The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-14
LIFE ON A GREAT RIVER.
PACKETS THAT Piled ~"
wArEHs IN AyrE-BELLUM DArS.
The Pleasure OF a Journey on the misss-
sIppi-Boat Racing ana
Gambling.


ticuIarlv is this the case when reference Is
made TO the old-time life on the Siissls-
stout, says the st, Louis Glooe-Def'io-
erat. The iron rails have made rev.
olution in every part Of the country but
have cnanreJ1 uutnlng SO yAVch as the
river traffic. In fact they have prac-
tically abolished il. for neither the Dusl-
ness or pleasure Of the present can toll
crate DELAY. and the saving OF time by
the railroad over the river route between
this city and New orleans mas TAKEN lhe
ywssengeY ard freight tron the wafer
way and transferred them TO the paraHei
steel rails -
But what has been gained in time has
been lost in sentiment There rs no ro-
nance about the railroad. The roar ana
rattle Of cars, the smoke, me aust inc
tutolegetle screeqhI1S Of the engine the
busy employees, who are concerned ABOUT
nothing SO much as getting the fares
from the passengers and seeing thht the
movements OF the train an properly CON
trolled, the haste. the anxiety TO reach
the final destination at the earliest pos
slble moment, form a striking contrast
10 the method OF travel in vogue as late
as forty years ago.
There was no hurry then, and travel
on the ord Mississippi %as the ioeaA OF
poetic jOurneying. There was plenty OK
time, no one felt hurried, ana 50 pleasant
was the voyage from 81. Louis or I'm
cnnan to New Orleans that 1t was otten
made purely for the sake Of the travel
and the pleasant company certain TO oe
found OK hoard. Peg coy0eovt, aud even
! luxury in travelling no style ever sur
passed that of the ilrst-class Mississippi
packets, which in all the splendor or
their appointments were scarcely eAceheo
even by the ocean racers or the present
day. or course. the latter have many
appliances which were unknown 20 the
former, but where electric lights and
electric bells and telephones are unknown
they are not missed, and the travellers
along tnS great inland waterway were
just as well off without as with them.
The staterOOms were ample. the cabin
poets dream. Few more beautiful
pictures dwell in the minds Of old river
men than the long vista prcSe nted BY the
cabin OF an Old-time river packet. White
paint. frequently renewed 3Ud kept IN It's
pristine purity by the busy hands Of a
score Of walters: woodwork carved into
designs gothic, ara besque, always elabOr-
! ate; gli0lng everywhere, on the sides the
long succession Of staterOOm doors,
neatly numbered and lettered; above, the
glitter Of brass chandeliers and the
sparkle OF cut glass; In the center the
table radiant with silver and an elegant
service-the whole formed a picture
worthy ol tne pencil OF an artist. Equahy
attractive was the sight OF the boat
when viewed from the shore. The ante
belum boat builders knew their business
I and built with an eye 10 beauty as we'll
as utility The graceful curving lines
Of the old packets, the lofty smoke-stack,
, always cpoWned Wit6 so ORNAMENTAL
design, their light, graceful spars, the
symmetry Of their sides broken by the
semi-circular paddie-boxes, the clouds
! OF smoke from the tunnels, mingled with
! the steam from the scape-plpes. the dash
Of water from the wheels, the long wake
Of foam left behind, the sWeU witch cast
the waves far up on the shores as the
grand steamer sped its way gayly down
the stream, we're not easily forgotten.
Good Times.
Such times have never been seen since
! the war, and probably never will be
| again. for taste has sUqvlaute1 every
| other consideration in travel. and most
! men and women would regard a week
! spent on the river as a week wasted.
Quite different was II back in the 4Os
| and sos The week Of the voyage 10
| New Orleans was regarded as the best
| part OF the visit. for one was almost
| sure 10 find acquaintances on board, and,
| if not, the officers Of the boat cOnsid-
! cred themselves I'm duty bound 10 see
( that tbeig Messengers enjoyed themselves,
/ for this was considered to be a part OF
the business. The trip was, in one sense.
a round Of festivities. Many OF the
! boats carried bands, and on approach
! ing towns where a landing was 10 be
! made the band would assemble in all
| the glory Of brass buttons ANA, taking
| its place on the hurricane deck, would
thump and blow until every man, woman
| and child in the town had assembled on
] the landing 10 see what the noise was
| about.
The passengers crowded to the sides TO
! look al the mob on shore as the boat
drew near the landing; with much cere-
mony the gang-pank was run out by the
rousters: merchants and factors came on
| board 50 transact thei9 BUSINESS with the
| captain and clerks: the boats agents
went on shore 10 attend to necessary
| affairs. All was hurry for the boats
| stay at any one landing was generally
brief unless there was much freight TO
come abroad.
| Loading the freight aud bringing on
wood were the occupations which present
ed most attractions for the passengers
| Perched on the ratings, or comfortably
! seated in easy chairs on me caOin-deck,
they surveyed the operations going on
below with lively amusement. The ordi-
| nary business of freight-handling was
| not always Of thrilling interest, but when
| live stock was 10 be brought on board
| every traveller at once secured position
| where he c0SsIi COMMAND tAe whole sitoa-
ton. for mules and Texas steers were as
contrary then as they have been ever
since, and clubbing and tail-twisting were
! then recognized as perfectly legitimate
| methods OF inducing a refractory steer
| TO walk the plank just as they are To-Day.
| On "a ~.
Rut there are numerous other excite
ments TO relieve the daily routine Of the
! journey besides the band playing and the
evening dance in the cabin to music fur
nished by an amateur band among the
walters. supplemented by a collection
| taken up for their benefit. IN times ~
high water a creVasse was Of frequent oc-
| currence ard the passengers were regaled
| by the sight Of a hundred brawny slaves
ming bags with sand and hurrledly plac-
ing them IN position TO stop the break.
In times OF low water the boat often got
| aground.
When this happened, and much ringing
OF bells and backing and going ahead OF
the engines failed TO get II or the bar.
the spars were got into poslnon ana a
| vigorous effort made 10 get on by spar
ring. Sometimes even this failed and
there was nothing TO do but TO tighten
| the boat or wait until some other craft
came along whose captain was good
humored enough TO lend helping hand.
when hawsers we're stretched and with
/ r.rtff