Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-10-07
MISCELLANEOUS.


Some time during the fall of 1860, the steamer
South Bend was loaded at Cincinnati for tho
Arkansas river. by Thompson Dean and Major
John d. Adams, with 800 barrels whisky 400
cases brandy. and large miscellaneous freight
Of iron. steel, nails, boots and shoes, etc.
Coming down she collided with boat fifty
miles above here, and was beached and buoyed.
The war came on and all the upper works were
washed away and the hull left under water,
and all knowledge Of the locality lost. Since
the war closed various parties have been
searching for her, but unnecessarily. until on
Wednesday last. when Capt. Dick Cowden, an
old timer and celebrated as the best wrecker on
the river, while prosecuting his search, was
driving his iron in small island or bar fifty
miles above here, at the head of the Devils
Elbow. he drove il straight through the deck OF
the South Bend, twenty-four feet below the
surface Of the sand which now is eight feet
above the water level. When ascertaining be-
yond doubt that it was the South Bend, Capt.
Cowdens feelings may be better imagined
than described. He has labored hard for years
and made but comfortable living; now
wealth stares him in the face. A careful esti-
mate Of the value of the property in the hold
|
in good order. win net him the snug sum of
Sl64, 600; this too, after allowing the insurance
companies thirty per cent. of the goods reeoy-
cred. Capt. Cowden has telegraphed to Capt.
Dodge, at st. Louis, to bring down pile
driver, when a coffer-dam will be built and a
derrick, worked by steam engine, erected.
SO that in case of high water the work will not
be delayed. In boring and searching for this
hidden treasure. Capt. Cowden sunk eleven
hundred end twenty-five holes and has spent
$4,000 in the work. He reported to us yester-
day that the boats deck was sound and un-
broken, and thinks he will take her out
whole, as she lies straight and level. and
he expects the hull will last five or ten years
longer. As he progresses in his undertaking
our readers shall be kept fully posted.
The r. Z. Lee left Vicksburg Friday with
1900 bales cotton, 900 sacks oil cake, 100 bbls
oil. and other truck for New Orleans.
The Belle Memphis tonight will have as
passengers about twenty of our citizens. who
go to attend the st. Louis Fair.
On Friday the tug Bgley and the Submarine
IA came near raising the wharfboat at Vicks-
burg. About four feet of water was pumped
out Of her hold. when the tugs exhaust fz-
zled, and stop for repairs was necessary.
Captain McTear, of Pittsburg, has sold the
tOwboat Leader to Captain Lambert for sl0,-
900 cash.
Laborors on the levee at St. Louis struck
on Friday. Forty-ive cents an hour, they
thought, was not enough.
Louisville telegram of the second says:
Pink Varble this morning accomplished the
feat Of taking the hull of Captain Josh V.
TROOPS new boat, with sweeps, over the
falls, drawing nine inches. The hull is 1876
feet in length, and receives the engines of the
Pine Bluff at Evansville.
The rumored reconciliation of the North
ern and White Collar lines has no foundation
whatever.
Captain John G. Sinnott, of New Orleans.
has been brought forward in New Orleans by
his Democratic friends as candidate for an
important office. An exchange says: There
are few who love him well who will not regret
that his friends are dragging him into the
dirty pool of politics.
RIVER PERSONALS.
Captain Elem Calvert, Superintendent OF
the st. Louis Packet Company, left the city by
rail yesterday for visit to his farm in Mis-
souri,.
Local Inspector Clarke and family were
among the passengers that arrived on the
Belle Memphis to. day.