The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-04
SHE RUNS a cANALeoAT.
Hiss Lizzie Campbell Has Demonstrated
Her Ability as Captain

Kiss Lizzie Campbell Has Demonstrated
Her Ability a Captain
Woman is gaining in the industrial
pursuits and has invaded nearly every
branch Of industry in the cities, but it
remained for Miss Lizzie G. Campbell to
demonstrate the ability Of woman to
cope with the various and varied diff
culties of canal navigation.
Her father, James @. Campbell, was
for many years a canal captain and ran
his boats from New York to Buffalo
with some degree of profit. When he
died three years ago, he was the owner
OF two bOats-the Silver Gloss and the
James Ca1npbell-both of about 800
tons burden.
This property he left to his wife, an
aged and invalid woman, and to his
daughter Lizzie. a young woman of 25.
There was neither brother, uncle nor
cousin who could be called upon to I'M
dertal1e the captaincy of the boats when
Mr.. Campbell died, and for a time the
two women were in a quandary.
An old canalboat has very little
value intrinsically, but furnishes a most
comfortable income when properly man
aged.
Miss Lizzie decided to keep the boats
and ran them herself for three years.
She has attended to all the details,
hired the men Of the crew, bought her
own stock and made arrangements with
the shipping agents.
Besides all this, she lives aboard the
boats, cooks all the meals for her moth
or, herself and the crew, does the fam
ily washing, and withal is cheerful and
contented
Miss Campbell is a large, pleasant
faced woman, who looks as though she
Ii a short interview I had with her in
her neat but small cabin, while she was
preparing the dinner for her crew of
four men, she said:
Yes. I've been in this business for
three years for myself, but am an old
canaler. I was brought up ON a canal
boat, and Of course when it became nee
essary for me to take hold of the man
agement of our boats I knew a good
deal about the way Of doing business.
Still l had lots to learn, but after a few
trips managed to pick up all that was
needful
tsOf course when 1 first went to an
agents Office things seemed a little
queer, and the agents evidently thought
it queer also, but both they and myself
have grown accustomed to the condi-
tons and get along with as little fric-
ton as do the men folks, though some
Of them, believe, claim they do not
like to do business with woman. y
All along the canal l found that all
the boatmen and shippers were loud in
their praises of Miss Campbell's abili-
ties as boat owner
She has the reputation of being an
exacting captain. demanding full labor
from her help, but withal just. She
keeps her men to the mark and knows
Immediately what work has been left
dndone, or if her mules and horses have
not been properly cared for, and if nee
essary can harness and attend to these
adjuncts Of a canalboat herself
The shippers recognize her business
capacity. and III appreciation Of the ac-
tive supervision she exercises over her
cargo give her the highest rates on
freight, both going west or coming east
There have been many chances for
Miss Campbell to change the name in
which her property stands, but SO far
aone has been accepted, and the two
boats and the snug bank account, from
all indications, viii remain for some
time to come in her maiden name. -
New ork Herald