In Louisville, Kentucky, "a match horse race came off between the states of Kentucky and Tennessee. The chivalry of Kentucky staked their bottom dollar on the (bay gelding) Randolph, while the sporting men of Tennessee bet their last nickel on the brown filly Angora."
Randolph won "and the Tennesseeans were stripped to their shoestrings. Large numbers of them were unable to pay their hotel bills and many were reduced from an easy competence to abject poverty."
After a stop in Cairo, Illinois, "which consisted of one building -- a tavern," David Crandall took the Madison, another steamer, to New Orleans, where he had his first glimpse of slavery: "I found much food for reflection among a people who made slavery in its most brutal aspects the corner stone of their civilization and the chief element of their commercial prosperity."
He Wasn't Much Impressed With Slavery. --Cooter
Showing posts with label steamboats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label steamboats. Show all posts
Friday, August 11, 2017
Thursday, August 10, 2017
One Man's Travels On the Erie Canal (and Beyond) in 1836-- Part 3: Ohio's Canals and Two Presidents
David Sprague Crandall next crossed Lake Erie by steamer, landing in Cleveland.
Ohio's recent work on their canal system allowed him to travel several more days to the Ohio River, where he traveled again by steamer which he described as, "a little squeaking stern-wheeler which was aground half the time and the passengers kept running back and forth across the boat to rock it through through the sand bars." I take it he was not overly impressed.
It was in Cincinnati that he saw President Jackson as well as William Henry Harrison, two War of 1812 heroes. Of course, Harrison would himself be elected to the presidency four years later.
--Cooter
Ohio's recent work on their canal system allowed him to travel several more days to the Ohio River, where he traveled again by steamer which he described as, "a little squeaking stern-wheeler which was aground half the time and the passengers kept running back and forth across the boat to rock it through through the sand bars." I take it he was not overly impressed.
It was in Cincinnati that he saw President Jackson as well as William Henry Harrison, two War of 1812 heroes. Of course, Harrison would himself be elected to the presidency four years later.
--Cooter
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Those "Wild West Shows"-- Part 5: Wild Jim's Shooting Exhibition
A reporter from the St. Paul Daily Globe wrote about Wild Bill French's shooting exhibition on board the steamboat Bald Eagle which was accompanied by her sister ship, the Minneapolis.
"First he took shots at 30 glass balls tossed into the air and broke 28 of the 30 with his shot. Then with the rifle pointed backwards over his shoulder, broke the two balls reflected in a mirror held in front of him."
He followed this up by hitting each of four apples thrown with force directly at him. In spite of the motion of the boat shaking on the wave he was able to maintain accurate shots.
Wild Jim wrote and published his own ten cent novels exploiting his many talents. These novels spread his fame and encouraged people to come and see him when he was in town. He distributed fliers as well. Cost to attend his shows were 25 cents for men, half price for boys and women were admitted for free.
--CootShot
"First he took shots at 30 glass balls tossed into the air and broke 28 of the 30 with his shot. Then with the rifle pointed backwards over his shoulder, broke the two balls reflected in a mirror held in front of him."
He followed this up by hitting each of four apples thrown with force directly at him. In spite of the motion of the boat shaking on the wave he was able to maintain accurate shots.
Wild Jim wrote and published his own ten cent novels exploiting his many talents. These novels spread his fame and encouraged people to come and see him when he was in town. He distributed fliers as well. Cost to attend his shows were 25 cents for men, half price for boys and women were admitted for free.
--CootShot
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Those "Wild West Shows"-- Part 4: Antioch's Wild Bill French
While his show could not compete with Buffalo Bill's show in size or variety, he did have a successful run exhibiting his unique shooting skills. He was the primary attraction and known for his daring feats in the saddle.
His riding and handling of firearms won him fame and distinction.
Known as Wild Jim or Captain J.C. French, he was said to have been a hunter on the plains of the West since he was age 12. (Not true.)
One of his exhibitions took place on the Bald Eagle ship making its way from Dubuque to Minneapolis. As reported in the St. Paul Daily Globe, "Captain French gave a fine exhibit to other passengers of the Bald Eagle and sister ship Minneapolis."
What He Did, Next. --DaCootShot
His riding and handling of firearms won him fame and distinction.
Known as Wild Jim or Captain J.C. French, he was said to have been a hunter on the plains of the West since he was age 12. (Not true.)
One of his exhibitions took place on the Bald Eagle ship making its way from Dubuque to Minneapolis. As reported in the St. Paul Daily Globe, "Captain French gave a fine exhibit to other passengers of the Bald Eagle and sister ship Minneapolis."
What He Did, Next. --DaCootShot
Thursday, June 4, 2015
Low Water in 2012 Exposed History-- Part 2
Old boats and sunken steamboats from the 1800s are now visible. In the 1800s a person could have seen hundreds of steamboats by St. Louis each day people, supplies and goods used the rivers for transport. The average life span of a steamboat was just five years. Some 500-700 operated in the Mississippi and Missouri rivers alone. besides obvious water perils, there was always the danger of boiler explosions, lightning and accidents.
The steamboat Montana sank near St. Charles, Missouri, and it was as large as a football field and extremely lavish, a favorite of the rich passengers.
It is illegal to take items from these uncovered ships as they are owned by the state.
Last year, a piece of the space shuttle Columbia was found in an east Texas lake because of the drought.
A 125-year-old wooden steamer has been found in Michigan.
The World War II minesweeper USS Inaugural has also been seen resting on the exposed river bottom. It was a museum ship that was sunk during the Great Flood of 1993.
Steamboating. -- DaCoot
The steamboat Montana sank near St. Charles, Missouri, and it was as large as a football field and extremely lavish, a favorite of the rich passengers.
It is illegal to take items from these uncovered ships as they are owned by the state.
Last year, a piece of the space shuttle Columbia was found in an east Texas lake because of the drought.
A 125-year-old wooden steamer has been found in Michigan.
The World War II minesweeper USS Inaugural has also been seen resting on the exposed river bottom. It was a museum ship that was sunk during the Great Flood of 1993.
Steamboating. -- DaCoot
Low Water in 2012 Showed History-- Part 1
From the December 22, 2012, Yahoo! News/AP "Low-water rivers offering up a glimpse of history" by John Salter.
Lack of rain has caused the lowest levels of rivers in decades and resulted in problems for commerce, concern for water supplies and hydro power.But, the low waters also have uncovered objects long-hidden. Old steamboats were visible in the Missouri River near St. Charles. A World War II minesweeper is now visible near St. Louis.
A rock has become visible in the Mississippi River in southeast Missouri that contains an etching (possibly a map) that is believed to be up to 1,200 years old. It once wasn't in the water but a new channel was made and it is exposed only in periods of extreme drought. Officials aren't giving its exact location for fear of looting.
Low Water Can be Good. --Cooter
Lack of rain has caused the lowest levels of rivers in decades and resulted in problems for commerce, concern for water supplies and hydro power.But, the low waters also have uncovered objects long-hidden. Old steamboats were visible in the Missouri River near St. Charles. A World War II minesweeper is now visible near St. Louis.
A rock has become visible in the Mississippi River in southeast Missouri that contains an etching (possibly a map) that is believed to be up to 1,200 years old. It once wasn't in the water but a new channel was made and it is exposed only in periods of extreme drought. Officials aren't giving its exact location for fear of looting.
Low Water Can be Good. --Cooter
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