The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-03
HARD TO REACH MEXICO.
st. Louis People Have a Rough Gulf
Trip.

st. Louis, Sept. 3.-Early in June last
a party of st. Lou1sans had a number of
periloUs adventures in an unsuccessful eff
fort to reach Mexico in a small river
steamer, and were taken in charge by the
United States authorities for alleged vio-
lations of the maritime laws Early in
Louis for the purpose of fitting out a
steamer and developing a. transportation
in Mexico. Mr.. A. L. Shuman was pres
ident; c. D. Merrem, vice president; NJ.
L. Kenney, treasurer, and D. A Shelving
and Mr.. Wengler directors;
The company purchased the stern-wheel
beam, and it was fitted out with coal, pro-
visions and machinery necessary for the
this city was made general manager of
the company for Mexico, a crew was Sc
in charge of Pilot James Reardon and
Captain William T.; Hoelscher.
The trip is described by Ed Chewing,
who was one of the party, as follows;
picO, Mexico, and proceeded without any
nishap until it reached Natchez. Here
she was loaded down with coal and sprung
a leak which caused some trouble, but
was easily repaired: After passing the
river very swiftly, and on account of the
1oRrs We re9ehed Morgan Civ. La.
without any further mishap, and remained
there for several days trying to secure
pilot to take us to Mexico but our man
ager thought their charges were excessive
longing to the association, but secured a
man who claimed to be a cOaSting pilot
TAT New Orleans DR.. TurnbuIl was adj
vised to take out Mexican papers and
country. which was done. A bill of health
was secured from the Mexican consul but
no clearance papers We're asked for, as
the party was entirely in ignorance of
maritime laws.
The boat left New Orleans flying, the
clearance papers, and with no American
flag anywhere in sight, and started down
several passing vessels. as it is customary
for vessel in American waters, flying
foreign flag, TO carry the American flag
at the peak, but the captain paid no atten-
ton to the salutes. W. proceeded along
the coast for some distance, when we were
overtaken by a violent storm There were
tremendous pillows and rolling side swells
The waves broke over the vessel until the
hold was full of water. Our stock of
coal for the engines became too wet to
use, and, waist-deep in water, we formed
a chain and with buckets passed coal from
another part of the boat. After doing
this for some time the havoc on the deck
became so great that we were ordered to
go up and trim up the boat.
AT this the fireman deserted his post,
and the crew was thoroughly democrat
preservers waiting for the crash which
was momentarily expected, as there were
breakers All around US and ahead of US,
and the pilot was entirely unable to han
ave were finally able to run into Sabine
Pass. where We remained for five days
I'VE arrived at Galveston and were met
by the quarantine boat. They called for
our fo 3d & ave No T 1id very uch SnrPTsed
ance papers from St. Louis or New Or
''The quarantine officers took away the
bill of health furnished by the Mexican
consul and left US with no official papers
I'VE were next boarded by the collector
of customs and squad of men, who came
out in boat. They searched our boat
to parties in Mexico and other documents
and gave to understand that we were
AT Galveston We learned. that the pilots
whom we had refused TO hire al New Or
leans had notified the government author
tiles at Galveston that a vessel had left
New Orleans under very suspicious cir
cumstances, flying the Mexican flag, and
was probably on an expedition to plant
dynamite in the Mexican gulf. All hands
were held for inolIirv and We're DETAINED
for four weeks At the end of that time
the captain and manager gave bond and
we were released.
crew had been regaled with stories of
destructive worm that eats into the bot
toms of wooden vessels and honeycombs
the inside of the timbers until they were
almost pantc-stricken. They finally con-
scented to make the trip, however, and we
ran down to Velasco, Tex, and from
thence to st. Louis pass.
we started again for Mexico and were
overtaken by storm We encountered
the immense pillows head on, but the force
We're torn off and the vessel was reported
to be brea king in two At this point the
saying that the boat had sprung a leak.
The captain ordered the boat put back
TO that port, where DR.. Turnbun was re-
Heved of his position as manager of the
expedition and the captain quit. The bal
and we all came back to st. Louis.
The vessel was placed on the docks and
painted, and is still lying at Galveston
ers.''
The Ladies of the G. A r. have ar
ranged for through train to Cincinnati