Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1904-08-04
JAMESTOWN
A RIVER RIDE
ON THE OLD MISSISSIPPI
ABOARD III E STEAMER
"CHALMETTE."

To the Alert-While visiting the
great fair In st. Louis we were not
unmindful Of the EDITORS advice to
take a trip on the old Mississippi
river.
This was especially agreeable as
We found ourselves after q few weeks
Of sight seeing and travel almost
worn out and badly needing some
restful enjoyment. The fine steam
boat Chalmette had at this time
arrived from New Orleans upon her
second trip not having been up the
river farther than Vfcksburg for
eight years till the opening of the
exposition. She carried very select
party fro n New Orleans and other
down river points, and being lately
ove1hauled and refitted for the
passenger trade she was through and
through perfect floating palace.
We went aboard in the afternoon of
June 80, and at 4 p. m. the boat cut
loose on the trip. We had only got
ten fairly in the channel when the
Stacker Lee of the Lee Line, came
right into our wash, and in the
efforts OF the Lee boat to pass Us at
different times we had taste of
steamboat racing that almost rivaled
old times on the river. Every at
tempt made to pass US was a failure
as the firemen and engineer on the
Chalmette worked hard. The race
ended in our favor as tire Stacker Lee
made a landing at Ste. Genevieve,
Mo-
The river is very cratic in its
channel, no chart that can be relied
upon has ever been made by the
government 50 far. A person may
own z portion Of land op the Miss
ouri side and wake up some morning
and find It as an addition placed
onto the property of western
Kentucky.
Pilots plying up and down the river
are obliged to observe the channel
course by the flow and at times and
places of danger make constant
sounding. This with the lights and
constant exchanges Of reports is al
that can be done to ensure safety
but at best. navigation on the river,
esOecially at night. is largely guess
work, and as with the Chalmette q
snag may end the trip at. any time.
We had fine opportunity to view
the historic Cavanaugh Castle as we
rassed Grand Towers BY day light.
This building has been lately over
hauled at the cost o! one million and
has q sub-entrance which can be shut
when high water approaches and q
grand stairway Of Italian marble
leading up and up from the levee end.
ing upon the top Of the castle.
Cavanaugh is ore Of the lucky lrlsi,
men who made his start by con tract
ing in the levee3 and aftewafd by
successful speculation.
We made our first landing at Cairo;
here the levee vas deserted as an at
tempt at lynching was going 90 at
the town goal. The victim was a
negro charged with the usual crime
against a white girl.
Cairo is a good town Of about 10000
population and has full mile Of
wall to resist the approach Of food
on the street fronting the levee.
Here We took on Is tons OF sacked
oats for contractor working on the
levee below VicksburR.
Our next landing was at Cape
Girardeau, one of the oldest towns
on the river north Of New Orleans.
The buildings fronting the river bear
the marks Of age and all have the old
boat supply signs plainly on them.
Still Cape Girardeau boasts Of co.
600 population and has seventeen
saloons. We did not see any drunks.
Here we were introduced to the
principal of the High School. Pro-.
Hllles, who stated that they had
recently lost their fine school build
ing by fire but new and still more
costly structure was now In course Of
erection costing $4,000.
Our boat remained here two hours
which enabled US to view the town
and get sight at some OF the
southern products. Industry. lime
and sand.
At two p. M, on July 3, we we've
just opposite the City of Memphis.
Tenn, our boat made landing ard
here We stepped ashore and bad 9
good bye to all on board. We would
very much have liked to continued
our trip on to New Orleans but our
time would not permit which proved
very fortunate for us In the end.
Memphis is nice city Of about l70,-
600 populat tion and is one Of the fin-
est hard wood markets in the south.
"a -t.& sgst sssss, tSr,aa,ssss