Morris tribune., 1898-07-27
TRAVEL A PLEASURE THEN.
"Reminiscences of the Days of Missouri
River Steamboating.

River Steamboating.
Few people appreciate the fact
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
So 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 great
hardship if they do not make the
trip between here and st. Louis in
10 hours, but in those days it was
different. Travel was truly pleas
ure, and time was no particular OBJ
ject. The packets speak of were
veritable floating palaces, as far as
the passengers comfort was con-
oerned. Their capacity averaged
from 800 to 400 passengers, and each
had band of musicians aboard. On
summer nights the passengers
would dance, and you can imagine
that such pleasure under the con-
ditions would be enhancing. The
packets 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 boat9" was
asked.
II 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 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 we're
quite a number of live, busy little
towns, which were notable landing
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 a memory;
Sibley, of no importance whatever,
and Parkville and Weston are of the
same sort. Glasgow, Boonville,
Waverly and Lexington were prom
inent river points. y
What was the passenger fare
charged between here and st. Louis,
Mr.. Bernardo
From SO to $12 one way; not so
very much when it is taken into
consideration that on the down trip
three days were necessary and the
passengers were fed upon fare that |
would cost at least $3.50 a day at |
any st. Louis hotel. Coming back,
it took four days. The service on
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 I doubt that such ex-
cellent mode of pleasant travel
would be appreciated. Travel then
meant pleasure, whereas today the
object is largely to make fast time. "
What has become of all those
boats9" inquired the reporter.
Il really don't know. Probably
gone the way of all other things per-
ishable. The old Arabia went down
near Parkville. That disposes of
one. Then there 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 the
spring of 1860 The river was rising
and west of Lexington there
is bend in the river, and after sew
eral Intellectual attempts to round it
the boat fell back and put on full
head of steam, only to bo blown up,
completely destroying it and killing
200 Mormons who were on their
way to : independence. The safe,
perfectly intact, was blown to the
crest of the hill, $50 feet away.
What has really become of all the
boats cannot say, but these three
fatal ones furnished the most nota-
BILE Of packet traffic nishaps -
Kansas City Times.