What did the crew most paddlewheel steamboats think of the men working on the rafts?

The crew of most paddlewheel steamboats often viewed the men working on the rafts with a mix of disdain and sympathy. They considered the raftmen as rough and unrefined, reflecting a lower social status, yet they recognized the hard labor and skill required for their work. This ambivalence stemmed from the economic realities of river life, where both groups relied on the waterways for their livelihoods. Overall, while there was a degree of camaraderie among riverworkers, social hierarchies influenced their perceptions of each other.