The Cairo bulletin., 1904-12-26
DISASTERS ON THE RIVERS
I'm EARLY STEAMBOAT DAYS

liam Carroll and a Mr.. Whiting. She
was the twenty-second steamer 10
ply the Mississippi, and at the time
She was launched was pronounced
one of the best boats passing through
the Ohio River country She was OF
$50 tons and arrived here about the
first of July. 1878. On her initial voy-
age she was commanded by Capt b.
Hopkins The Gen Jackson was fol.
lowed in 1920 by the Rilleman and the
Gen, Robertson. After six months
running, the latter blew up eight
miles below Eddyyille. Five people.
three of them ladies. were killed by
the explosion. two men We're blown in
to the river and drowned and one was
badly scalded. The vessel, however
was not destroyed, and TWO years
afterwards was snagged twelve miles
below New Madrid and slnk. Short
liz after the explosion on the Gen
Robertson the Cen Jackson mishap
occurred, tine steamer running on a
snag in Harpeth Shoals and sinking
though most of her cargo was saved
and no lives are recorded as having
been lost
The pioneer crafts were quickly
Joined by other boats, among .hem be-
ing he James Ross, the Fayette, The
Fe.iciana, the Cumberland. the Gen.
Greene and the Nashville The last
named boat in 1923 made the trip Of
/ 900 miles from New Orleans in
fourteen days and half, the achieve
ner being notable enough to have
found place ia The rivers history.
All the vessels, however were clumsy
crafts.
In Its Zenith.
AS new boats were built they
we've designed on larger and more
plans II was in the ihlr-
lies. however before the boa began
20 rise 10 the dignity of floating pal.
ices. Among be prominent boats Of
this period were the Tennessee,
which afterwards encountered disas'
ier attended with fearful less of life
On the Mississippi the John Randolph
and tine Ellen Xii lmon Early IN the
forties some of tho most notable boats
ever operated on the river went into
Among them were me
Nashville, the Tallryrand the Old
and the Red Rover After
them came sim finer boats 70 meet
the demand when il beoarc 'ho fash
ion for Nashville i0li 20 ran Town to
New Orleans 10 DO shopping and see
the opera. Among he lat.-r class were
the Tennessee. The Gov Jones, the
Harry Hill and the superb America,
in these latter do ed contests
which have made tle Ull-time boats
IL The Mississippi famous became the
vogue on the Cumberland. The race
nf the Nashville and The Talleyrani
against each others time between
New Orleans aud Nashville We're
In May, lS4S, the Nash
vile reduced the record to six days
and thirteen hours. The next trip OIL
.he Tal'eyrand had as its particular
object Of beating nf her rivals time,
and she did SO. her arrival az the
Nashville wharf being an eveniful Or
,aslon. Up the river che came with
her band playing, her deck hands
.inging and tapping IN the wind was
! great white banner On which was
printed. Five days and twenty-'hree
hours from port 60 port" The news of
her record-breaking rip had been an
lcipated. and great throng Of peo-
PIE greeted her at the wharf, while a
cannon salute i'm her honor was fired
rhe triumph OF he owners Of the Tai
eyrand aud her friends. however. was
short lived, for ia June the Nashville
made the journey IN five days and
.welve houra This is recorded as
the hes. time ever made
by Nashvilie-News Orleans packet.
Disasters on the River.
The Cumberland has claimed her
own particular share a. wrecks from
snags. fires and other causes. but few
Of them have been attended with eX
loss of life. In the an
nails of the river there ia nothing So
horrible as the burning
Of the Charles Belcher, whose wheel
was seized by beautiful young wo
man as the boat ablaze from stem Is
stern raced wildly down ihe Missis
sippi Nor IS there anything 10 com
pare with The weird story of the Sa
luda ON the Missouri. whose fac wa
ioretold by Mormon elder. and
whose bell uncannily observed the an