Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-04-30
TRAVEL A PLEASURE THEM

River SteamboatinE.
Few people appreciate the fac
that between 1850 and 1860 an enor
nous traffic was carried on by steam
boat on the Missouri river between
st. Louis and Kansas City" said
W. r. Bernard of Westport the 9th
er day. 1T will probably surprise
you when | tell you that there were
81 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 Vel
lowstone.
"Those were great old days then, '
continued Mr.. Bernard as he heaved
a sigh, as if he regretted that they
were gone forever. Nowadays
people travelling think it is a great
hardship if they do not make the
trip between here and st. Louis in
IL hours, but in those days it was
different Travel was truly pleas
ure, and time was no particular OBJ
ject. The packets l speak of were
veritable floating palaces, as far as
the passengers comfort was con
cerned. Their capacity averaged
from 800 to 400 passengers, and each
had a band of musicians aboard. On
summer nights the passengers
would dance, and you can imagine
that such a pleasure under the con
ditions would be enhancing. The
paclSsts were not as large as those
used on the Mississippi, but they
were just as fine"
How much freight could be car
ried on an average boati' was
asked
Il should judge that 400 tons
would be an average load. You see,
at that time Westport was the out
fitting point for the entire south
western country, even as far dowr
as chihuahua, Mexico, and there
was a great deal of freight billed
through from the east by way of 81
Louis Along the river there wer.
quite number of live, busy little
towns. which were notable landins
points for hemp, tobacco and the
like, which ale now either gone ouI
of existence or are mere villages
For instance, there is Rocheport
which is nothing but a memory
Sibley, of no importance whatever
and Parkville and Weston are of the
same sort. Glasgow, Boonville
Waverly and Lexingt ton were prom
inent river points
What was the passenger fare
charged between here and st. Louis
Mr.. Bernardo"
From SO to SIP one way; not 81
very much when it is taken int
consideration that on the down triI
three days were necessary and the
passengers were fed upon fare thai
would cost at least $3.50 day a
any ST. Louis hotel. Coming back
it took four days The service OF
these packets was most excellent
A small army of trained servants
waited upon the tables, which were
furnished with the finest linen and
service. The quality of the cooking
was proverbially good. In this day
of rapid living doubt that such ex
cellent mode of pleasant trave
would be appreciated. Travel ther
meant pleasure, whereas today the
object Is largely to make fast time.
What has become of all thos,
boats7" inquired the reporter.
Il really don't know. Probably
gone the way of all other things per
ishable The old Arabia went dowl
near Parkville. That dlsposes o
one. Then theirs is the Twilight
which went down near Napoleon
Perhaps the most serious and shock
ing fate which befell a Missouri
river packet was that of the Saluda
which blew up at Lexington In thu
spring of 1860. The river was risin:
rapidly, and west of Lexington Their
is bend in the river, and after sew
eral Intellectual attempts to round i
the boat fell back and put on full
head of steam. only to be blown up
completely destroying ii and KILN;
200 Mormons who were on thei
way to Independence The safe
perfectly intact. was blown to tn
crest of the hill, $50 feet away
What has really become of all tn
boats / cannot say, but these tire
fatal ones furnished the most nota
BILE of packet traffic mishaps- -