Middletown transcript., 1898-04-09
TRAVEL A PLEASURE THEN.

rev psoptg ApprsCiHtg tds fdCt that tba-
tween 1850 and 1860 an enormous trsfie
was carrird on by steamboat on the Mis-
souri, River between st. Louis and Kansas
City," said w. r. Bernard, of West.
port. the other day. 1T will probably sur
prise you when tell you that there were
tfty-two packets regularly plying between
st. Louis and Kansas City, and some even
as far north as Council Bluffs. This does
not include the. transients which, during
the summer months, went sometimes as
far as the Yellowstone.
"Those were great old days Them con-
tinuei Mr.. Bernard, as he heaved Sigh, a.
if he regretted that they were gone forever,
Nowadays people travelling think II Is Q
great hardship II they do not make the
trip between here and st. Louis in twelve
hours, but in those days it was different,
Travel was truly pleasure, and time was
no particular object. The packets I speak
of were veritable floating palaces, as far as
the passengers comfort was concerned.
Their capacity averaged from three hundred
to four hundred passengers, and each had
9 band Of musicians aboard. On summer
nights the passengers would dance, and you
can imagine that such pleasure under the
conditions wonld be enhancing. The
packets were not As large as those used on
the Mississippi, but they were just as flns."
"How much freight could be carried on
an average boat ?" was asked:
II should judge that four hundred tons
would be an average load. You see, at that
time Westport was the outhtting point for
the entire Southwestern country, even az
far down as Chihuahua, Mexico, and there
was great deal Of freight billed through
from the East by way Of st. Louis, Along
the river there were quite number Of live,
bnsy little towns, which were notable load
ing points for hemp, tobacco and the like,
which are now either gone out Of existence
or are mere villages. For instance. there is
Rocheport, which is nothing but memory;
Sibley, OF no importance whatever, and
Parkville aud Weston are Of the same sort.
Glasgow, Boonville, Waverly and Lexing-
ton were prominent river points.'
what was the passenger fare charged
between here and st. Louis, Mr.. Bernardo
From $40 to $12 one way. Not so very
much, when it is taken into consideration
that on the down trip three days were
taken and the passengers were fed upon
fare that would cost at least 81 so day at
any st. Louis hotel. Coming back, it took
four days. The service on these packets
was most excellent. 4 small army Of train.
cd servants waited upon the tables. which
were furnished with the finest linen and
service. The quality Of the cooking was
provsrbially good. In this day OF rapid
living doubt that such excellent mode OF
pleasant travel would be appreciated.
Travel then meant pleasure, whereas TO.
day the object is largely to make fast time.s
what has become of all those boatsi'
inquired the reporter.
II really don't know. Probably gone the
way Of all other things perishable. Isse
by the papers that they are mining for the
whiskey supposed to be in the hull Of the
oldArabia, which went down near Parkville,
That disposes OF one. Then there In tha
Twilight. which vent down near Napoleon.
Perhaps the most serious and shocking fate
which bsfell Missouri River packet was
that Of the Saluda, which blew up at Lax.
ington In the spring Of 1850. The river
was rising rapidly. and west Of Lexington
there is bend in the river, and after sew
sral Intellectual attempts TO round in the
boat fell back and put on q full head Of
steam, only to be blown mp, completely
destroying 1t and killing two hundred
Mormons, who we're on their way TO 1ndes
pendsnce. The safe, perfectly intact, was
blown to the crest OF the hill. three hun.
dred and fifty feet away. What has really
become Of all the boats cannot say, bnt
these three fatal ones furnished the most
notable OF packet traffic mishaps.