The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-03-12

Memphis, Mimi, March II. - Few
people can speak with as much au-
thority Of the ~steamboating days be-
fore the war as can Grant Marsh, the
dean Of Missouri river pilots, who has
been spending the winter in Mem
phis, because the steamboats, there
are locked in the ice. Captain Marsh,
before the war, was engaged in the
business around Memphis, but after
all the steamboats, on the Mississippi
river had either been burned or sunk
he led the great tide of immigration
westward along the Missouri river to
It's very headwaters. The Missouri
river served in those days as one Of
the main thoroughfares westward.
The Indians, however, resented the
invasion Of their hunting grounds,
and every inch OF the way was won
after a contest. Grant Marsh, how
ever. survived all the hardships and
dangers of those pioneer days and
now, at the age Of so years, is as
hearty as a boy, and comes with q
clear memory Of the days when he
was really a boy to tell Of the early
steamboats,.
All Boats sidewheelers.
The Editor, in 1854, he says, was
the first regular packet between Mem
phis and st. Louis. Steamboats, in
those days were owned and operated
by their captains and were entirely
Independent of each other.
The first steamboat organization,
he says, was the Memphis & st. Louis
Packet Co, which operated four
splendid sidewheel steamers. The
Captain Marshall, the John Dickey
was under the direction Of Capt. Dan
Able. the Platte Valley was managed
by Capt. William Postal. and the
James H. Lucas was under the com
mand of Captain Silvers.
While this line was still in opera
ton man other packet companies
sprang up, seeing the advantages
which came from IN organization,
and Memphis was connected with
Cincinnati, Nashville, Vicksburg and
New Orleans, besides having many
local packets in the short trade to
Helena, the Arkansas, the White and
the st. Francis rivers. All steam
boats in those days were sidewheelers.
The Cincinnati boats were the
Charleston, the Silver Moon, which,
by the way, was the first boat with
a calliope that ever came to Mem
phis, and the Glendale.
A Tale on tho Nebraska.
The James G. Kline and the the En-
bassy were the Nashville boats.
The Vicksburg boats were the Ken
lucky and the Victoria. The Ken
lucky. he says, was the boat which
ferried General Cheatham across the
river at Belmont and enabled him to
strike the enemy such a blow.
The New Orleans packets were a
fine lot of palatial steamers. Captain
Newell "a master Of the H. r. w,
Hill, George Taylor was captain Of the
Belfast, and Captain jolly al in
command of the Nebraska. The Ne
braska was a tremendous sidewheeler
and had eight banks of boilers. She
ives famous for the mount Of wood
she consumed. The tale Is told on her
that she put in to the bank to take on
100 cords Of cottonwood. There was
nothing to make fast to-. and while the
wood was being loaded the captain
kept her against the bank with the
outside wheel. When the woodpile was
cleared away it was found that in
holding the boa against the bank all
the wood had been used up.
The other New Orleans packet was
the John Simmonds, and Captain
Church was captain OF her. She was
the largest boat ever build up to that
time and had a capacity of 5000 bales
Of cotton. At the outbreak of the war
she was converted into a confederate
transfer boat and was sunk to keel
her from falling into the hands of the
enemy. All present day pilots, says
Captain Marsh, know where the wrecl
lies. near the foot Of Island No. 10
The Ingomar and the Autocrat were
also New Orleans packets.
The short trade packets were toe
numerous to mention. he says.
Princess Marks an Epoch.
The lower river also had some fir
boats. Between New Orleans ant
Vicksburg there was the Natche;
commanded by Capt. T. P. Leather'
and the Princess, which UP to thu