The record-union., 1895-04-13
THE OLD RIVER STEAMER CAPITAL.
She Was the Pride of the Sacramento
in Early Days.
But Now Is Rapidly Going to Decay
on the Mud FlRts-A Relic
of the Past.

All Caiifornians who ever had occasion
to traverse the Sacramento River in early
days, before the effects of hydraulic min
ing drove the deep-water steamboats, into
exile and their business reverted to the
railroads, remember the grand old steamer
Capital that piled between this city and
san F'rancisco-the finest boat that ever
appeared on the inland waters of CaIifor-
MIA. The Cali of yesterday has the fol-
lowing in reference to her, or what is left
of her:
half mile or so north of the Ell Campo
picnic ground, and lying in a fathom of
water, IS all that remains of the old
steamer Capital, the pride in the .sfiftiss,;
OF the sacramento River. In the davs of
her youth she had no rival. In speed, in
luxurious fittings, in all that was con-
sldered nrst-class in those times. the
Capltal was the queen of the river But
her salllng days are over, and her timbers
oIaze on the hearths of the Portuguese
dalrymen. The rails over which the
Legislator leaned on his way to Sacra-
mento and discussed grave and important
measures with his colleagues are pierced
DS the teredo worm, and nothing remains
OF the snug staterooms, where many a fair
IobDylst was lulled to repose by the plash
OF the yellow river.
Ah ShoO SoIdSH p0TIOu WD6n ounces
were as plentiful as dollars now are the
Capital was commanded by Captain
TOole, ana his beautiful wife often accom-
panied him on these pleasant voyages.
The Legislators were domestic men at that
epoch. and would as soon think of going
TO sacramento without their wives as
without their toothbrush. There was
grand piano on board, and the quaint old
three-step waltz was in vogue, and there
were merry souls on board who didn't
mind dancing all through a moonlight
night, until the fire glow of the rising sun
FURNISHED the broad reaches OF the wind
ing river.
When the Capital was in her prime
I neIe George Bromley was skipper OF
the commodlous and fast-sailing sloop
Red Rock and had crew of one, who
was also his partner in trading groceries
Tor hides and horns. Red Rock, after
Whlch the sloop was named, was then
claimed by Commodore Selim Wood
worth, who Kept two men on that dimin-
utlye and precipitous island to hold his
property against all sorts of land pirates.
But the time came when Uncle Sam de-
clded that he wanted that rock, and
Woodworth's henchmen unceremoni-
ously departed.
Mark Twain was the correspondent of
the Virginia City Territorial EHterDriSe
and was instructed to send to Virginia
ivy 1O1l AOpOlL vi lue launching OF the
Capital. Now, Mark knew something less
about ship than constructing a watch,
and he applied to some of his confreres
for reliable person who could post him
on the nautical terms necessary in the de-
scription of such an event,
de was advised to see Mumph Nicker-
son, saloon-keeper on Commercial
street. Mumph was a character in his
way, and once when he had strained his
hip and got weary of the many good
natured inquiries about his GONZALES
cence, pinned a plaeard on the injured
limb bearing the information, hip bet
ter" and this he would expose to the
anxious visitor and then continue mix
ing drinks. So Mark called on Nicker-
son, and Mumph began the story of the
panorama man and the musician who
played popular and profane airs when
those pictures illustrative of Biblical his
tory were exhibited, an anecdote which
the humorlst afterward used in one of his
BOOKS. The story was a long one. Mark
enjoyed 1t. and before 1t was published |
the Capital was launched, that ceremony.
for some reason or other, taking place al
midnight. So the Enterprise was de-
frauded of its technical report, but Mark
secured some good material and never
regretted his interview.
After her service on the Sacramento
River the Capital was put on the ferry
between Oakland and this city, and
earned many dollar for the company.
The time came at last when machinist
and shipwright could do no more for the
old boat and she was sentenced to neg
iect and decay, a thing of the past, a der
elIct whose timbers are pregnant with
ancient history.