The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-28
WE OWN AND OFFER
10000
Union TRACTION S.
Albert R. Thompson { Co.
BANKERS AND BROKERS
Lombard Building.
OLD STEAMBOAT DAYS.
Romances of the Missouri Boats and
the Joys of Travel ON Them.

Kansas City Star.
In Rome stands the statue of Nilus, the river
god who presided the destinies OF the Nile
We old timers who derive so much profit and
pleasure from steamboating the Missouri
would somewhere upon the banks of this
restless stream figure commemorative of its
departed glory. This waterway controlled the
commerce OF the West; IL carried culture, crea-
ture comforts and necessities 10 pioneer settlers
of the Missouri valley. The steamboats, that
piled its waters furnished the most satisfactory
elegantly furnished cabins. gistening chandeliers.
the music on deck or the piano in the ladies'
coy corners in the cabins and upper deck-such
surroundings melted and encouraged sentimental
matchmaker There would be, doubtless. a d.
versity OF opinion as 10 an appropriate design
Tor the god OF the Missouri OLD Captain B9s
place to please some old timers, and Captain
Kinney and others would have their adherents.,
CLERKS says Charley Keiser who was the hand
his day
To be SURE: steamboat travel had few dsa,
autumn, and pierced impartially the downy cheek
OF youth and beauty and the rugged mug of the
ment to this delightful mode Of Iocomotion was
the continuous cussing OF the boats mate. 1t
sad no nsw yyassr but the
We're especially fierce and forcible when the crew
line. bending under heavy burdens and looking
the picture Of misery but as soon as the boat
swung loose from her mornings and glided grace
fully into midstream these same driven fellows
began their singing and shuffiing. or sprawled
about the lower deck to snooze or play cards.
know that no votary who sits through classic
concert Is ever more thrilled with the. concord
listened to the mellow sounds Of the deck hands
at twilight or on moonlight nights as the boat
to after the rhysh
mic calls Of the boatmen, with the lead line
n QU1ha
the inexperienced substitute, who thought the
main thing was TO sing the same tune and whose
nrst call was Just about the little red rag
skedaddleA de day.
Leavenworth was the Gretna Green of the old
days. and many a couple who started from the
wharf at Kansas City members merely of a
party OF excursonists took 1t into their heads.
when they reached Leavenworth. to marry. The
prettiest romance of the old river. and yet the
Of Capt. Ben Cline and Matte sV c@ -- " Captais
CLINE commanded the F: X. Aubrey. fine
ney on ponies from the Plaza. In Santa Fe, to
Independence Mo. In eight days. This boat.
Louis and Omaha had between the big chimneys
on the hurricane deck an equestrian figure of
passengers in this pleasant boat up stream no.
ticed that We made an unusually long stop at
The clerk. Mr.: Gillian. let us into the secret Of
the delay; HE, He told us that Captain CLINE s
married on the return trip.
The captain, always courteous. seemed to re-
double MS efrorts 10 make his passengers COM
Portable. and was light-hearted a boy. I was
told OF the wedding, which took place as ar
ranged; how beautiful the bride was in her white
wedding dress, Of the gay throng which accom-
gossip OF that day, that bright day. Of over forty
years ago. The next chapter in this romance
began less than a year later. In 1859 Captain
CLINE was master Of the st. Nicholas. running
| that year the boat left her dock at St Louis
loaded with freight for Southern ports and in
addition to the usual passenger list, had aboard
party OF ladies and gentlemen who were going
| CLINE. i suppose no merrier. more carefree
company ever began a Journey After the ST
Nicholas left Memphis and again turned her bow
down stream on this delightful spring evening
warning the boilers exploded tearing the for.
ward part of the boat into fragments and setting
hre to the stern, still afoat. The crew. passen-
| gers, Captain CLINE. his wife and their guests
forever lost 70 sight but few were rescued by
negroes from the plantation OF General Pillow
near by. In an tmproyised hospital I'm Memphis
| the injured and dead were placed. and there, or
a cot side by side. were laid the bodies of the
| Only one woman OF that merry party OF ex.
1 cursionists-indeed. only one of all the passen.
gers-escaped This was Miss Ellen Kennedy OF
to the hull of the boat and held to il even after
| the IRE had burned the hair from her temples
While she was clnging still to the ring a mar
swan near her He told her If she could sus
| tain him few moments with her free hand un
| til his strength revived he could he believed
take ner to the shore. which near Sh,
held to him awhile, and he was able II
swim 10 the bank, saving her and himself Ate,
recovering from her terrible injuries Miss Ken
nedy went 10 st. Louis. She received a grea
| welcome from the generous citizens OF ST. Louis
and from them and many other friends cam,
| valuable gifts of tewe1ry and clothing.