IAGenWeb - Scott County
MISSISSIPPI RIVER FOLK BACKGROUND
WASHINGTON HIGHT "Diamond Jo" Reynolds and His Line of Steamers.
Was for Many Years the Most Picturesque Figure on Mississippi.In the spring of 1878 the Josephine came out new from the Diamond Jo yard at Eagle Point and took the place of the old Diamond Jo in the run, between Fulton and Burlington, Capt. Ben Congar and some of his crew from the old boat were on the new and pretty Josephine. J. L. Carver and "Little Jim" Davenport; were her engineers. They carried her hot and she soon acquired a reputation for speed. Washington Hight and Dick Stevens were her pilots, both fine gentlemen and both regular rapids pilots.
Old song
Washington Hight Rapids Pilot."What are we waiting for?" passengers cry,
When the Diamond Jo's stops at Le Claire
"We wait for the Pilot," the captin's reply,
The rapids begin over there.Your pilots were here a minute ago,
"Are they leaving me, captain." They say.
They're not licensed to run the rapids, you know
Tis a winding and perilous way."But where are the rapids, we've looked all around O, Captain, what is there to see?"
Beneath the smooth unruffled water the dangers abound Though the surface unruffled may be.
The treacherous river's a blank to our view
But the pilot we're waiting for knows
How to hold the great Sycamore straight, steady and true,
Wherever the curved channel goes.Down the rapids, the next fourteen miles, rocks stretch, out
Unseen, over eager for prey,
While above them the water good boiling about
And beat dizill whirling away.Should we reach, hand or foot of the rapids at night,
We tie up till, dawn of the day,
Ah, here comes the with our pilot Wash Hight,
Cries the Captain, "Well now get away."When the pilot was young he and one who is dead,
knew the long Mississippi by heart
From Saint Paul to New Orleans, the whole rivers bed
She, Could real like a book, ov'ry part.
Source: The Davenport Democrat andLeader, Davenport, Ia., 25 Jan 1931.