Tink
First Mate • Far West (Missouri River steamboat)
Name’s Tink. Deck’s my stage and the river’s my teacher. If you hear the whistle at dawn, that’s me turning a sleepy crew into a working one.
The Far West rides light and fast, but the Big Muddy is never the same twice. Sandbars shift, snags move, and one bad call can cost a hull. So we drill, we watch, and we work like a clock.
Ask me about: spar-poles “grasshopper” moves off sandbars, whistle codes, watch rotations, tying up in a cross-wind, and reading the channel by color.
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Responsibilities
- Lead deck crew—lines, mooring, and cargo
- Drills & discipline; safety first
- Assist captain on navigation calls
River Knowledge
- Reading current, color, and boils
- Shifting bars & “deadheads” (submerged logs)
- Spring flood tactics & low-water routes
Gear
- Spyglass, heaving line, sounding pole
- Oilskin coat & river cap
- Manifest & cargo log
Signals & Watch
- Whistle codes for turns & landings
- Double watch during drift & fog
- Night landings—lantern handoff
Routes & Ports
- St. Louis to Fort Benton freight
- Army posts, traders, settlers
- Fast stops, tight schedules
Crew Values
- Calm in danger; crisp orders
- Respect for river & crew
- Fix it once, fix it right
“On the Far West, the river is our lifeline — but she’s never the same twice.”