New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-27
TOOK FIRST STEAMBOAT DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI
NINETY-TWO YEARS AGO NICHOLAS p. ROOSEVELT
SUCCESSFULLY MADE TIE VOYAGE

Roosevelt remained at her husbands sid. sb.
underworld 20 sustain him against ali discourage
ment and. finally. despite the protests or bs-
family and friends she determined 70 mako ths
triai UP with him. and Mrs Roosevelt established
herself IN the after cabin Of the New CJrleans
When the vessel left her mornings at Pfttsbur1
in the latter part Of September. 1871 and began
the voyage toward the Gulf it is recorded that no
one associated With the building and launching OF
this boat. excepting the builder and hfs v,g. -
heVed In the practicability OF the scheme Tbosa
who had spent their lives on the Osto -
Mississippi and knew those rivers best tbouzs,
the very idea Of attempting 10 ascend 49,
IRE Strel i ns the aid OF steam was absurd one
the force o. the currents. During The frss - 49,
out to cheer the entsrorisnE b1,f Lac turned
IoF Were not there the falis OF the ONO 10 sns5s
and currents OF the gteater river bevo115$ ' H'e'
The NewOrieaBs easily MADE Iro J5''. stgb, 20 a.,
IiIes al nOuI ana when she reached Cincinnati she
I PoatS m those days NJ. Roosevelt was congratu-
scbs.,ed a., ms p''I-H ana the success he had
wen as BY the leading citizens - .s-ot-,a5
ward. Midnight on Ocfober o is1i oays ate
steaIno9al arrived at Louisville. The sscaDinz
rush to the river bank and an old letter ~ 10
stdtss Ihdt many persons believed that the
ISL having fallen into The Ohio River -
The hospitality Cf the best homes OF the ef+v Wa.
onered the v0yagers. but the sOod peopis All
tauenfed that II should the last a. well a. ths
the falls They ali regarded the ascent of tbe rive.
Dy steam even from New-O Orleans to Natchez as an
all this kindness OF feeling and incidenfaIIv -
II,Js ~ ohethllg else Mr. Roosevelt invited
Wnen the feast was at its height strange and un-
usual rgmblings were heard. and the boat began to
move. There was thought arnons the guests :
the anchor chain had broken and the boat was
On board TO sure destruction. There was a rush 10
me deck; and The astonishing sight-the boat was
elnchinS argument had the desired effect OF over
coming the force OF current opinion
a Lou Il naf1 ma
Ihe channsl too shallow to permit his passage OF thu
in November FOR favorable conditions. Suddenly
Without apparent cause The water in the channel
rose. and Mr. Roosevelt determined to attempt thu
falsr TO this point the trip bad been smooth sail
& ~ So, .o tlS uIst uIne since ne sttrJed on
grave risk Now. also for the first time he urged
however conform to Mrs Fsoosevelts idea Of Iovs
comradeship-she decided to stick to her post. and
IN accordance. she took her position deck ths
heaviest nressI1re ~ staa,5 st IIes5 49, M, g -.
safety valve shrelled, the paddles flaw around and
the trial began The sole chance to exceed the
CINE, stood the test we'll Rocks and trees recedsd
the spray flew over the low bows. and, with one
waters.
An earthquake shock was felt as the New-orIeans
turned her bows toward the Mississippi NJ
Roosevelt found that the bearings which he had
channel: cut-offs had been made across necks oil
land and new islands formed. To go forward was q
greater one AIR Roosevelt consulted his common
sense and the example of the passing hatb0s tnen-
and went with the current keeping a sharp lookout
for snags and distractions.
In speaking and writing TO her friends OF this
voyage down the Mississippi. Mrs. Roosevelt dWelr
especially upon its solemnity Hundreds Of miles %
unbrOken. primeVal fOTestSlOng stretches OF soli-
tary water-the silence disturbed only bv the call OF
the wild goose the echo of the revolving paddles
as the little boat pushed There was also
dittOn of unrest and seeplessnesS often recalled by
those who were board the New-Orleans. and
Mrs Roosevelt said there were days when she could
not read write sew
The Indians along the shores called the steamer
the fire canoe" associating II with the comet
which appeared that year. The long trail o. sparks
from he aCIr and 0TIr fuf
the dense. starless nights and the accompanying
earthquakes, which destroyed the pilots bearings.
filed the voyagers with diSmay. The shocks ceased
by rhs time the vessel reached Natchez. and tbs
run from that place to New-Oreans was uneventful>