The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1901-11-23

IlllI II. Clappell recently reau
most interesting paper before the
Early Settlers Historical Society at
Kansas City on "The Rise and Fall of
Stcamboating on the Missouri River. "
Among other things he said:
"rhe Independence, the first steam
boat to ascend the Missouri, left st.
Louis May 10, 1919, and arrived at
Old Franklin, an abandoned town
situated opposite Boonville, on the
2Sth. She continued her voyage to
Cherrytown and returned to st. Louis
June 5. Her arrival along the river
occaSiOned wild excitement and great
Joy among the few inhabitants, and
an old-fashioned barbecue was given
the officers of the boat and passengers
at Franklin. The question of naviga-
tion on the Missouri river had been
solved.
"Other boats followed the same
season. among which were three or
four steamboats, and several barges or
batteaus, in charge of Major Long, u
government officer, who was instruct
ed to proceed as far as the mouth OF
the Yellowstone to ascertain If the
upper Missouri could be navigated,
and also to establish military posts or
the banks of that stream. This fleet
consisted of the steamers Jefferson
r. II. Johnson, Exposition and West
ern Engineer. The Jefferson STRUCK
a snag and was sunk in Usage chute
: at the mouth of that river, being TIT
first boat wrecked on the Missouri.
, THE Western Engineer had bee
= built expressly for this expedition
. and from her unique appearance
e worthy of description. She was
t small side-wheeler, and on her bow
;, running from keelSon forward was tn
b escape pipe, made in imitation Of
n huge serpent, painted black, with ii
d open mouth and tongue painted
If fiery red. The steam escaped frol
q the mouth of the serpent and IN II
passage at intervals created lout
u wheeling noise or puff, like the dyln
10 groans of some sea monster, whic
ir could be heard for several miles. III
At Indians saw this wonderful piece
marine mechanism, the power OF u
10 great Manitou, and after one view
st it. fled precipitately in great terr
De from the banks.
We 1T was in the year 1886 that u
es first cabin was built on Steambo
5h for the accommodation of passenger
ed In the history of steamboat navlg
p tion on the Mississippi river t
period between 1910 and 1860 may
properly called "The Golden Era
The improvements which had be
ISL made, both in the machinery a
OF construction of the hullS, the adap'
~ tion of the stateroom cabins, t
IT. systematizing Of the business,
le' tended to lessen the danger of navie
IL tion and to increase the profits.
en- "The fully equipped passens
5te steamer, in the heyday of Stea
M boating on the Missouri, was mi
nc niacent specimen of marine arc
he lecture. She was generally about
he feet long, 40 feet beam, 7 feet DEF
let and hold, and had full length cal
capable of accommodating 300 or
at passengers by usingcots. The "teNa'
vii occupied solely 10y the officers was
''0 the hurricane ROOF.
The floors of the cabin were cove
ar with the softeSt Brussels carpet
WY the staterooms were furnished W
every convenience. The ladies ca
was never complete without gr'
'uo niano. The table was elegaL
MS furnished and the menu was equa
the that of the first class hotels OF
'rh- cities. Each boat always carrie'
a string band and sometimes o'
me- band, and every night wheh
'ald tables were cleared away, dance
ILL enioved by the passengers III
,S ladies cabin.
son "The cost Of such a boat
Tue $50, 900 to $4,000, and TO rui
entailed an expense of $500 day'
"CaptainS were paid from $40