Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-08-25

Among late Alta "reminiscences q
the following


Among late Alta "reminiscences are
the following
Among early Californians none
were more popular than our river
steamer captains and pursuers. All
our traffic was then performed by
water, either by sail or by steam, and
the amount paid for freight and pas
sage in the stirring times Of old would
cauae our residents o. the present day
to open their eyes in surprise. OPP
position. was life and it was quito
common on opposition nights to pay
as low as 81 for a trip by steamer 10
Sacramento, but woe betide the party
who wanted to go the next day, when
there was no competition. Thirty, OF
even as high as $40, were the figures
Ten thousand dollars was paid for
carrying the mails between Sacramen.
to and Marysville monthly. In the
early part of 1850 the steam service
10 al. parts of the State was, cons ider
ing the state of the country, very good.
The steamer Wen Point, Capt. ]. Il.
swift, afterward j. F. Wright, was
running to Sacramento, touching at
Benicia; the Missouri, Capt. j. A.
Little. was running to Sacramento
and Marysville, and the Tehama,
Capt. ID. b. Morgan, to Stockton. At
this time the Peoples Line, Charley
Minturn agent, was running the New
World, Capt. Ned Wakeman, and the
Senator. Capt. J. Van Pelt, whose son
is now pilot ON the steamer DOnahue.
Previous TO this time the Senator was
commanded on this route first BY
Lafayette Maynard and afterward by
Captains Hutchins and Sam Seymour,
Tom Seely, and many others. The
HISTORY OF THESE TWO BOATS
is too well known to need repetition
here. They have, as good and faith
full servants. performed their labors
and have lasted long and well, and
we regret to see them finally 60 to the
wall to make room for modern boats.
One fact stated in q contemporary
bears correction. The Senator was
built in 1916, to run between Boston
and st. Johns, N. B., touching at
Belfast and Bangor, Me. The Aspin-
wall Steam Transportation Company
run the Hartford from Clark's Poi At,
the El Dorado from Central Wharf to
Sacramento, Marysville and Stockton.
and the steamer Suffer from Central
Wharf TO Stockton direct. Freight,
81 so per 100 pounds, or IS cents per
cubic foot. James Blair was the
agent. The steamer Georgiana, Capt.
Z. J. Lamb, afterward Capt. q. Gould,
both still being here, was making re-
gular trips to SonOma. The little
steamer Santa Clara, Capt. Emerson,
was running to San Jose while the
Dolphin was doing her level best max
ing trips to Napa. The William Ro-
binson. Capt. James Devoe, was run
ming TO Stockton and subsequently to
San Jose, Charles Emerson, captain,
aud the,Miner, Capt. Hoyt, was work
ing to Marysville, d. l.. Ross agent.
The steamer Fashion. Capt. 4. N.
Every, was at this time running to
Sacramento. Ferdinand Vassault, at
present President of the Society Of
California Pioneers, was the agent of
this steamer, and also of the we'll
known steamers Confidence. McKim.
Wilson G. Hunt, and Lawrence. and
subsequently owner of the Chesa-
peake and Gold Hunter, afterward
the Active. Mr. Vassault arrived
here September IL, 1849, and is still
u jovial old pioneer. In connection
with the Chesapeake.
A GOOD STORY Is TOLD.
He bought her for 5000 and G. j.
Brenham, who took charge Of her,
was given aquarter interest. Scarcely
had they got possession when VAIN
right, the auctineer. wanted to buy
her. Vassault ssked $25, 900 for her,
and as she was going up TO Sscrsmen-
to that afternoon wainwright agreed
TO be down at o certain hour TO see
her off and note how fast she could
steam. About half an hour before
the time appointed Vassault told
BRENNAN to go up between the hulks
as far a. RincOn Point, and then turn
and come down through them. and
q It was Q strong ebb q good showing
was expected. Brennan made the
remark: Its all right, but it will be
the ID getting there" He did, how
ever. and turned, and as he came past
Central Wharf where wainwright was
standing she was going like train Of
cars with the tide). wainwright i'm
mediately closed q charter for Gold
Bluff at 10000. and the sale at $685.
600, and sent her of soon after; but
she was nearly q month getting to her
destination, and wainwright was badly
sold. On the McKim, during bis
agency, was Captain Farnha am. G. B.
Macy, purser, and G. J. Brenham,
clerk, subsequently, Meyor. Central
or Long Wharf was the fav0rite
LANDING FOR ALL THE RIVER STEAM.
ERs.
In October, 1850, the head OF the
wharf was but Q little below MOntg0-
mery street, and from this place to
the end it measured 700 PAGES. 1t was
at the foot of what Is now known a.
Commercial street. In these early
times Chas. E. Stowell. or Sam Stick,
was well-known river man. He was
previously Mississippiriver man, and
continued for many years on the Sac
ramentO. His last command was the
Parthcnia. He died June 7th. 1882.
ct an advanced age. The steamer
Antelope arrived here In October.
1850, and after few trips to Panama
VAS run on the Sacramento. In later
years there were the Urilda and the
J. Bragdon, the latter commanded by
Capt. Ira Brooks. and the American
Eagle. The latter blew mp . few
years later, and 0ccasioned . great
loss of life. The steamer Comanche
was also running on the river. and In
1853 was sunk by the Bragdon, BY
which ten lives were lost. bhe va
q II AA0 =