“The Bigler's Crew”

Description

The Bigler sets out for Buffalo from Milwaukee. A number of minor incidents are described, and the Bigler's lack of speed sarcastically remarked upon: "[We] MIGHT have passed the whole fleet there -- IF they'd hove to and wait"

Notes

According to Julius F. Wolff, Jr., _Lake Superior Shipwrecks_, Lake Superior Port Cities Inc., Duluth, 1990, p. 42, a ship named _J. Bigler_ was lost near Marquette, Michigan in 1884, but he was unable to find many other details. I have no idea if it is the same ship, but it was on the right lakes at about the right time. - RBW

Same tune

  • The Crummy Cow (File: HHH501)
  • The Light on Cape May (File: Doe130)

Cross references

Recordings

  • Stanley Baby, "The Trip of the 'Bigler'" (on GreatLakes1)
  • Sam Larner, "The Dogger Bank" (on SLarner02)

References

  1. Laws D8, "The Bigler's Crew"
  2. Rickaby 47, "The Bigler's Crew" (1 text)
  3. Dean, pp. 19-20, "The Bigler's Crew" (1 text)
  4. Warner 19, "Jump Her, Juberju" (this version rather heavily folk processed); 20, "The Bigler" (2 texts, 1 tune)
  5. Creighton-Maritime, p. 141, "The Cruise of the Bigler" (1 text, 1 tune)
  6. Lomax-FSUSA 46, "The Bigler" (1 text, 1 tune)
  7. Sandburg, pp. 174-175, "Bigerlow" (1 short text, 1 tune)
  8. Colcord, pp. 200-202, "The Cruise of the Bigler" (1 text, 1 tune)
  9. Shay-SeaSongs, pp. 105-108, "The Bigler" (1 text, 1 tune)
  10. Botkin-AmFolklr, pp. 843-845, "The Bigler's Crew" (1 text, 1 tune)
  11. DT 611, BIGLRCRW*
  12. Roud #645
  13. BI, LD08

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1922 (Dean)
Keywords: ship travel humorous
Found in: US(MA,MW) Canada(Mar,Ont)