If seagoing cowboys hadn’t thought about the possible dangers of their trips before they signed up, the required life boat drills once they were at sea may have drilled it into them. With all that hay on board, fire was a real threat. And with mines in European waters, explosions were, too. Not to mention storms pushing ships into rocks.
Cowboys on the F. J. Luckenbach are called to a fire and life boat drill, March 1946. Photo by James Martin.
Each cowboy was issued a fire and life boat station card at the beginning of their journey, with instructions for their particular task.
Fire and life boat station for seagoing cowboy Richard Musselman who made three trips in 1946 and 1947. Courtesy of Musselman family.
The cards were different for each shipping line.
The Grace Line station card for Santiago Iglesias seagoing cowboy Milt Lohr. Courtesy of Don Lohr.
Homer Kopke’s card for the S. S. William S. Halsted of the Moore-McCormack Lines. Courtesy of Kopke family.
Usually, on the reverse side were the signal instructions. More than one cowboy crew was summoned by these signals for real.
Signal instructions for fire and life boat drills. Courtesy of Musselman family.
Wise was the cowboy who took the drills seriously and prayed he’d never have to put them to use.
Seagoing cowboys on the S. S. Creighton Victory, July 1946. Photo by Ben Kaneda.
The Seagoing Cowboys 