Chauncey Lamb & Red Bird-1876

CHAUNCEY LAMB, RED BIRD, RAFT

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 11/23/2018 at 22:45:40

Dubuque Daily Times, Sunday, Oct 17, 1875, Dubuque, IA, Page: 4

The men on the Chauncey Lamb raft boat, on her last down trip discovered one night when about twenty miles above the city, a deer swimming in the water, discovering him in the distance by his majestic horns, the night being a bright moonlight one. Another raft boat seemed to be making toward him and the men on the Chauncey Lamb were determined to capture him if possible. They informed the engineer of their discovery, and more steam was added, and the chase fairly begun. The deer seemed to understand what was going on, and boldly struck out for an island, but was headed off by another boast, the Red Bird. The channel was too narrow for both boats to pass on the same side of the island. The deer then kept on a straight course down the current, and pulled out at such pace as to put the boat to its best speed, which at its best, with a large raft, was slow. Closer and closer the boat drew upon the deer, who was swimming bravely for its life. The men were crowded in eager expectation on the prow of the raft – if that is the term – but the deer kept on, occasionally giving signs of distress, and occasionally gaining on the boat, which moved on as remorseless as Fate, without seeming to increase its speed, yet slowly but surely gaining on the deer. The last struggle of the deer as he felt that the boat was sure to overtake him, was a most desperate one, and the excitement on the raft was great. He was failing fast, but a few more strokes of the great piston-rod would bring the deer within reach. Even such sinews and muscles as his, matchless on land, were no match for the untiring muscle of iron that propelled the boat, and in giving a last plunge, as if to leave the water, and try the air, the deer was caught by a dozen strong arms, and large and powerful as he was, fairly dragged upon the raft, and was soon safely bound, a captive, panting, bleeding and torn. He was killed the next day to furnish meat for dinner.