Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-05-26
"reminiscences OF the Deys of Missouri
River Steamboating.

"Reminiscences of the Dsys of Missouri
| 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. at will probably surprise
you when I tell you that there were
50 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 yell
lowstone.
"Those were great old days then, y
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
- 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-
cerned. 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 a 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 boatl'' was
asked.
} 81 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 were
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
3 of existence or are mere villages.
3 For instance, there is Rocheport,
i which is nothing but memory
Sibley, of no importance whatever,
and Parkville and Weston are of the
t same sort. Glasgow, Boonville,
!, Waverly and Licking ton were prom
. inent river points, .
what was the passenger fare
charged between here and st. Louis,
q Mr.. Bernardo"
t "From $40 to. s12 one way; not sc
very much when it is taken into
q consideration that on the down triI
n three days We're necessary and the
) passengers were fed upon a fare thai
y would cost at least $3.50 a day al
f any ST. Louis hotel. Coming back
b it took four days. The service Oh
these packets was most excellent
n A small army of trained servants
S waited upon the tables, which were
4 furnished with the finest linen and
service. The quality of the cooking
!. was proverbially good. In this day
e of rapid living I doubt that such ex
o cellent mode of pleasant trave
;. would be appreciated. Travel ther
s meant pleasure, whereas today the
g object is largely to make fast time.
n "What has become Of all those
Q boats2" inquired the reporter.
' IT really don't know. Probably
J. gone the way of all other things per
is ishable. The old Arabia went dow1
a near Parkville. That disposes O
> one. Then there is the Twilight
( which went down near Napoleon
q Perhaps the most serious and shock
e ing fate which befell Missouri
IS river packet was that of the Saluda
W which blew up at Lexington in tn
is spring of 1860. The river was risin!
u rapidly, and west of Lexington ther
,e is bend in the river, and after sew
ir eral Intellectual attempts to round j
IS the boat fell back and put on a full
,e head of steam, only to be blown up
If completely destroying it and killing
\ 200 Mormons who were on thei
way to Independence. The safe
perfectly intact, was blown to tn
crest of the hill, $50 feet away
w What has really become of all tn
r boats 1 cannot say, but these thre
in fatal ones furnished the most nota
II BILE of packet traffic mishaps. -
III Kansas City Times.
O. The Dago.
70 In this country the Italian is tn
t. typical "dago" because he is tn
~ ONLY familiar representative of til