Topic starter
29/08/2007 6:03 pm
Greetings From New Orleans ,
One of the most interesting and intriqueing aspects of working on the river , for me at least , as been the rather unique and special terms and termenology that is pecular only to life on the river and for that matter just where , when and how did these same terms originate from ? For example the term " Tow Head " , where , why and when did that term come from ? Is it a term that has survived the years and originated from old steamboat pilots or for that matter tow boat pilots that viewed the island ( and thats really all it is ) as a " tow " of barges or what ? I've checked my charts and racked my mind and memory and to the best of my knowledge , the term " Tow Head " is only found on the Lower Mississippi River at approximately river mile 194 , and is known as Bayou Goula Towhead . Upon close inspection , its only one of a few islands that are found on the Lower between New Orleans and Baton Rouge , but does anyone know for certain the signifinance of " Tow Head " ?? Above Baton Rouge , there is Profit Island so why not Bayou Goula Island ?? So , if anyone out there has an explanation for this rather unique term , I for one would certainly appreciate their input . In the accompaning picture , is a shot of the Str. Delta QUeen , underway and south bound , abeam of the lower portion of Bayou Goula Towhead . In that picture , and on the right , you can see the chute that goes behind the towhead and on the left , you can see the main channel of the river . That picture brings back fond memories of piloting the " Queen " and even small ships behind Bayou Goula Towhead inorder to get out of the strong current in that bend and to also cut off a few miles and to also make better time as well . Another river term that comes to mind and that is used frequently on the lower at least , is " Gauge Water " . For example , before we would run behind the Bayou Goula Towhead , a responsible pilot would check what was on the Baton Rouge river gauge , and any well posted pilot in the area also knows that , the depth of water , behind the Bayou Goula Towhead , is " Gage Water " with respect to what is on the Baton Rouge river gage . For example , if there is 20' on the Baton Rouge gage , then there is about 20' behind the Bayou Goula Towhead and there would certainly be ample water to navigate a light draft vessel . I recall , my mentor , Captain " Rip " Ware would caution me to never run behind an island or towhead , on a falling river and I now pass that same advice on to our apprentice pilots as well . When you think of it , it really boggles the mind , when you consider how piloting and other river related river information is passed on from one generation of pilots to another . I also wonder how much information is unfortunately lost forever because this same information had been over looked or forgotton about and not passed on . Also , Bayou Goula Towhead has become somewhat of a " safe harbor " for a number of river vessels , including the Str. Natchez when severe weather would be coming into the New Orleans area . But getting back to my original thought , there is literally an entire glossary of river terms that most people would just not have a clue to of what we were referring to .
As Always , Smoothe Sailing !
Ted Davisson
29/08/2007 6:12 pm
Captain, you got me thinking--I do love those river terms. How about the St. Maurice towhead, just below the Morganza Spillway? That's where the great J.M. White went down. Keep 'em coming.
Topic starter
29/08/2007 6:19 pm
St. Maurice Towhead
Mary ,
Thanks for your reply and your absolutely correct , I am very impressed . St. Maurice Towhead , is referred to as a " towhead and for that matter I've navigated behind this towhead as well for the same reason as I mentioned in the original posting . Also , please call me Ted , I am perfectly comfortable with myself that I don't need a title , but Thank You .
Smoothe Sailing ,
Ted
29/08/2007 7:10 pm
Towheads
I'm sure glad Ted is back he is always making my brain come out of retirement. Just Cincy to Cairo: Vevay Towhead; Towhead Is. at Louisville; Mt. Vernon Towhead; Towhead Is. at 833; Slim Is. towhead at 837( I think its gone now); Plews Towhead at 885; Deen Towhead at 916 and Towhead Is. at 923. Now I'll think about upriver.
29/08/2007 7:58 pm
Don't have a clue (clew?) about this one, except that's what they called me when I was very small and very blonde........
30/08/2007 12:08 am
Trouble Behind the Towheads
Barney, down here at the Rabbit Hash Shipyard, defines TOWHEAD like this: "A sandbar or low-lying alluvial island in a river, especially one with a stand of trees."
Seems that a stand of trees usually accompanied the towheads I recollect. What is the name of the one just above, or below, the Angola Ferry? It looked weird with those tall skinny trees on that tiny snatch of ground stuck out in the middle of the river. Maybe all washed away by now.
Howard Tate was the one for running up behind those islands and towheads. When running up behind St. Maurice Towhead and then some, as we came to what looked like a blind spot, the voice of a lady on the deck below the pilothouse carried this message:
"Looks that Pilot's gotten himself into a fine fix this time."
But as we who knew Tate can recall, the old boy did know the river.
I have to admit, but on a certain November evening, some 30 years ago, I stuck the P. A. DENNY on a submerged spit of sand trying to get tied up behind Bayou Goula Towhead before dark. There wasn't any 20 feet on the BR gauge, for sure, but we had to find sheltered water before the sun sank below the Westbank. So to save precious minutes of fast-fading daylight, I entered the chute from above the island instead of dropping below and entering from deeper water on the lower end. I knew better, but time was running out
"Why, I've seen ships running behind here," I reasoned, just before the sternwheeler cozied up to a bar. After several attempts to free the bow from the embrace of the sandbar, we went below to eat our dinner with the wheel still backing on a slow bell. But soon the relative movement of a light ashore signaled that were working free and the bunch of us dropped our dinner tools and ran to our posts. With a bit more persuasion, the PAD flopped over the obstruction and into deeper water for the night.
After breakfast the next morning, the DENNY cautiously felt her way down toward the foot of the towhead where the shadow of the last bar could be faintly seen before deeper water beckoned. But much to everyone's surprise, nine feet was the least water the leadsman found atop the bar. Good enough water for the DENNY.
I wondering, Captain Ted, if there was nine feet over the bar on the lower end of Bayou Goula Towhead chute, how much water was on the Baton Rogue gauge?
Topic starter
30/08/2007 4:18 am
" Running The Chute "
One other bit of information has come to mind concerning the manner in which has proven to be a safe and proven method when running behind the different islands and " Tow Heads " I've encountered . I am not sure if its simply a matter of what I refer to as river hydrolics or circumstance , but I find that when North or Up-Bound , it is best to favor the Island or the Towhead , when first entering the chute but when exiting the chute I find the water is both deeper and with less current , to favor the shore line . This method has kept me out of trouble on both ships and steamboats and once again I give complete credit to my gone but certainly not forgotton friend and mentor , Captain " Rip " Ware .
Smoothe Sailing !
Ted Davisson