New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-04-11
MEMORIES Of DLDEN
DAYS AXE REVIVED
With Passenger franc Once
More on the Mississippi

stately packets piled i'm the passeRger
traffic are revived by the resumption
of traffic between Pittsburgh, Pa. and
this city by way or the Ohio.
Bsrges have carried freight frame
on tho great river for many years
since the packets were driven out by
railroad competition. In the days OF
Mark Twain tho Mississippi packets
were celebrated for their eats" their
famous races their pilots and even for
their poker games.
Ii used TO be no uncommon sight
to see from Is to so passenger vessels,
from the palatial packet TO the
weather beaten tramp leave the New
Orleans landings daily for up-river
points.
Coming OF the railroads with quick
service and perishabie cargo. many
lines almost paralleling the river be-
tween the most important landings,
caused river traffic TO lose its prestige.
Shippers began sending cotton and
other non-perishable freight b. rail
and the stops OF the river packets
were fewer and fewer as the years
went on.
Plantation landings rou~d away.
planters begnn TO buy railroad tickets
instead OF steamer passage and made
their plans 90 spend the difference i'm
time in New Orleans instead or on tho
boats. Planters moved 20 town. socfst
life in the country began TO wane--in
short. country jewellers became farm
crs and plantations became farms. II
was romantic to be planter. but
much more profitable 10 be n farmer.
traffic.
A river voyage i'm. the "Ideu days
was a pleasurable affair IN the boilers
did not blow up or the vessel hit one
Of the shifting sand -oars. mud-Iarnps
or hidden snags. A comfortable berth.
wonderful meals. dancing at night.
watermelon parties. well stocked bars.
stud and draw poker games for the
patrons OF That form OF amusement,
and last, but not least tho antics OF
the negro roustabouts all combined to
mako things pleasant for the traveller.
Coffee in bed was the rule. then
breakfast of bacon, eggs. waffies. PAN
cakes, vegetables. the ever present
coffee and Whatever desert the cook
had In mind for the meal, The feast
OF tho day came I'm the carly evening
with creole giimbo OF the cook hap
pened to hail from New Orleans az
most OF them did fried fish, roast
fowl, with baked or candicd yans.
beef or pork. fruit in abundance. des-
sert and "small black coffee with
brandy. II wasn't variety but quantity
that made tho steamer bin OF fare
famous.
In the heat OF the afternoon. be-
hind shielding mosquito bars the pas
senFer. IL he 80 desired, could quar-
mint juleps or sip cork whirkey cock
tails, not To mention the old fat-bot-
ton, toddies. made with sugar. water.
pineappIes and ornnge Juice and, or
course, whiskey. The old timers here.
with scanty stocks Of liquor and fac
ing tho coming years with visions OF
nut tnindaer. never tire of telling the
younger generation OF the old hard
liquor" days of the river steamboats,.
The card games were for big stakes.
Veterans vouch for the truth OF stories
Of a planter embarking I'm Mississippi
worth "a plantation with 200 negroes'
and disem bsrking at the Canal street
landing i'm New Orleans with only
srnali bills Of landing for something
he no longer owned. aa
But those days are goncg II plans OF
those Interested In river traff1c bear
fruit the modern steamers will elimin-
ate gambling. carry well drilled crews
and furnish merdern meals at modern
prices.
In advertising sailinss OF vessels OF
the oiden days the name of the f1rst
mate was given. The arst mates be-
came known up and down the river
either N good or bad by the manner
In which they handled the rousta-
bouts. A meek man did not last long
rs first mate.
Saturday was usually the sailing day
for up-diver packets from this port.
There was great rivalry between boat
owners and crews and usually from
one 20 n dozen boat races were pulled
fYas the vessels chusEed up the river.
IL was then that boilers blew up with
marked frequency.
The most famous OF these races
was won by Natchez and Robert Y.
Lee. two OF the largest OF tho river
packets. 90 keen was the rivalry that
early In the seventies II was planned
to have them race from New Orleans
20 Sc. Louis. No passengers or freight
were carried and for weeks the coming
race was the chief topic OF converse
ton along the river. The Robert r..
Lee was in command OF Capt. Cannon
while Capt. feathers was master of
the Natchex. No stops vero made ex-
! cept for fuel. The trip to 81. Louis
| was made In just \ few hours over
three days. an nnhsard OF record then
with the Robert T.. Lee the winner BY
! a small margin.
+, Another famous race between the
! White Rose OF Memphis and ths
| Grand Republic ended in disaster
| After racing upstream for hours I'm q
/ neck and neck" contest the White
| Rose struck n snaE and sank. Before
| the white Rose could clear n nearby