Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1873-08-21
No. SO
Interesting "Reminiscences.

An old steamboat Captain is writing up his
early "reminiscences for the Fulton (Mo. !
Telegraph. The following is his last:
And now will relate some of the incidents
which took place of distinguished personages
who took passage with me, and will begin
with Mrs. Benton, the mother of the late
Thomas II. Benton, who travelled on the
steamboat Whig from Trinity. six miles above
Birds Point, to St. Louis in June, 1881, who
came on board with her friend, COL Webb,
at II o'clock at night, and who was placed
under my care. Not having the accommo-
| dation of staterOoms, as the boats now have,
l could only turn her over to sleepy chamb-
| ermaid into the ladies' cabin. who, no doubt,
did not give her the necessary attention, and
which justly aroused the blood of the old
lady, who had reached her four score. She
sent for me the next morning, and ordered
me to put her ashore anywhere, so as to be
relieved OF the trouble she had encountered
on board the boat; but informed her there
were no evils without a remedy, and it was
duty as well as my pleasure to do that duty,
which was readily attended to and the desired
object attained, as the last will and testament
OF that honored lady, as was in evidence in
giving her benediction of s'Well done. good
and faithful servant" as we'll as. the respect
OF hel descendants, as was exhibited on her
arrival, and ever since.
The next will mention is that of Abraham
Lincoln, who came on board the North
America about the 18th of December, 1881,
from woodward near the mouth of Red
River, Louisiana, together with John John
son and John Hanks, who had gone there to
chop cord word for steamboats,, but Johnson
and Hanks took sick and Lincoln had to re-
turn home with them. The hand of poverty
which caused them to seek an honest living
hv in6 xuhi oh how
to chop steamboat wood, caused them also to
take deck passage; and as of the winter pre-
vious, the passage to Cairo, where they left
the boat, was not reached until February,
1882, (cause, floating ice and frozen river,)
from whence they left for Indiana / we'll
remember the three, and my remarks to
Phelps Austin about Lincoln, that he would
not always be a deck passenger.
The next I will mention is Stephen A.
Douglas, who came to st. Louis with me on
the Messenger in the summer of 1888. Moth
ing very remarkable took place at that time
he was young politician, Jackson man,
somewhat skilled in that art, and quite fierce:
He settled in Scott County, Illinois, and
where he laid the foundation of his future
fame. He was cabin passenger.
The next will mention is that of U. s.
Grant, who came to me at Louisville, KY,
for passage to Maysville, KY, if the Gladi-
ator was going there. / informed him l
could take him, but was afraid he was run
ming away. He showed me his fathers letter
lpass) told him as he was going home, or
in that direction, it was guarantee that all
was right, SO l took him to Cincinnati, from
which place he took Maysville packet for
his destination. He was then about II years
of age, and very interesting boy.
John W. Luke was my clerk and Anson
Phelps my steward. might write largely
of other interesting matters than those few
presented