The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-02-07
THE ED. RICHARDSON.
A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE CRAFT.

steamer was received with q salvo OF artil-
lery and as she rounded to at the foot OF
Girod street the whistles OF every boat In
port greeted her enthusiastically.
Col. Vaudry as the representative OF Col.
Ed. Richardson, met the new steamer on the
tug N. w. JONES' near Carrollton, and the
party embarked on board the new boat.
A detachment of Battery G of the Louisiana
Field Artillery left on the John w. Cannon
and met the Richardson near Bonnet Carre,
where the artillery embarked on the new
steamer.
When the Richardson arrived there was a
long footing on the part OF the harbor boats,
and she gracefully came into her berth Like
swan.
The following Ia clipped from the Courier
J2armars description q !, the craft; d :,
non and Capt; Joha. W. TYbln, the John v.
spendns therefor over 200. and: While the
two former are the two fastest and finest boats
ever built. we, do not hesitate In. saying that
Ed. Richardson, the best business boat that ever
The work Of building this Immense monster
wss begun by the famous Towards. of Jeffer-
sonville. Ind. on the first day OF May, 1873. A
large force was employed during the entire
Tim tine a at Rs xaap ss ways and
was present most OF the time she. was building,
and personally ,superintended the work as 1t
1878. she was launched. Just b fore the grace
full monster left the ways, Will 8. Hayst on be-
half OF Capt. John W.. Cannon, who was
man. who represented Dol. I'd. Richard
son, and said "Col. Moornan, as repre-
sentative Of one. Of the most .enterprising
my old friend. Capt Cannon, to dedicate to you
this boat. In honor OF the good name OF the gen.
ileman whom yon have the honor. to represent.
the man she Is named for-Ed Richardson"
Coz. Norman responded as follows:
Cant. John w. Cannon:
tStr-As the representative Of Col. Edmund
Richardson. am authorized by him to accept
the high honor you have bestowed on him by the
joins you In best wishes for her success. He
hopes that your health may continue to i'm
prove. and he will feel still more highly fatter-
ed should you command her In person.
For my self will say that In the eternal fit
ness OF things. 1t Is meet that John w. Canno
the steamboat monarch. should crown his
greatest Of his creations. which is TO try her
fortunes on the Father OF Waters. after Ed
mund Richardson. the Gotten king Of the world.
Both OF these men are Napoleons In their de-
partments; the one has risen from an humble
position on the rude steamers of the long ago to
be the famous commander OF the Robert e. Lee,
and with colossal strides has moved onward in
his honorable and brilliant career, until he has
placed more grand steamers. and faster ones.
Dh thO dadlOHS UOSDm Vi tH6 WbSLeTn WdteFB
han any commander of this or any other day. |
and his fleet outshines In spIendor and magni- |
fcence the famed ones Of the Ormus and the |
Ind. BY his genius and pluck he has added re- |
nown to the already glorious name of Fulton, |
and has gemmed the mighty river with gorgeous
palaces until they glitter like stars In the frma-
The other, twenty seven years ago an obscure |
merchant la the piny woods of Mississippi |
q day one OF the merchant princes Of the world. |
The goddess Of fortune has been his hand |
maiden, ana GupGnaS has markpd atGp NJ |
lis life. At his weird touch everything turns |
20 gold. and the story of his early struggles |
he enchanted tales Of theIArabian Nights, The |
1rm OF which he is the head Is the largest re- |
,ei yer Of cotton known a He Is the largest
Eorld. making even more than the Khedive of
Not satisfied with this. his busy brain set to
sissippi thousands Of spindles were put in mo.
ion, making him the largest manufacturer OF
cotton In the Southwest. Again he waved the
u were. from out the gloom Of the forest on
The banks of the turbid waters of the great
river there arose an oil mill with all the ma
seed for the markets OF the old and new worlds. |
At his command the dense wilderness that
'ringed the banks Of the giant stream disap-
peared, and cultivated fields appeared instead, |
He ordered stores and the appliances Of COM
merce to line Its banks. and instantly were
heard the hammer OF the artisan and the hum
OF industry until 1t was studded like gems. In |
keeping with his fortune, his generous hand
has been felt equally BY the needy. the suffer
81 aaah nd he gS
.he poor his goodness. Reaching Eew York |
rom Europe Just after the demon Of the South |
OF death In a twinkilng. as soon as the electric
currents could be felt. his wealth In unstinted |
sums visited the halls Of the rich and the novels
men are linked indissolubIy with the history OF |
the commerce OF the greatest of rivers. and the |
story OF their romantic and remarkable lives
the grand stream flows onward to the sea
From the day she was first introduced into her |
native element to the hour she received her fin
giving her his individual attention. and to do
Justice to both the boat and the man in whose
honor she has been named, would require more
lime ana space than We are az present allowed.
We. will endeayor. however, to give a plain
matter. of-fact description of her, such as we
think she and those who built her are entitled to.
THE HULL.
This masterpiece OF skill. model and work.
manship Is $40 feet long. so feet BEAM ii feet
depth Of hold. and width over all, Including
guards s5 feet. 1t Is Of easy and graceful model,
was taken In the selection OF the timber and
her fasteniDgs are. indeed. all that the vast ex-
perience OF her famous builders could suggest.
wards of 100000 feet of various kinds of lumber
were used. and the eagle eyes OF the Howards
we're ever on the lookout to see that none bnt
SAo
equal In every particular to sustain the i'm
mense load she Is intended to carry viz: 10000
bales OF cotton. and make most excellent time
with 1t besides. Capt. Ed. Howard, of the How
ard. designed the model of the hull. and we
know whereof we speak when we say he proved
all her machinery. boilers. etc. on board and.
ready to leave. the beautiful. but powerful boat
does not draw quite FIVE feet.
THE CABIN AND TEXAS.
Her cabin sits In graceful proportions upon
the null 1t Is $50 feet long. 10 feet wide and 1871
feet high. with large and elegant stained glass
skylights of the richie hues and latest designs
The rooms are large well ventilated and sup
piled with every convenience and comfort that
passengers of the most fastidious taste could
desire. In the rear part OF the ladies' cabin are.
upon the one side. two elegant bridal cham
bers, and upon the other Is suite OF rooms in
tended as compliment to Col. Ed. Richardson.
70 be known during the existence OF the boat as
Col. Richardson's parlors." These were put
there By Capt. Cannon as token OF his appre-
citation and friendship for his friend. Col. r.
They are most elegantly frescoed and fur
n!shee, and are fit for a cotton" or any other
king IN the world. The office and tar are for
ward at the saloon end Of the cabin. On top of
the cabin Is handsome texas or upper cabin,
165 feet long and 20 feet wide, Including colored
no tra and fnix x{v~- ln~.