Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-02-22
PIONEER DAYS.
An Old Settlers Rem mbrances OF
EARLY pays on the Upprr lIlssissip.

An Old Settlers Rem. mbrances OF
EARLY pays on tho Upprr Mlssissip.
PIT aalena o. eamboat News.
Correspondence Of tie Argus:
ROCK ISLAND, Feb. s2.-About 1S46
William Lodwick, an uncle of Mrs.
Boyle and Mrs. Bailey, OF our city. came
around from Cincinnati to Galena with a
small steamer and commenced making
regular trips be :ween Galena and ST.
Paul. Some Of our Galenians soon be,
came interested with him. and this small
beginning was ths nucleus around which
was built up grad ually the Galena & ST.
Paul Packet Co, one Of the strongest and
most successful that was ever organized
on the great river. Two other brothers
Of Capt. Lodwick afterwards became in
terested in the line and both had com
mand Of boats By 1854 some six of
eight magnificent steamers belonging TO
this line were engaged in the trade be-
tween Gslena and St. Paul. There was
an immense rush Of emigration to Mime
sofa through Galena and the boats were
always we'll loaded with passengers and
freight. The company had also a tri-
weekly line OF packets plying between
Galena and the head of the lower rapids;
also line from the head of the lower
| rapids to Rock Island. Galenians became
interested in a number of boats running
between ST. Louis and Galena A large
amount of the sock in the old reliable
Northern Line was owned in Galena. At
least two thirds of the stock In boats
engaged in traffic on the river above St.
Louis was owned 10 Galena Both of
these great lines were doing we'll and
making money for their stockholders up
to 1855 or 1850, when, unfortunately
| for the stockholders. and for the public.
a man, whose ways were darker and
more tortuous than any heather Ohinee.
called in late years Commodore David
son. by his ad roit and unscrupulous
mani pulations obtained footing in
the Galens and St. Paul Packet Co.
10 less than five years II vas a total
wreck-sold out for from IL to IS per
cent. The wreck fell int, Davidson s
hands. A few years later. after running
opposition to thf Northern Line two
years, he obtained footing in this line
with the same result, only worse. Rock
| Island stockholders to the amount of
$50. 900 or $4,000. know how much
the stock is worth--knew that the
Northern Line was swallowed whole.
In lS48 took my first trip up the
river. A party of some thirty or more
of Gale aans-ladies and gentlemen
was made up to take trip with Capt
John Atchison 10 Fort Smelling. A,
that time there was no 81. Paul or Mn
neapohs In those days steamers did
not make very regular trips. As q,
they were never in hurry. and
were very sccomm odsting to their pass
sengers. When we arrived at the fort az
we wished to go over to the Falls of st
Anthony, the Cap said he would give us
all the time we wanted. We obtained
from the officers of the fort the necessary
transportation. three or four heavy mule
teams attached to lumber wagons. and sc
went numbering over the beautiful prairie
for I'VE miles when we came to the falls.
The captain furnis bed us with bounti.
full lunch of which we partook on the
green sloping bank overlooking the falls
The only building there was an ole
wooden saw mill, not in use. The falls
appeared then to be about twenty feel
high and nearly pei pendicuiar. They have
since become much worn away and now
look more like swift abrupt rapid. We
stayed there about three hours ENJOYING
| the beautiful scenery and gathering
| prairie flowers. OF which there were al
abundance.
We bad a very jolly. enjoyable time In
our rough ride. mostly without seats. Or
our trip nearly every evening after the
supper tables were cleared away the two
or three musicians belonging to the col
ored cabin crew would commence play
ing. snd then dancing was the order Of
the evening until 10 o'clock, In which
christians and sim rs. old and young.
freely participated not knowing, pool
souls, any better. s. w. Mon.