Doesn't seem that anybody yet has mentioned the bluegrass version by Jim Smoak and the Louisiana Honeydrippers (I think that's the correct group name) I have two vinyl albums of theirs at home, one on Prestige and one on Folk Lyric. Not being at home at present can't tell you which one it's on. I think that is where I first heard it.
More up tempo than many of the more recent versions.

Incidentally, I thought that during heavy rains in New Orleans which I've had the misfortune to experience on more than one occasion that the excess surface water was pumped into Lake Pontchartrain. Do I have that right ?

Re Riding the rods, aren't these the brake rods underneath the wagon parrallel to each other across which the board was laid ?

An interesting thread and no insulting language and snide remarks which so often seem to creep in and mar the worthwhile contributions.

Keep on pickin'