The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-05-03

Of the fast age in which we live. The :
steamboat and railroad relegated the
stage coach to the past, and notwith-
our limited vestibules, have
placed Florida within "a hours OF
New York. Who can tell how sooa
the flying machine for passenger car
rage will put even the fast train out
of business? The demand for rapid
transit, supplied by the railroads, par
alleling or coming in competition with
the waterways of inland commerce,
has resulted in reducing 10 minimum 1
our once great steamboat traffic in
Florida, as elsewhere.
Comparatively few of those living
at this time have any realization OF the
former magnitude of the steamboat
business on the st. Johns river, and in
connection with the lines extending To
Savannah and Charleston, when those
cities were the great supply marts for
eastern and southern Fdlorida.
The first steamboat, so far as am
Informed, which stirred the waters OF
the st, Johns. was the Esseon, small
craft used for carrying government
supplies and troops during the great
Seminole war, about 1886. In the
latter -.forties,' among my earliest
memories was the small steamboat,
Sarah Spaulding, commanded by Capt.
Paul B. Canoya, which made weekly
trips from Jacksonville to Fit. Mellon,
on Lake Monroe. At the same time
the steamers. st. Matthews, ocmulgee
: and William CASTOR, piled between
Savannah and Palatka. On their
down trip, ascending Black creek as
! far as Middleburg, which was the ship
ping point for cotton brought in wag-
ons from Alachua, Columbia and other
interior sections. This part OF the
route was continued by succeeding
steamers until the construction OF the
! Florida railroad across the peninsula,
which DESTROYED the business impo:-
lance of Middleburg. Two new steam
ers, the Magnolia and Welaka wise
placed on the Savannah and Florida
line about 1851 The former, very
fast boat, after running but short
time, exploded her boiler opposite s..
Simon's Island, Georgia, killing her
captain, William T. McNelty. Two
new and handsome steamers, the Sem
mole and st. Johns. were added TO
! the Savannah Florida line In 1853.
After running for several years, each
in turn was burned at her dock in
Jacksonville during the night time.
4 The hull of the st. Johns was saved
and she was rebuilt about 1888 and
continued in the trade. About 1853
Capt Jacob Brock brought out the
Darlington from South Carolina and
for years, extending into the seven
ties" under command of her veteran
captain, piled between Jacksonville
and Enterprise. The deliberation OF
those days in comparison with the
tpresent is we'll illustrated by the sched
ule of the Darlington for many years
She would leave Jacksonville at a
m. Saturday, reach Palatka that even
ing, lie there until about daylight Mon
. day morning. proceed up the river
reaching Enterprise about sunset, re
main there until Wednesday morning
when starting OIL the down trip woult
reach Palatka as the shades of nigh
drew on, lie over there until mex
Emorning and arrive at Jacksonville
Thursday about 3 p. m. The Hattie
Brock was added TO this line two o.
three years before the war and contin
VA Re
About 1852 Capt Louis II. Coxette
initiated the Chsrlest on-FlOrida line
bringing out in succession some splen
did steamers for that route; first, tn
Florida, which was succeeded a few
years after by the Caroline. Thesl
vessels made the outside passage Z
the st. Johns, Palatka being the Flo!
ida terminus of the line. About 1s5
he put the magnificent steamer Ever
glade on the inside route between til
same points.
About the same time Capt Jame
Freedom placed the new and elegan
iron steamer st. Marys, on the SaYaI
Inah and Florida line. A simila
steamer, the Cecile, was placed on tn
Charleston route, inside passage,
| year OF Two DclDIS the WAT
Ali steamboat traffic on these W;
tePs was suspended by the war, az
certain of the steamers which ia
been engaged therein were used q
, blockade runners and in the Confe
crate government service.
= After the war the steamboat bus
ness was resumed, Among the ear
5 est on the Savannah route were II
: Lizzie Baker, Helen Getty (the old S
|. Johns) and Sylvan Shore, later I'll
Nick King. built upon tiae hull of II
former ST. Marys. The old vetera
Capt. Coxetter, who in the early pa
of the war commanded the Confed
rate priYaieer, JET Davis, and mao
Z many captures, placed on the Charlie
( ton line the Dictator and afterwar,
the City Point, and those fine steame
were familiar objects on The St. Johl
for many years. Their successors, q
y st. Johns and City OF Palatka, we
magnificent specimens of steambo
architecture of later date. Tb,
are still living, the st. Johns plyil
on northerns waters.
OF the post belium river steamer
the scope of this article will not d.
nit more than mention OF the
Besides the Darlington and HIATT
Brock, recall the Starlight, Day
Clark, Water Lilly, Pastime, City
Sanford burned at Point Lavist.
Hampton, John Sylvester. Eliza Hs
I ~ n