G. Jolley.

July 7,
Harold Meyer, Evansville, Indiana Evansville Journal. “James and John Stermer passed through Evansville July 7th on a canoe trip to New Orleans. A wonderful trip – wouldn’t mind taking it myself.”

Milfred Creamer 211 Kerth Ave. Evansville, Ind. “I know you will have a wonderful trip. Wish I could go along. Write to same.”

July 7,
Hardin County Ill. Elizabeth town, Ill.
Repaired bottom of canoe most of the day in Evansville

July 8,
Sharonietown, Ill. “Visited the oldest town in the State of Illinois. Oldest bank building estabished 1807.” JW Bowling, MD.

We cooked supper in cave.

J. W. Houston, Houseboat captain, gave us valuable information as to our trip and shelter for temporary stop in case of rain. “Hope you fellows have good luck and don’t get wet.”

July 9
E. W. Orr, Paducah, KY with the most up to date railroad shop in the world, Illinois Central lead airman.

J. A. Dubois, Metropolis Ill, Fort Massac. Dad invited us to stay for supper and the night but we had to move on. Dad is a real old time fisher man.

July 10
Landed in Ciro at 8:30 AM. Peculiar town. All level about it pushed on down the Mississippi to the skeleton town of Columbus, KY. Now inhabited by fisher folk.

July 11
Columbus, KY. Bill Tuck, “I am a great hunter of this state and fisher too. I catch 1100 pounds today.”

L. Davison, Columbus, Ky. “Been here since 1883. Has been on the river 33 years. Will be 64 Jan. Has worked at logging and on Government boats. Gov. Secret Service. At present is the nightwatchman of the remains of the flood devastated town of Columbus. The town has been moved up on the hill and is called New Town.”
Mr. Davison treated us royally. Three nights we were with him.

Guy Lawrence, Columbus KY. Fish Business. Guy was the gentleman who brought us by town to Columbus in back of his motorboat. We again planed in the canoe because of the speed. Brown Marie Fish market, Spec Lawrence, Helene Arkansas, Simon Fish market

July 12
Columbus Wm. Richardson, Columbus Ky R1B96
Mr. Richardson had been in Detroit and worked at various plants. It was a treat to meet someone who did know a little besides his home town.

Night of July 12 slept all night in an old saw mill at New Madrid, MO. Pulled out at 7:30 AM. Paddled until 11:00 PM to beat rain.
Ruth V. Cunningham, Carulthersville, MO “To have seen, been and done.” . Ester S. Way These 2 good looking ladies certainly did give us a royal welcome. (Be sure and write these lovely ladies above. )

July 13
Friday. Cut foot again. O. W. Rusty Scott, Chief of Police Caruthersville, MO
“Hope you guys a fine trip, good luck and a calm sea also hopes nobody mistakes you boys for Christopher Columbus and Robinson Crusco.

July 14
Luxora, Saturday night. Negros 10 – 1, slept in old saw mill landing.

July 15
Memphis Tenn. Marrin G. Davis, JB McGinnois, Jr A.A. Chighuizola, E Ramsey, Gardner John WD Phameas, Bob Luke AB Wade. Just a bundle of river rats on 0wens bar out for a good time.

July 16
Memphis Tenn. Robert Kennedy on his way from St. Paul to New Orleans meet and out fit from Detroit to New Orleans at Memphis. Mr. Kennedy has a house boat in which he is making his trip. He has been on his way for the last year. He is an old Spanish American War Veteran.

P.D. Busby Pinckney Ark. Mr. Busby is a giant of a man, 6ft 4in in height, weighing over 200 pounds. In his youth he was in the fighting game around St. Paul. At the present he is a fisherman on the Arkansas bank of the Mississippi.

July 17
Eugene Young Elaine Ark Photographer, Box 118 “May God be with you until we meet again.” Floated all night.

July 18
Paddled all day. Floated all night.

July 19
Rosedale, Miss. Landed here after floating from 2:00am until 9:00am. Last night we certainly had a bad time of it. The mosquitoes damn near drove us crazy.

July 20
Greenville, Mississippi. Staunch little craft Marthy made port here at 3:30 were welcomed at wharf by Wilbur Brocksell and Charles S. Kerg, City editor of Democrat Times, Greenville News shaker who questioned crew of boat on their trip. “Greenville is one of the neatest cities of Mississippi River.” declared James Stermer. He complimented the city’s wharf.

July 21
Floated all night. The “Marthy” arrived at Berg Miss on July 21 in good shape and going strong. Otto Bessie, 1115 Walnut St , Vicksburg, Miss. “I here wish the two boys the best of luck on their trip on the Marthy from here. “

July 22
Victor Fletcher, Vicksburg, Miss. 1504 Gate Misc. “Hoping you both, good luck on your trip to New Orleans” signed Thos. Déjà mite Crafton Cpt VFD

July 23
Stopped all night in Vicksburg. A. Broussard

July 24
Natchez, Mississippi W.S fleet

July 25
Lyman Heller, 7 Ferry Street. We slept on El Capitan and the above was the watchman. He gave us shelter for the night.

July 26
J. M. Buford, Baton Rouge, La. “Both going strong and well sunburned.”

July 27
Dr. D. C. Briefed, Darrow, La. “Both going good.”
John Prados, Harahan, La. Mr. Prados was certainly accommodating gentleman. He took special pains to make us comfortable for the night.

July 28
Horsham, La Crafty L. Williams to Mr. Stermer wishing him and brother luck on his voyage from New Orleans to New York. Capt of Barge “Mastodon”. The Mastadon is 369 x 50. It carries 24 boxcars, 27 oil cans, 12 coaches. Capt Nicklaus ferries us across the Mississippi River from Harabon to Avandale.

July 29
Lake Ponchatrain – caught in squall on the lake, owing to high waves, we could make no head way. Put up for the rest of the day and all night until 4:30AM on a work barge. Both of us got sea sick as soon as we left the canoe for the barge. Was able to get no sleep owing to the mosquitoes.

July 30
New Basin Canal Paddled in canal at 8:30 am. Was greeted by Thomas Muller. Tom took complete charge of finding us accommodations in the city and giving us directions as to how to get about the town so as to see the most in the shortest possible time. He has some of the finest homebrew in N.O. As a souvenir, we gave him the first paddle of the Marthy.

Edgar J. Metphell, Saint James Cemetery, New Orleans
Wadsworth: Farewell dear friends as you pass bye, As you are now so once was I,
As I am now, so you must be, Prepare fore death and follow me.

August 1, 1928
New Orleans, LA 9213 Gacennice St.

“Jim and John, In your travels around the world, May you always meet good fellows, and have a cold bottle, within reach, and a buck in your pocket, and a square meal under your belt, but if you get dry, etc, write – wire or come to New Orleans and look us up.” Thomas W. Miller, Chief Engineer, New Basin Canal Board, mail address: 2357 Laurel.
Robert B. Thomas 923 Garennice St., William Streckler, 1106 Constance St., Miss Anna Samche 1527 Rebgious St. New Orleans, LA

Lee Brown 923 Gariennice St. “I am the old darkey you met while you were drinking that good old home-brew, so when you are talking about the Southerner, negro, remember old Lee and drop us a line.”