Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-11-25
RIVER News.

The river rose an inch or more at this
point yesterday, and was still swelling
slowly at dark. We report 20 inches on
the Shoals. Weather, which was gloomy
in the morning, cleared up about noon.
An interesting discussion occurred at
Marine headquarters yesterday as to the
year in which the steamer James Dick was
burned at this port, and astonishing to say
no two of our river men agreed to the time.
In order to settle the vexed question, We
state the time to have been Monday morn
ing, May 6, 1850. We happened 20 be the
last man to leave that burning croft, when
her cable had been cut, and she was drifting
down the stream. This writer boarded
cotton bale, was tripped up by the cable,
and went head-foremost into the river.
Like the disguised engineer who wrote Of
the late James Bludsoe, we know what we
are talking about, and we amt as old as
Lord Palmerston either.
The Evansville Courier of Thursday an
nounces the arrival in that city of COmmO-
dore James S. Hughes.
The same paper is informed that Capt.
Frank p. Gracey, of GAINESVILLE, had gone
to Pittsburg to build a boat for the Carks
vile and Paducah trade, to run in con-
nection with the Louisville and Nashville
trade.
The Solicitor of the Treasury decides that
any steamer carrying petroleum contrary to
law is subject to seizure, but the oil itself
is not; that, when carried according to law,
all petroleum must be marked at what de-
gree of Fahrenheit it will ignite. TranspOr
tation of coal oil on passenger steamers is
entirely forbidden.
The New Orleans Bulletin says: "The
celebrated steamboat case of Abrams, Ken
drick & Co., against the steamer Era No. 9,
for the sinking of the Texarkana, in Red
river, in June, 1870, was yesterday decided
in Judge Leaumont's Fifth District Court
in favor of the plaintiff. The Judge held
that both boats were at fault in not blowing
their Whistles according to law, and cOnSe-
quently that both boats were liable to the
shippers of the freight entrusted to their
care. We understand that there is also
suit pending in the United States Circuit
Court against the steamer TeXarkana OF a
similar nature to the above.
The following letter will be read by steam
bOatmen with interest:
"BALTIMoRE. Nov. 20.-F. X. Reno,
ESD, Secretary Steamboatmens Association,
Cincinnati: Dear SRI presented the me-
mortal of the officers of the National Steam
boatmen's Convention to the Hon. Secreta-
nv of the Treasury on the 18th inst. He
said that the steamboat interest was ably
represented before the Board of Supervis-
ing Inspectors at their last meeting, al q had
failed to show that the requirements OF law
for the better security of life were unneces-
sary, or that the rulings of the board were
in any respect unjust. He can do nothing
for us, but that our appeal to Congress was
a step in the right direction. Very respect
fully. JOSEPH CRAGG."
The Louisville Ledger of yesterday says:
''The river has risen steadily during the
past twenty-four hours, and last evening
there were feet inches at the head OF
the canal, and about feet inches on the
falls down the Indian chute.
"THE CANAL.-Capt. Lockbart, Super
intendent of the canal, is putting forth every
possible efFor. to place the canal in condl-
ton to admit boats at the earliest practic-
able period. A dam is being constructed
across the new portion Of the canal, and one
hundred men are al work night and day TO
complete it. There are hopes that within
three days boats will be permitted to pass,
but it may require more time.