What were they?

*Capt. Fred Way's 3X5 cards/No computer for him*
Steamboating bcolleagues:
Morning, Dan. I agree with you RE: "paper and pencils...3X5 cards" a la Capt. Fred Way. Now and then somebody writes an article, letter or posting referencing Fred Way's PACKET DIRECTORY or STEAM TOWBOAT DIRECTORY. Then we hear, "So and so pulled it from WAY'S DIRECTORY." Why wouldn't people use his stellar volumes based on decades of intense research/writing using his famed 3X5 cards? DUH! And how Fred did it day in and day out along with using a simple finger powered typewriter with black/red ink tape remarkable. Fred intended for people to use his labor of love. When in doubt today, just pull down his 'Bible' for the basic listing, history with particulars he included never found in contemporary listings for boats/ships. Fred was the first in maritime research/writing to give a steamboat a living, breathing personality of its own. What's wrong with going to the basic research source when we don't know?

Several times Fred Way was offered via an S&D member in business a free computer then emerging in popular use. There also were those electric typewriters with the little rectangular viewing screen on the top you could see, proof each sentence and small paragraph. Fred looked over the mysterious new computer contraption hooked up to...YIKES!--a printer! He tried it out, paused, tired it again. "Ah, thanks but no thanks. I prefer the old way using my typewriter, cutting, sizing, using glue with text, laying out for the S&D REFLECTOR. At my age with my arthritic crippled hands, it would be my luck to have all typed, ready to go and then hit the wrong key with it all going POOF." Even when it was explained to Fred how to periodically hit SAVE to protect pages as he went, he balked. Perhaps a good thing he did. Fred's existing card calalogues, typed manuscripts, notes a marvel of scholarship. And to think all of his early work churned out on a simple hand cranked black ink 'ditto' duplicator on a basement table. Fred also, when off the boats, was called in as Editor for the SEWICKLEY HERALD in his hometown. "Once you get printer's ink under your nails you're hooked for life," he said with a twinkle in his eyes, pipe in hand.

Even earlier, when 'tripping'/piloting on the GORDON C. GREENE, Fred would sit down, roll up his sleeves to compose copy, run off the GORDON's daily steamboat newspaper. At present here at home a major project hauling out 'dusty boxes,' stacks of KODAK 35 mm. wheels with vintage river/steamboat photos and conventional B/W prints for scanning to DVD disks. In time hope to post some here, if I ever get 'unlazy' how to do the task. Hope to send a few to S&D REFLECTOR Editor, David Tschiggfrie. And, once again, what do I know?

R. Dale Flick
Old Coal haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

Years ago I used to correspond with Capt. Way on a number of projects. Most of the correspondence took place on those 3 x 5 cards. Lots of wit and wisdom contained. I need to get 'unlazy' and revisit that old folder full of them. Lots of memories.

Was invited by Dennis Trone to join the crew for the winter lay up trip from Peoria to Bath one week in November ( was paid with Libby's chili and worth every spoon full ) and remember gathered in the WH with the crew and John Hartford who was steering and someone told a story where they were carrying an arm load of watermelons and a dog came up and bit them on the behind ( or something to that effect ) and everyone shared a laugh at this poor fellows misfortune, when John pulled a 3x5 card out his vest and wrote something down, which I believe he did often. I often wondered is there is a dusty box somewhere in Nashville and buried deep within a 3x5 card with a note " watermelons, bit on butt by dog...". Maybe some day someone will find these cards and put in a book...betcha would be funny reading. Luke ( somewhere on the Miss. )

Luke, I know exactly of what you speak! Some of John's first correspondence with me in the early 1970s was done on those 3x5 cards. One time he started a "letter" on cards and finished it on a cassette tape, replete with a musical closing! I think most of John's river collection is now in the possession of the H.T. Pott Inland Waterways Library - at the St. Louis Mercantile Library. John was here in the spring of 1976 and I took him to visit Mrs. Loretta Howard, then 91 years old and in a nursing home, but still sharp as a tack! Miss Loretta regaled us with all sorts of river stories like they happened yesterday. John was thrilled and had a small cassette recorder going, with Mrs. Howard's permission. And I recall that he also made some notes on those ubiquitous 3x5 cards!

Memories of my youth

Bill Judd;35304 wrote: Now Judy and Dale have been trying to keep new threads going, so I decided to help out and maybe bring back some of the old gang and lurkers.
Jim Reising, Capt. Reynolds, Dan Owen, Capt. Lehman and Shipyard Sam lay low for a bit and lets see who shows up.

WHAT WERE WJG, WGK, WAY, WCM, WFN & WNU and where where they located and did you actually use them??

These were the A.M. short wave base stations that kept marine commutations available to towboats on the river.

Between 1965 and 1969 I would get up when my father went to work about 6 a.m. and use my grandmother's GE World Wide shortwave radio to listen to the Mississippi River Company, Ohio Barge Lines, Ohio River Company, and American Commercial Barge Lines boats call in their morning position reports. I think they were calling Pittsburgh and possibly St. Louis. The frequency was 4.5? mc.

Those were the days before cell phones and everything else we cannot live without today. Often they would list their Ps and Ds (pickup and deliveries) for the previous day by barge number, any grocery lists, crew changes, etc. Some had mobile telephones but these were only usable in or near a big city.

Keep you steam up!

Russ Ryle

PS: If I remember right, the Delta Queen was WA4141. Unbound to Cincinnati about dusk on a summer Thursday night I listened for the voice of Capt. Harry or whoever was on watch, "This is WA 4141, the Steamer Delta Queen, unbound at Shannon's Landing checking for traffic down bound at Rising Sun. WA4141, The Queen is unbound at Shanon's." Soon she would be playing the calliope passing our farm below Rising Sun.

Bad News....

How fast was that, Bill Judd? But regrettably, I am informing the group of the destruction of the Rabbit Hash General Store.... please see my post.

I also think that the letters were the old marine operators' station call signs!