The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1920-12-16
MAiIlnlTInn naTnIIlr
NHFIUAtINU IA UIIIE
IN OLDEN TIMES
IN THE DAYS BEFORE CIVIL
WAR AND RAILROADS
Only Means of Transportation For,
Farmers of Haywood, Hardeman,
Upton, Madison and Other West
Tennessee COunties-BOats and Pi-
lots of Early Days.

tennessee N0untieS-bOats ana Fl-
lots Of Early Days.
J. H. Curtis has the following
interesting article in a recent issue
Of the Commercial Appeal on steam
boating in the early days when regu-
lar packets were operated between
Memphis and Pocahontas:
Many years ago when there were
no railroad lines in West Tennessee,
regular system of packet boats
was operated from Memphis up the
Hatchie river, going as far as Poca-
hentas, a point where the Southern
railroad crosses that stream.
Traffic on the Hatchie river was
all the means Of transportation for
farmers who lived then in Haywood,
Hardeman, Madison and other coun-
ties Though which the river runs.
Cotton was shipped by steamboats, to
Memphis and supplies were taken
from Memphis back to the farmers
and merchants along the river. These
supplies were often for merchants
living in towns miles away from
Hatchie river, but they were un-
loaded at certain landings and hauled
by wagon to final destination,
One Of these prominent landing
points was Estenaula, located on the
river IN Madison county. 1t was a
thriving place in its prime and
threatened to become the principal
town of Madison county, but was
outstripped in growth by other towns
after the railroads were constructed
into Memphis.
JOHN Johnston, attorney at Mem
uhis, who in early days lived eight
miles northeast of that landing, says
when boy he remembers there was
4 big cotton shed at Estenaula,
hotel and store or two. II was
orossing point for travellers, and there
was ferry maintained for this pur-
pose, the travellers arriving there
near night all remaining at the hotel
until next morning before continuing
their journey.
One Of the famous Hatchie river
packets that operated before the
beginning Of the Civil war was the
"Pitser" Miller named for an old
merchant at Bolivar. She was a
sidewheel boat of probably $50 feet |
long and went up and down the river
loaded with a cargo.
Several miles below Estenaula can
be seen the hull Of steamboat--that |
IS, what is left Of its timbers, partly
Nuried under the sand and mud. It
is said was a boat belonging to
Capt. Kesakker. who's so far as
known, was the first man OF operate
a steamboat o. the Hatchie. He was
a sturdy old fellow, constant smok-
er. tobacco chewer and q man who
never refused drink of liqour. He
had wooden leg,
On trip down the river with his
boat. Can't. Kesakker hit snag.
When shis boat was sinking he began
There was a swift current
running in the river and he could not
land his craft, so he cursed every
thing and everybody in his attempts
to land.
He walked the hurricane deck.
stamping his wooden leg on the
roof with such force that it went
through tn deck. His leg became
fastened and he came near drowning
Aefora some Of the crew came to his
+Jes,
Capt. James Robinson was another
Dld-time boatman on the Hatchie. 1t
was on one Of his steamers that
Mr.. Johnston came to Memphis with
his rarents when little boy
Hatchie river steamers did a thriv-
ing freight and passenger business
n their dav, even as late as 1856, or
lntil the Memphis & Ohio Railroad
completed its line into Memphis.
That road is now the Louisville &
Nashville.
So"a of the packets used to have
! smell cannon IN the bow. and when
approaching a landing the, canno~
rHes fired This was sional to
'armers exnectino FREIGHT bv river
hat The boat was ready to land.
Boats continued to be opemted on
he Hatchie several wears afer the
completion Of the railroad, but thew
va not carry the amourt of freight
hat was shipped that way prior to
jhe coming Of the rail line.
It is said that when the railroad |
vas constructing a bridge across the
Hatchie near Bolivar. Tenn, boat
anded and made her headline fast to
me of the BRIDGES wooden piles.
The weioht Of the boat, with the
current flowing AGAINST it. pulled tho
'ier out and almost tore the bridge
Town.
As late as the middle Of the sos
here were a few boats running the
Hatchie river The Landings grew
ever and shipping less, so it was
to make any Of the lines
,ay and the river men abandoned the
business.
Hatcnie river winds about for a
distance OF more tnan 100 miles
rom the Mississippi to Pocahontas,
When used to be considered the head
VaGers Of navigation. 1t is now
lady filled with snags. Sandbars
ave grown and changed its course.
However, there are a lew towboats
making the river today.
jim brown, now wlUh the Patton
CuIly transportation Company, is
)-e OF tue rev old-Clme hatenie aver
lilOts hving. his last issue of IL
,ense for that river entitled him to
lilot a boat from the mouth Of
Mill