CAPT. LEYHE ONE OF THE GREAT RIVERBOAT PILOTS

Throughout the history of Cape Girardeau, the Mississippi River has been the largest trade factor. After the War of 1812, a demand for improved means of travel made St. Louis the gate through which most of Western trade and traffic passed.

The Eagle Packet Co. of St. Louis entered into the steamboat business in 1891 with just one boat. Until 1891, the company never had more than two steamers in operation at the same time. The Missouri Historical Review described a packet boat as one that carried mail and also one that carried passengers and goods and operated on a fixed schedule.

The founders of the Eagle Packet Co. were Henry and William Lehye, whose father, Henry Sr., in 1846, had emigrated from Frankfort, Germany, by way of New Orleans. Capt. William H. "Buck" Lehye was the son of Capt. William Lehye, and followed in his father's footsteps, receiving his masters papers, which were awarded for mastering all of the systems of a boat; with masters papers one could be a ship's captain.

Capt. Buck Lehye was a commanding figure. He stood more than 6 feet tall and weighed more than 200 pounds. He was a familiar figure to the citizens of Cape Girardeau. Lehye's bond with the citizens may have been strengthened by his marriage to a local woman by the name of Mary Moore Filburn.

Many citizens liked to watch Lehye arrive in port because he was reputed to "put on a show." The captain owned two dogs; Toodles was the favorite of the city children. When Lehye sailed into town, the steamboat whistle would blow and people would look toward Themis Street where he lived to watch his two dogs run full-speed down to the docks. Rumors said that no matter how many boats passed the docks, the dogs always knew which boat was Lehye's.

After Toodle's death in 1910, the children in the neighborhood went to the playground and held their own funeral for him.