Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-28
OLD DAYS ON THE BIG RIVER.
When the Steamboats, Used to "Chaw'
Lightwood and Race for Fair.
n the st. Louis Globe Democrat t.

From the St Louis Globe-D Democrat.
The individual who has a 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 flight
across that last dark. mythical river
whence there is no return; and even then, II
the spirit retains a sense of the denght1ul
things enjoyed in this world, among them
will be a remembrance of trip taken on
a western steamer at some date between
the early fortes and the beginning of the
sixties.
the Missouri river had their inception IN
1S4S when Capt. Jewett-Dandy Jewett, SO
called from his exquisite style or 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 othet
stanch and comfortable steamers navigated
the Missouri river, and it was in 1874 that
the Wapello, very powerful Single-englne,
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
single house was left standing. the site of
the once beautiful city remaining only as
a barren. sandy waste, in which condition
1t remains today.
In 1915 the race between the Lewis +.
Linn, called after the senator of that name
from Missouri, and the Algoma, from ST.
Louis to Glasgow, occurred, and possibly
nothing more exciting was ever witnessed
upon any of the western rivers, or, for that
matter, upon the waters of the world. The
Linn long. slim greyhound-looklng
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 boat of which 1t was said, 'She
is as graceful beautiful woman, was
brought out for the purpose of contesting
the Glasgow trade with the former and II
was believed that she could outspeed her;
and, being supplied with two engines. While
the Linn had only one, the belief was ac-
cepted among all classes.
The result was challenge from the own
ers of the Algoma to the Linn. which the
owners of the latter were not backward in
accepting. The match was arranged and
the boats advertised to leave st. Louis at
given hour certain day, so that resi-
dents along the river. from start to finish,
could figure tolerably close to the hour at
which the boats would make their appear
ance; and to judge from the crowds that
passed that point. the entire population on
each side Of the Missouri for miles back in
the interior. must have found its way to
eligible view points on the river.
The boats rounded the bluffs below
Boonville about Il o'clock at night The
moon was obscured by heavy clouds and
almost pitchy darkness covered the turbu-
lent stream, lighted only by the ftful
flashes from their furnaces and the lamps
from their cabins and lanterns hung upon
their decks Their smokeStacks appeared
to be at dull red heat. from the hurricane
decks to their very topmOst tips. and the
steam came from their escape pipes with
water in their boilers had been reduced to
the highest pressure of steam. while the fig
ures Of the negro firemen. they danced
around the furnace doors, piling cotton
wood pine knots, lard. rosin, bacon sides
and almost every other kind of combustible
into the hollow depths of the flames, pre-
sented picture that might have been.
without any stretch of imagination. taken
for a true presentation of the devil and his
imps stocking up the fires of the internal
regions.
It is a terrible and fearful picture, but
one calculated to inspire the widest enthu-
siasm. Strange to say, not a single excla
among all the thousands of people lining
the banks. beyond the words spoken by an
old, gray-haired negro slave who said, as
the boats came in sight "Dar~dey ISL
and as they. came opposite the wharf,
Here dey am!'' and as they rounded the
point above the town. Oar dey go!'
They passed the center of the town rum
ming nose and nose-apparently not an inch
of difference between them 1t seemed
race between living things-life itself being
the stake.
Possibly it required ten minutes to pass
the town, and during that time not sound
came from the crowds on shore-not word