The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-06-05
OLD RIVER DAYS.
"Reminiscences OF the Early ,sayiga-
tion at the Chic.


Before the forests echoed TO the painting
or the steam engine, the boats used for con-
veying freight and passengers were of
specie known as Kentucky boats, barges
and kee.-boats- The length of these rough
ly constructed and awkward wa,ercrsft va
ried from 20 10 100 feet, while their
breadth OF beam ranged from u to 20 feet,
giving them a carving capacity of from
30 TO 100 tons. The receptacle for freight
occupied considerable portion of the
bulk. and was called the cargo-box. Near
the stern was small apartment that
served az cabin for aristocraric passen-
gers- The roof of this cabin was above the
main deck, and from this root the helms
msn directed the movements Of the boat.
The boat was usually provided with
mast and sail, but when no wind prevailed
10 wait the clumsy craft on its voyage, oars
a al poles were su h1tituted, while at other
times the hardy boatmen had recourse to
HI cordeile, in which case each member OF
the boa.'s crew performed the service of a
mule on the tow-path of a canal. At other
times the warpiDg process was adopted.
The early boatnen were a hardy and law
less set of men. Their ardous labors gave
them muscles of iron, and they were much
given to exhibitions of their proves by
frequent hand to-hand encounters. The
most poted boatlzau of his day was
probably Nike Fink, who has
figured AZ the hero of more blood curdling
romances than probably any single indi-
vidual who existed at the same epoch in
the early history OF the West. The verita-
bic Mike was a blood thirsty and revenge
fnl rutfian of great strength and courage.
An adept with the knife and rifle, by vio-
lence he lived, and the same fate he had
meted out 10 80 n3ny others was finally his,
own dooG, for, as the Kentuckians would
say, he died with his boots on" His
choice associates were the Girtys, Bill
Harney, Joe Carpenter, Jim Stevens, Jack
Dalton and others, all noted freebooters, who
made their headquarters at a romantic spot
on the ONO river, some twenty miles below
Shswneetown, known as Cave.in- Rock.
Here in the fastness Of their cavern they
planned for future operations. divided their
plumber and indulged their midnight orgies
that frequently led to bloody encounters
among themselves.
Ia l194 a young man by The name Of
Green carried the mail between Pittsburg
| and Cincinnati in a pirogue or large canoe
This boat on her downward trip carried at
times some little freight, and occasionally
! Tor slight compensation, passenger or two.
These voyages were attended with csnsid-
ersh.s danger from Indians, and in conse-
| queace the bostmen of that day as 4 class
were experienced Indian fighters. The
| Netzeis and Fowlers, whose names are re-
corded in history SIS sanguinary war; iors,
| were also pioneer boatmen. The first regu-
lsr packet like between Pittsburg and Gin
ein.ati was formed January IL, 1894, by
the establishment of four keel boats OF
twenty tons each, as appears by the follow
ing advertisement in TIE Csntind of the
Northwestern Territory, printed at Cincin-
! natl, by William Maxwell: "Ohio Packet
Boats-Two boats for the present will start
from Cincinnati to Pittsburg and return to
Cincinnati in the following manner, viz
! First boat will leave Cincinnati this morn
] ing at o'clock, and return 10 Cincinnati
! 80 as to be ready to sail again in four weeks
from this date. Second boat will leave
Cincinnati on SATURDAY., the S0th inst, and
return a. above. And so regularly, each
boat performing the voyage 10 and from
Cincinnati to Pittsburg once in every four
weeks.
The proprietor of these boats having
l Tic
eIces aud dangers incident TO the common
method heretofore adopted OF navigating
:he Ohio, and being influenced By a love OF
| philanthropy ard desire OF being service
able 10 the public, has taken great pains to
render the accommodations on board the
boats as agreeable and comfortable as they
could possibly be made. No danger need
be apprehended from the enemy, and every
person on hoard will be under cover made
proof 10 rifle balls, and convenient port
holes Tor firing ont. Each OF the boats is
armed with six pieces, carrying pound
bail; also 2 good number Of mus.
kets, ard amply supplied with ammuni-
ton, strongly manned By choice men, and
the master of approved knowledge. A sep
arste cabin from that designed for the men
il psrtiiioned off in each boat for accom-
m0dating the ladies on their passage. Con-
yeuiences are constructed upon each boat
so az TO render landing unnecessary, as ii
might at times be attended with danger.
Rules and regulations for maintaining
order on board and for the good manage,
ment OF the boats, and tables accurately
calculated for the rates of freightage,
for passengers and carriage OF letters TO and
, from Cincinnati to Pittsburg; also a table
OF the exact time OF the arrival and de,
parture TO and from the different places OF
the Ohio between Cincinnati and Pittsburg
may be seen on board each boat and st the
printing Office in Cincinnati. Passenger;
will be supplied with provisions and liz Or
OF all kinds, of the first quality, at the mos
reasonable rates possible. Persons deslrou:
, OF working their passage will be admitted
on fading themselves, subject, however, tc
the same order and directions from tht
MASTER of the boat "a the rest of the work
ing hands OF the boats crew. An Office q
Insurance will be kept at Cincinnati, Lime
stone and Pittsburg, where persons dssiroui
Of having their property insured may ap
, ply. The raSs OF insurance will be moder
ale"
, In the E'cstera Spy of March Goth, 1901
. arpesls notice for meeting TO be held 81
Critic Geatmsn'5 tavern, then located a
, the cove, corner of Sycamore snd From
, streets, 10 tske into consideration the prac
, ticability OF 4 new invention for propelline
boats by steam. This is a very remarkabl,
document, aud serves to show that ten year
before Fulton directed his attention TO oul
western waters, the whole subject WI
already q familiar ore to the Cit
zens OF Cincinnati, and the fact Of its no
4 being carried out was no doubt owning Il
the want of capital. In ISL the first
steamboat that ever fioated on Western
waters was made fast to the bank, for al
;. thst time We had no wharf, and during the
2 day she was visited ard inspected by the
I citizens of the town. What curiosity she
I would be to the marine architects of to
day An awkward, clumsy craft OF i0C
}. toons burden, with a long enclosure bull
, on her lower deck, this served as a cabin,
1 for at that day the machinery was in the
. hold Of the boat (the Washington, built BY
: Captain Shreves in 1916 being the first
boat having her boilers and machinery OF
deok) The pilot-house was close TO the
bow; a single chimney loomed up in the
rear Of this structure, guarded en- either
side BY tail mast, for ssiIs we're consid
cred at that day indispensable to nayigs,
: tion.
From this year barges, keel-boats and
: broad horns, with their melodious song
: and horn music, began to be seen AID
heard less frequently, ard finally to dis
appear, and the las; Of the pioneer boat
men have been honored BY the poets song
and the artists pencil.
Hnw REyHLATJANS COME