The Sounding Party; Steamboat Republic

oil, 24" x 36" — $28,000

River Channels were constantly shifting. With no GPS available, Riverboat Captains sent members of the crew out to physically check the depth of the river in tricky spots to find a clear passage. The river bottom shifted constantly, so Riverboat Pilots couldn't count on safe passage based on regular channels. Each voyage through a bend or area known for shifting meant having to "sound" the bottom, which involved dropping a lead weight on a line to mark the depth of the water as a boat slowly moved ahead, as seen in this painting above. The 'leadsmen' would call out or "sound" out the depth as in: "Quarter less Ta-ree," Halt Twain," Quarter Twain," "Mark Twain," etc.- Yes, that's where Samuel Clemens found his writing name 'Mark Twain,' which means the water is twelve feet deep.