Sam Clemens and the Steamer "Effie Afton" at "The Hell Gate of the Mississippi"

Clemens, Jr. wrote to Orion, "Your Brother . . . handed me an introductory letter from you [as he] was desirous to go on board a Boat to learn to become a Pilot . . . but I was then and am now of the opinion your brother should stick to his present trade or art.âeuro 1 The steamboat Effie Afton was being piloted from Cincinnati to St. Paul under the command of a Captain Hurd. Not only would steamboats now have to wait for the opening of the swing bridge span between trains, a hindrance to steamboat navigation, but boats ascending would have to fight the current in a tight place and descending boats would have to steer to avoid the piers. The steamer Royal Arch passed through the piers âeuroœwhen a high wind was blowing.âeuro Later, members of the crew were âeuroœat the bridge and minutely examined its structureâeuro and observed that the bridge does not cross the current at precisely right angles, thus making any pass through difficult.3 The distance of the river upstream from Keokuk to Rock Island was around one hundred and thirty miles. By the efforts of the officers of both boats, and in a very short time, all the passengers were saved. Because of the high water some passengers crossed from the upper deck of the J. B. Carson and made their way directly over to the bridge, thus escaping.