The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1857-08-14
Gbal.shius 9ailu Samnal.

OVVSSSot%%$ CWsS&
Tho Firss steanbost on sks Ollie Rivse.
We find some interestisS particulars
regarding the navigation Of the Ohio river
by stsamboats in "Wssssrn Anpals." By
James 3. Albsch, of Pittsburg, from
which it appears that citissns of New
York we're chiefly instrumental 10 pro.
noting what was then considered IN ad-
venturous and doubtful experiment The
author quotes from Mr.. Latrobs: 2 ssal
The complete success attending IL
experiment ID stsam navigation on ths
Hudson and the adjoining waters, pre-
vious to the year 1909, surnsd the attain
tiou-of the principal projectors 10 the ideA
Of its application on the western rivsrs;
and in the month Of April In that ysar
Mr.. Roosevelt, Of New York, pursusns
to an agreement with Chancellor Iv-
ingston and Mr.. Fulton, visited thoss
rivers with the purpose of forming ap
opinion whether they admitted ef steam
navigation or not. Mr.. Roosevelt sur.
veyed the rivers from Pittsburg to New
Orleans, and IS his report was favorable
it was decided to build . boat st The
former town.
In October 1911. the New Orleans was
launched and sent out, being intended to
ply between that city and Natches-uos
as stated in the extract from Thurston's
book, between Pittsburg and the falls Of
the Ohio.
Latrobe again: "Mr. Roosevelt, hia
young wife and family, Mr.. Baker. the
engineer. Andrew Jack, the pilot. and
six hands, with . few domsstics formed
her whole burden. There were no wood
yards at that time, and constant delays
were unavoidable. Late ut night on the
fourth day after quitting Pittsburg. they
arrived in safety at Louisville. having
been bat seventy -four hours descending
upwards of six hundred miles," The
settlers on the banks, who had not heard
the rumors of such scheme, were struck
with surprise and terror at the appear
ance Of the snortibg monster. II have
heard that the general impression among
the good Kentuckians was that the comet
had fallen into the Ohio. The small depth
of water on the rapids'prevei,ted the boat
from pursuing her voyage immediately;
and during the consequent detention OF
three weeks, several trips were success.
fully made between Louisville and Cin-
cinnati. The waters rose in November,
and in the last week OF the month the
voyage was resumed" After being near
ly overwhelmed with the earthquakes tht
New Orleans reached Natchez the frst
week in January 1912.
Neither Mitchell nor his telescope wus
on the banks OF the OHIO in those days, !
and it was no more than strange the
honest farmers should imagine the steam
boat to be comet than are the vague ape
prehensions of the present time that we
are in danger Of collision with one Of
those eccentric bodies. Singularly enough,
there was then. as. now, q widely spread
story that the earth was to be smashed"
like felt hat. and zone third Of man
kind" destroyed in the operation. A
thief in Virginia prison professed 10
have been entranced. and to have bad
revelation foretslling the event. which
was to take place on the fourth Of June,
1872 remarkable coincidence of dates.
A pamphlet was published and widely
circulated. adorned with sundry Yankee
pictures of horrible sights portrsyipg the
lire caiamity." 1l.les
AS counterpart of this steamboat
comet story, We remember one that Was
old about the people of certain village
Who assembled TO see the first locomo-
i've pass by on the rails. Not one Of
hem had the slightest idea what sort Of
n animal it was, and they were busy
With oil kinds of conjectures. A smok-
ne and roaring monster was seen in the
distance. with an unaccountable long tail
'ehind it. Nobody supposed this to be
travelling invention, and as it approach
d, the good people were confouaded and
esperately puzzled. Fortunately there
vas John Podgers" in the village. and
e was called on to explain It. John
Eiped his glases and looked over his
ose with profound all knowing gaze.
Ifter due observation, "Oh." saiG ne,
yes. That's itat last. gentlemen; that is
be thing that has kept the Congress Of
hess United States in such hell of
quabble for the last three months. That
} the 1dr;f"-M 2. Evening Post.