The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-06-10
EARLY srEAMBoArING ON RED RIVER


of steamers on Red River, and revive water
traffic. sketch of the "good old days"
of the Red River trade may be of interest.
Before the railroads destroyed the steam
boat trade, it was one of the most profitable
and picturesque industries in LOUISIANA.
Shreveport owes its existence to the steam
boats that piled Red River, and upon this
trade Jefferson was built, and Alexandra
and Natchitoches became important cities.
The pioneer in the Red River trade was
Capt H. M. Shreve, who landed his boat
at about the foot of the present Milan
Street and tied the main line to large oak
tree. Unfortunately, the year is not known,
nor the name of the boat. The place
was known for long time as "Shreve's
Landing or sport" and then as Shreve-
port Capt. Shreve, with his pioneer
steamer, came for cotton, and to open a
trade with Texas. Shreveport became the
central point for the shipment OF cotton
from North Louisiana and Eastern Texas,
and 50 remained until the beginning of the
War Between the States.
At this period the river was full of boats
of all sizes-the palatial steamer and the
"stern- wheeler" The stern wheeler, or
little boats, usually kept nearer shore, that
is, they run from Shreveport to Jefferson,
and up the bayou and on "above the raj"
to Fort Towson, in the Choctaw Nation,
800 miles, or more. They brought the
cotton to Shreveport, and it was unloaded,
and re-shipped on the larger boats to New
Orleans. At high water, number of side
wheel steamers went to jefferson, and
higherup. And, in seasons of Glow water"
the large side wheelers disappeared, and
the small stern wheel craft run to New Or
leans from Shreveport, while flat-boats
brought the cotton from upper Red River.
OF course at low water, freights were high
cotton being So bale from Shreveport to
New Orleans. And the freight on cotton
from the highest point reached on upper
Red River by the lightest draft steamers was
So and $40 a bale to Shreveport. When
the river was up and competition was at its
highest cotton was ST bale from Shreve-
port to New Orleans. Passenger fare was
Sis and $50, and sometimes $40. The trip
to New Orleans occupied from three and
a-half and five days. The table fare was
sumptuous-equal to that of any first class
hotel of the present day. The captain of
each steamer aimed to entertain, and con-
sldered the passengers as guests. The
trip was one Of pleasure-a banquet-from
beginning to the end, and was one of the
most pleasant features of travel in the
sold South" There was dancing in the
evening. The more palatial steamers car
ried brass bands, and there was concert
on the upper deck late in the afternoon.
Among the steamers plying the river in
the 'fifties, from 1854 until 1861, we can
recall to mind these few 1t is so long
ago, that it seems but dream, and in
Imagination we see those steamers glide
by, steam up to the landing, or shack
out, and back up to Cross Bayou so as to
get under head way and then run by the
town with all speed. The landing was
usually lined with people when a large
steamerleft. The deck hands were lined up
on the lower deck, and the darkey table,
walters, in their white aprons, were lined
up on the roof-the Irish deck hands cheer
ing, and the darkeys singing one of their
native dialect songs. The citizens on shore
waived their hats, and the passengers, 100
or more, waived their ''good by in turn.
1t was beautiful sight as the steamer
gIided out about shutdown, the black col
umns Of smoke from the chmneys trailing
behind and darkening the twilight. Soon,
the voices of the singers became fainter.
and the white outlines of the steamer were
obscured in the smoke and darkness as she
rounded the bend below town.
The st. Charles was one of the largest,
and the fastest steamer in the trade. She
made the trip from New Orleans to Shreve-
port in three days and three hours, about
6OO miles. She was commanded by Capt.
Samuel Applegate; William D. Bateman,
clerk. The P. F. Kimball was the largest
boat in the trade, and carried 5000 bales
OF cotton. Others were the H. M. Wright,
Il. W. McRae, Pittsmiller, Grenada,
Aida, Grand Duke, Lecomte, Eleanor,
National, Starlight, Joseph Holden, Louis
Dor, Doubloon, Runaway, White Cliffs,
b. l.. Hodge, Gen. John L. Hodges, Texas,
Desoto, Fleta, Lucy P. Holcomb, Judah
Turo, r. W. Powell, Grand Era, and a
succession of Eras from to 10.