Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-02-18
THE LITTLE JOKER
Makes an Excursion up Hatehle and
Wolf Rivers to the Lake-A Gen.
erOus Host who has Out.
lived Three ThOus.
and Lawsuits.

For three weeks or more q beautiful
little sidewheel steamer, Little Joker"
moored On Wolf river, attracted the at
t%ention and ELECTED the admiration
of all who CHANGED to visit the To-
cality. Gracefully modelled, well built
aud elegantly fitted up is the Little
Joker and still this pretty craft bore
an air Of mystery which but few were
able to solve, and many a disappointed
engineer would imagine it a pirate YES
sci, about to move out into the lower
bsyous and the coast streams. Il
was finally ascertained that the vessel
belonged to Colonel E. A. l.. Roberts, Of
Pennsylvania. And who is Colonel
Roberts, for he seemed as mythical a
being as his boat was mysterious2 This
question was gracefully answered, and
the mystery elegantly unrobed Saturday
afternoon by a delightful excursion on
the Little Joker. Through Captain Geo.
Lucas, a gallant mariner, Colonel
Roberts collected on board a party COM
posed Of the following ladies' and gen.
telemeu: Mrs. Wilkins. Mrs. Myers, Mrs.
Mccullough. Mrs. Moore, Misses Kate
Worsham, Golden, Emma Stone, Fannie
Ferguson, Lou Williams, and Messrs
J. S. Wilkins, j. E. Oliver, Ed Marshall,
Harry Ferguson, j. E. R. Ray. jr. and
Breen Clark. At three o'clock Colonel
Roberts was formally introduced to the
ladies and gentlemen. whom be received
in graceful style, and at once made every
one feel at home on his steamer.
The Little Joker backed out and
steamed up Wolf river to the county
bridge, which obstructs further naviga-
ton. The boat returned and then made
its way up Hatchis river, which proved
all the more interesting, because but few
OF the party had ever made a trip on this
stream. The boat went thea up Hatchie
lake as far IS Brush lake. At this point
the Mississippi could be seen near by, its
broad waters glistening like molten silver
through the golden lit shadows of the
forest trees. In the meantime q sumptu
Gus feast, ornamented with champagne,
e%larets and brandy, was spread in the
saloon. The colonel, who had just been
formally presented with q handsome
bouquet By the ladies, took the head Of
the table and the guests then feasted,
toasted aud made merry. 1t was the
unanimous opinion that master Of "a
better table hath not history or fable"
But ere the feast ended the sun had de.
clined beyond the broad waters Of the
Mississippi, aud the mild moonlight
WAS streaming through the clear
air Of evening, when the boat was
round ed to and headed homeward. Truly
was the trip romantic, for the Joker sped
onward like q shadow through the deep
forest whose trees oanopled the stream,
and where the CLEAN of the moon ray
rested the finely fesihered waves sparkle d
and glistened like myriads of miniature
pluueS in the wake Of the vessels on
step. By nine o'clock the Little Joker
had reached her mooring and the de-
lighted txcursionists parted with their
generous host, bidding him goodnight"
aud expressing their appreciation for his
kindness and the elegant enjoyment he
had afforded them. Colonel Roberts is
a man OF many extraordinary qualities
Of mind and heart. He is the head of
Roberts & Co, iron founders and engine
manufacturers, at Titusville, Penpsyl.
vania, where be carries on an extensive
business. Last spring be planned and
built the Little Joker for his own use.
and during the fall began a voyage South
in quest Of health and pleasure. That
he not only enjoys the latter but makes
every person he meets share his pleas
ure cannot be doubted. aud that he may
realiz, the fogmer, health, is the sincere
wish OF all who know him.
The boat is 81 feet long, IL feet beam,
has double exhausting engines, 8 by 8
inches, running with gearing 2 to l, her
cost being $4,000. These engines, which
are the invention of Colonel Roberts, he
manufactured at his shops in Titusville,
the hull Of the boat being built at Oil
City, aud the cabin finished at Parksrs.
burg. The Little Joker is by far the
best adapted and most complete pleas.
ure boat OF the kind ever built. She has
two iron wheels and is completely rugged
10 every respect, her apartments includ-
lug a handsome and authenticated
cabin, being commodious aud fitted up
with scrupulous n%eatness..
Colonel Roberts has devoted many
year, Of study aud practice to the sub
jecs of steam and engines, one of the
results being the invention Of the
double exhaust" His labors were ac-
kuowledged by the award of a handsome
medal by the Centennial Commission as
a testimonial to the excellence Of his
improved application of steam. 10 sci.
e%ntiic circles, Colonel Roberts is not
Only known as an iudsfatigable ipvesti
gator and manufactures of engines, but
also as the inventor of the oil well tor.
psdo." In the coal oil business and the