The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1910-04-08
Old Steamboat
Days Recalled

the marine inspectors have crossed me
cor the infr:nities of old age, said
Ehe old engineer, dedeetively, while he
whitfield away at the wharf Spite that
he leaned against for support, land so
nautically speaking, I'm choking
stump, now and waiting to be disman-
Ged by old Father Time and go my
6nai route to the boneyard Some
times my old first love boating habits
prompt me to gather up my dormant
remaining energy and raise low SCAN
enough to come here to the levee TN
der slow bells, but pardner, my Gin,
eyesight does not find the same river
bearings on this now deserted river
frontags that I once anchored in many
q good time, in the long years gone
by. Time was, shipmate, when the
many packets lay out there on the wa
teT's bosom, sometimes two and three
abreast, with steam up and putting
away waiting their turns to get IN
to the wharf, quickly taking the open
barths left by those on departure, for
there were various cargoes of West
ern produce and south-bould cotton
10 discharge, and up-bound freight to
ship on board again; business on the
river was good then, and crew money
plentiful. Just put it down that there
we're some cracker-jacks and high fly
srs among the many boats and gas
Zine trading skiff was unknown Most
If the river crews were good safe
,oatmen, that passengers could trust
Ind depend upon every time
Well to go back little further I
,ay that | served my time as machin
st around the falls of the Ohio riv
n. and while about Louisville I
watched many fine boats undergoing
construction. Ay, ay, sir, worked on
ome of them too Now there was
he last Magenta that two brothers,
aube and Slut Neal, both natural-born
Engineers, built in 1865. When these
I'D practical boatmen put their heads
ogether, the natives looked for some
hing doing, and she was built to be-
'ome the fastest craft aHoat in these
waters. When finished she was a
beautiful 81 de-w wheeler, with motor
power enough to run a small battle
hip many knots per hour. The plans
reemed perfect, and [ can say the
brothers mentioned were pretty proud
# their combined superintendency and
workmanship in her general construc
lien and finish. They were Southern
wmpathizers and mutually chose the
naue of Richmond for the boat al
drst, while her big, deep toned brazen
bell had that name inscribed when
cast with care, but some of those hot
headed border Indianians, with cop
per-head ideas, said If so named the
boat would be burned before she had
the custom house clearance, or turned
wheel; so at the eleventh hour, mark
you, the name was changed, and then
she was called after a thoroughbred
trotting horse that had just won re-
nown and hung up a record for speed
III harness. ne great boat cIedfeu
the Portland wharf on the day of the
surrender, and at once entered the
Memphis trade out of New Orleans.
She proved very fast, as expected, AMI
made everything then afloat take to
the bank when she came along under
fun speed and carrying about 200
pounds steam pressure to the square
inch, I judge.
lated on, as I will explain presently
Old Capt. John w. Cannon was going
around with about a loose half mil
lion in his possession and grew covet-
nous of the Magenta that he could not
buy, so up to New Albany he comes
and orders plans for new boat su-
perior in speed and appointment. Ov-
err at st. Louis the Pegram brothers
George and Rush, had also caught the
Fleetwood fever, and they at once
snapped up the big H. R. w. Hill, a
fast boat in her best days, and took
her above the falls to Jeffersonville
where she was iismantled, and then
they built the magnificent Ruth out
Of her. Now the two shipyards were
worked overtime in the construction
Of these floating palaces, each depart
ment respectively, intending to eclipse
the other in turning out a better all
round craft, for no price Of cost was
made by any of the interested parties
but orders given and received, to spare
no expense whatever.
Finally the Ruth was launched for
some time ahead Of Capt. Cannon IS
boat, that he named Robert E Lee, in
honor Of the Southlani's martial
chieftain. The latter boat was entire.
y new from keelson streak to shimne,
taps, while the Ruth had the machin
MY Of the Harry Hill, These cylinders
Ne1e originally 80 inches in diameter
10 feet stroke, but due to wear from
former long usage had worn ont o
srue. It was decided to bore then
nj one-hAH inch, which, Of coure'
weakened them in strength 80 mucl