Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-07-14
EARLY DAYS ON THE RIVER.
An Interesting Historical Sketch by s. w.
| McMaster.


McAaster.
Rock Island, July 14.-EDIToR AR
GUS: The first stea mer to arrive at Fort
Smelling was the Virginia, Capt. Craw-
ford, in 1928. The second was the Ru-
fus Putnam, David G.. Bates captain, in
1925. Capt Bates l knew quite well in
Galena, in 1888. and later. He came up
to Galena in 1919. in command of a
keal boat propelled by crew of
Frenchmen from ST. Louis. While
living there he thought he had dis
covered a gold mine, and taking a
sample of the glittering metal he
started on a fleet horse to st.
Louis to enter the land an hich
the treasure was found A near neigh
Dor of his started at the same time on
the same errand. When Bates ar
rived in st. Louis he went straight to
an old French chemist with his prec-
ious sample. The old Frenchman
tested it and said, He very good
sulphur He had ridden his horse
SO hard that it died the next day.
Up to 1926 there were some 10 ar
rivals of boats from St. Louis at Fort
Smelling, among which 1 note the
Josephine, commanded by Capt.
Clarke, who later established Clarke's
ferry at Buffalo. Capt. Throck morton,
of the famous old steamer Warrior,
took part in the capture and dis
persion of Black Hawk and his war
riors at Bad Axe, Wis. Capt.
Joseph Throckmorton was one of the
best known and most popular captains
on the upper river. He built and ran
some six or eight boats, Red Rover,
Winnebago, Gen. Brooke, Burlington
and Cora. During the latter part of
his life he was in the employ of the
United States, under Col. Macomb, in
Rock Island, on the Upper Mississippi.
He died in December, 1872.
Another equally noted and popular
steam boat captain was Capt. Orrin
the Heroine in 1885, the Missouri and
Fulton in 1886, and later the steamer
Brazil. which was sunk on the Rock
Island chain, and from her wreck was
built the Clarion, the only steamer then
built and owned in Rock Island. The
New Brazil, Senator, Nominee, North
ern Light and number of others
were built and run by him. When he
commanded the Nominee there was
an immense emigration seeking homes
by his agreeable and winning manners,
endeared himself and became very
popular with his passengers. He was
president of the Minnesota Packet
company for a number of years. He
died in Dubuque in 1881.
Another thorough, all around
steamboat captain was ID. L. Harris,
of Galena.
His fathers family came to Galena in
1919. He and his brother scribe were
first employed by Capt. David G.
Bates as pilot and engineer on his
boat in 1928. In 1885 the two broth
ers fitted up keel boat as steamer
called the 10 Davies.
In 1856 they built the Frontier at
Cincinnati, intending her for the Rock
river trade. The boat was partly
loaded for the river, and went up as
far as Dixon. When the boat returned
Capt. Harris landed at what was the
upper landing in Spencer 81 Case
addition. Spencer IL Case gave the
two brothers a corner lot on the
Ievee, which | sold to Jacob Riley for
81, 600 in 1868. Capt. Harris built
the Otter. War Eagle, st. Paul, Grey
Eagle and some others. When the
Gray Eagle was sunk at Rock Island
bridge, when he was at the wheel, he
was so mortified that he quit the
river in disgust.
He was a large owner in the Galena
81 Minnesota Packet company. He
died al his home in Galena in 1898.
The Frontier was the first boat that
made landing at this point. Before
this time boats landed at made
wharfboat built by private subscrip- |
ton near the Buford mansion. In
olden times there were all along the |
river very few we'll built wharves,
and as rule boats were charged
from So to S. for the privilege of land
ing. On the whole length of the
upper river 1 knew of no warehouse
being built by the cities.
But, alas, since the heavy traffic of
former years has left the great river, |
mostly these warehouses are ly-
ing idle, or have been put to other |
uses. Steamers used for rafters are
but are getting less and less
in number from year to year. A few
boats are still employed in the local
traffic between the different towns |
along the river.
S. w. McMAsTER.
Arno1d,a Rromo GALAXY eures head /