The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-18
OLD DAYS ON THE BIG RIVER
When the Fine Steamb0ats Used to "Chaw"
IIghtw0Od and Race for Fair
From The ST. Louis Globe Democrat.

|
LIghtwo0d and Race for Fair.
From the ST. Louis Globe Democrat.
Tho individual who has q recollection Of
the palmy days Of steamboating on the
Western rivers based upon actual expert
ence, has at least something that will re-
main with him until his soul takes its fight
across that last dark. mythical river from
whence there Is no return: and even then. X
| the spirit retains q sense OF the delightful
things enjoyed in this world, among them
will be the remembrance Of a trip taken on
! Western steamer at some date between
the early '40s and the beginning Of the COS.
The luxurious days Of steamboating on
the Missouri River had their inception in
1s4s, when Capt. Jewett-Dandy Jewett, so
called from his exquisite style OF dressing
and his unexceptionable manners-brought
out the Rowena, at that time possibly the
most perfect example Of steamboat struc-
ture upon the Western waters: though as
early as 1910 the James Archer, the John
Ewing. the Robert Aul and numerous other
stanch and comfortable steamers navigated
the Missouri River. and 1t was in 1874 that
the WapelLO, very powerful single engine,
high pressure steamer, was utilized in res
cuing the citizens OF old Franklin from the
flood. traversing the streets In succession
and taking the people from second story
| windows and housetops. Old Franklin, at
the commencement Of the period, Was the
second city in the state In the matter Of popu-
lation. and at its subsidence not gle house
was let standing the site Of the once beauti-
ful city remaining only as a barren, sandy
waste. In which condition II remains to-day.
In is4S. the race between the Lewis F.
Linn. called after the Senator Of that name
| from Missouri. and the Algoma, from St
nothing more exciting was ever witnessed
upon any Of the Western rivers. or, for that
matter, upon the waters Of the world The
Linn was long. slim. greyhound looking
| boat, built for speed: and the fact that she
showed her heels to everything on the river
| justified the efforts OF her builders.
| During the second season OF the Linn the
| Algoma. a boat Of which it was said, She
| Is as graceful as beautiful woman was
brought out for the purpose of oontestlng
| the Glasgow trade with the former, and il
| was believed that she could outspeed her
and. being suppl ed with two engines. whils
the Linn ad only one, the belief was ac-
| cepted among all classes.
| The result was challenge from the owners
| Of the AL gonna TO the Linn. which tho owners
Of the latter were not backward n accepting.
| The mat Oh was arranged and the boats adj
| vertised to leave St. Louis at a given hour
| on a certain day. so that residents along tho
| river. from start to finish. could figure toll
| erably close to the hour at which the boats
would make their appearance: and. to judg q
from the crowds that lined the banks at Boom
| vile when the boats passed that point. tho
entire population on eac oh side Of the Missouri
| for miles back in the interior, must have
| found it's way to eligible viewpoints on IN.
river.
The boats round ed the bluffs below Boom
vile about II O'Clock at night. The moon
was obscured by heavy clouds and almost
pitchy darkness covered the turbulent strea m.
lighted only by the itful flashes from their
furnaces and the lamps from their cabins
and anterns hung upon their decks Their
smo kestacks appeared to be at a dull red
topnost tips. and the steam came from their
escape pipes With Kissing that indicates that
reduced TO the highest pressure Of steam
while the figures OF the negro fremen, az they
danced around the furnace doors, piling cot
Almost eSeFy 5d0
into the hollow depths Of the flames, pre-
sented picture that might have been, with th
true REPRESENTATION Of The devil and "f his tq mpa
stocking up the fires OF the 10 fernal regions
II IS t. RI and fearful! picture. but
siasm. Strange to say, not a single excia-
nation was INDUCED In by any Individual
among all the thousands Of pc ople lining the
Banks, beyond the words spoken by an old,
gray-haired negro slave, who said as he boats
came in sight Oar dey is !" and as they
came cam opposite TIE y, wharf, Here dey ami"
Oar dey gol"
They passed the centre OF the town running
nose and nose apparently not an inch OF
difference between them. II seemed race
between living things-lfe itself being the
stake
Possibly IL required ten minutes TO pass
the town, and during that time not n sound
came from the crowds on shore--nOt n word
from the boats, not a whistle sounded it
was az II two slender ateeds, with ears aid
back, eyes bullying and nostrls extended,
were stralnlng every nerve. under lash and
spur. to reach the goal first or die in the
attempt.
II was a spectacle never TO he efYaced
from the memory OF the ndividual who
Witnessed it-a glorious but terrible sight
The crowds ut Boon vile remained on the
banks until the steamers could be distin-
gushed only by their red-hot chimncys in
passing the opening between the island
Just above Arrow Rock. and the main shore,
twelve miles away, The boats reached
Glasgow enry the next day. as hey had passed
EOonyilla. running nose and nose and nj
though much money had been wageTed on
he result. none was lost for the race was
declared tie.
Tho strain on the boats was too great and
II was only year or two after when both
OF them were sent 10 the bOneyard
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