History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 26

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358

USA > Missouri > St Louis County > St Louis City > History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men > Part 26

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Thirty-fifth boat, the "General Pike," built at Cineinnati in 1818, intended to ply between Louisville, Cincinnati, and Mays- ville as a passenger packet, and owned by a company at Cin- cinnati. She was the first steam boat built on the Western waters for the exclusive convenience of passengers. Her accommo- dations werc ample, her apartments spacious and convenient. She measured one hundred feet keel, twenty-five feet beam, and drew only three feet three inches water. The length of her cabin was forty feet, and the breadth twenty-five feet. At one end were six state-rooms, and at the other end eight. Be- tween the two sets of state-rooms was a saloon forty by eighteen feet, sufficiently large for the accommodation of one hundred passengers. The "Pike" was built as an opposition boat to the "Vesta," built in 1817. The rivalry of these boats gave rise to a slang phrase which held its place with the boys at that period, and outlived the career of both boats. There are old citizens of Cincinnati now living who, if they will carry their memories back to the '20's, will remember the boys in the streets and through the commons yelling, " Go ahead, ' Vesta,' the ' Pike' is coming !"

Thirty-sixth boat, the "Alabama," twenty-five tons, built on Lake Ponehartrain, La., in 1818, in the Red River trade.

Thirty-seventh boat, the "Calhoun," eighty tons, built in 1818 at Frankfort, Ky., and afterwards employed in the Yellowstone expedition.

Thirty-eighth and thirty-ninth boats, the " Expedition," one hundred and twenty tons, and " Independence," fifty tons, built near Pittsburgh, Pa., both of which were destined for the Yel- lowstone expedition, the " Independence" being the first boat that undertook to stem the powerful eurrent of the Missouri. They both arrived at Franklin (Boon's Liek), Howard Co., two hundred miles up the Missouri River from its month, in the month of June, 1819.

Fortieth boat, the "Maid of Orleans," one hundred tons, built at Philadelphia in 1818, and owned by a company in New Orleans, and afterwards (in 1819) engaged in the St. Louis trade. She was constructed both for river and sea navigation, -the latter by sails, the former by steam-power. She arrived at New Orleans, sehooner-rigged, aseended the Mississippi by steam, and was the first vessel which ever reached St. Louis from an Atlantie port.

Forty-first boat, the "Ramapo," sixty tons, built in New York in 1818, and in 1819 employed in the Natchez trade.

Forty-second boat, the "Mobile," one hundred and fifty tons, built at Providence, R. I., in 1818, owned at Mobile, and in 1819 employed in the Louisville trade.

Forty-third boat, the " Mississippi," four hundred tons, built in New Orleans in 1818, arrived at Havana in February, 1819. She was intended to ply between Havana and Matanzas.

Forty-fourth boat, the steamboat " Western Engineer," built on the Monongahela in 1818-19, descended the Ohio River from Pittsburgh about the 1st of May, 1819, and afterwards ascended

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NAVIGATION ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

cious, and her cabin commodious and elegant."-Gazette, June 12, 1818.

" The steamboat 'Franklin' left this place yesterday with' freight and passengers for New Orleans. The master expects to arrive there in eight days. Our common barges take from twenty-five to thirty days to perform the voyage."-Gazette, June 19, 1818.

the Missouri River in connection with the government ex- ploring expedition. The object of the expedition was princi- pally to make a correct military survey of the river and to fix upon a site for a military establishment at or near the junction of the Yellowstone with the Missouri, to ascertain the point where the Rocky Mountains are intersected by the forty-ninth degree of latitude, which formed the western boundary between the possessions of Great Britain and the United States, and to inquire into the "trading capacity and genius of the various tribes through which they may pass." The officers employed on this duty were Maj. S. H. Long, of the United States Engi- neers, Maj. Thomas Biddle, United States Corps of Artillery, and Messrs. Graham and Swift. The boat was completely equipped for defense and was manned by a few troops. The " Western En- gineer" drew only two feet six inches of water. She was well built, was bottomed with iron or copper, and had a serpent's head on her bow through which the steam passed, presenting a novel appearance.

The launch of the " Western Engineer" at Pittsburgh, March 26th, was noticed in the Gazette of May 26, 1819, as follows :

" As the launching of the United States steamboat at Pitts- burgh has been announced, and as it may not be generally known what are the objects in view, I send you some extracts of a letter from a young officer going upon the expedition. She is called the ' Western Engineer,' and will start from Pittsburgh about the first of May. It is intended that she shall navigate the Western waters as far as the Yellowstone River, which will require upwards of two years. It is not expected that they will do more than explore the waters of the Missouri the first season, as the movements will be gradual, in order to obtain a thorough knowledge of that section of the country, with a his- tory of the inhabitants, soil, minerals, and curiosities. The expedition is under the direction of Maj. Stephen H. Long, of New Hampshire, of the topographical engineers, attended by Mr. James Graham, of Virginia, Mr. William II. Swift, from the United States Military Academy, Maj. Thomas Biddle, of Phila- delphia, of the artillery, and the following gentlemen : Dr. Jessup, of Philadelphia, mineralogist ; Dr. Say, of Philadelphia, botanist and geologist; Dr. Baldwin, of Wilmington, Del., zool- ogist and physician ; Dr. Peale, of Philadelphia, landscape painter and ornithologist ; Mr. Seymour, of Philadelphia, land- scape painter and ornithologist ; Maj. O'Fallon, Indian agent.

"She is well armed, and carries an elegant flag, painted by Mr. Peale, representing a white man and an Indian shaking hands, the calumet of peace, and a sword. The boat is seventy- five feet long, thirteen feet beam, draws nineteen inches water with her engine, which, together with all the machinery, is placed below deck entirely out of sight. The steam passes off through the mouth of the figure-head (a large serpent). The wheels are placed in the stern, to avoid the snags and sawyers which are so cominon in these waters. She has a mast to ship or not as may be nceessary. The expedition will depart with the best wishes of the scientific part of our country."

Forty-fifth boat, the " Rifleman," two hundred and fifty tons, built in Louisville in 1819, and owned by Messrs. Butler & Ba- mers, in the Louisville trade.

Forty-sixth boat, the " Car of Commerce," one hundred and fifty tons, built at Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1819, owned by William F.

" List of Steamboats Trading to New Orleans .- ' Franklin,' one hundred and thirty-one tons; 'Eagle ;' 'Pike' (sunk); ' James Monroe' (sunk, now repairing)."-Gazette, Sept. 5, 1818. "The new steamboat 'Johnson,' built by Col. Johnson, of Kentucky, passed Shawneetown the first of this month bound to New Orleans. She is intended as a regular trader from Ken- tucky on the Mississippi and the Missouri as far up as the Yel- lowstone River."-Gazette, Nov. 6, 1818.

Patterson & Co., of Louisville, and engaged in the trade of that place.

Forty-seventh boat, the "Paragon," three hundred and seventy-six tons, built in 1819 at Cincinnati by William Par- sons, and owned by William Noble and Robert Neilson, in the Louisville trade.

Forty-eighth boat, the " Maysville," one hundred and fifty tons, built in 1819, and owned by Messrs. Murphy, Moreton, and J. Birkley, of Washington, Ky., and Messrs. Armstrong and Campbell, of Maysville.

Forty-ninth boat, the " Columbus," four hundred and sixty tons, built at New Orleans in 1819, and owned by a company there. She was afterwards engaged in the Louisville trade.

Fiftieth boat, the "General Clark," one hundred and fifty tons, built at Louisville in 1819, and owned by a company there.

Fifty-first boat, the " Vulcan," three hundred tons, built at Cincinnati, 1819, for the New Orleans trade, and owned by James & Douglass and Hugh & James, all of Cincinnati.

Fifty-second boat, the " Missouri," one hundred and seventy- five tons, built at Newport, Ky., 1819, owned by John and Walker Yeastman, and destined for the St. Louis trade.

Fifty-third boat, the " New Comet," one hundred tons, altered from a barge called the " Eliza" in 1819, owned by Isaac Hough and James W. Byrne, of Cincinnati, and intended for the New Orleans trade.

Fifty-fourth boat, the "Newport," fifty tons, built at New- port, Ky., in 1819, owned by a company at New Orleans, and in 1819 engaged in the Red River trade.

Fifty-fifth boat, the "Tennessee," four hundred tons, built at Cincinnati in 1819, owned by Messrs. Breedlove & Bardford, of New Orleans, and a company of Nashville, afterwards em- ployed in the Louisville trade. The " Tennessee" was sunk in the Mississippi by striking a snag on a very dark night in 1823. The loss of life was large, some sixty-odd persons being drowned, among them several persons of distinction. This disaster caused great excitement throughout the country, and deterred numbers from traveling on steamboats.

Fifty-sixth boat, the "General Robinson," two hundred and fifty tons, built at Newport, Ky., in 1819, owned by a company at Nashville, and run in that trade.

Fifty-seventh boat, the " United States," seven hundred tons, built at Jeffersonville, Ind., for the Natchez trade in 1819, and owned by Ilart and others. She was the largest steamboat which had been built in the Western country.

Fifty-eighth boat, the "Post-Boy," two hundred tons, built at New Albany, Ind., in 1819, owned by H. M. Shreve and others, and run from Louisville to New Orleans. This was one of the packets employed by the Postmaster-General for carry- ing the mail between those places, according to an act of Con- gress passed March, 1819. By this act the whole expense was not to exceed that of transporting the mail by land.

Fifty-ninth boat, the "Elizabeth," one hundred and fifty tons, built at Salt River, Ky., in 1819, owned by a company at Elizabeth, Ky., and engaged in the New Orleans trade.

Sixtieth boat, the "Fayette," one hundred and fifty tons, built in 1819, owned by John Gray and others, in the Louis- ville trade.

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HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

The arrival about March 1, 1819, of " the large and elegant steamboat ' Washington' " from New Or- leans, which city she left on the 1st of February, was announced in the Gazette of March 3d. The steam- boat " Harriet" arrived from the same port early in April. The "Sea-Horse," which arrived at New Or- leans from New York, and the " Maid of Orleans," which reached the same port from Philadelphia early in 1819, were probably the first steamboats that ever performed a voyage of any length on the ocean.

The " Maid of Orleans" continued her voyage to St. Louis, where she arrived about the 1st of May. On the same day the steamboat "Independence," Capt. Nelson, arrived from Louisville. The Missouri Gazette of the 19th of May, 1819, has the following steamboat memoranda :

"The 'Expedition,' Capt. Craig, arrived here on Wednesday last, destined for the Yellowstone. The 'Maid of Orleans,' Capt. Turner, sailed for New Orleans, and the 'Independence,' Capt. Nelson, for Franklin, on the Missouri, on Sunday last. The 'Exchange,' Capt. Whips, arrived here on Monday, and will return to Louisville in a few days for a new set of hoilers, she having burst her boiler in ascending the Mississippi.

" The 'St. Louis,' Capt. Hewes, the 'James Monroe,' and ' Hamlet' were advertised to sail from New Orleans to St. Louis about the middle of last month.

"In 1817, less than two years ago, the first steamboat arrived at St. Louis. We hailed it as the day of small things, hut the glorious consummation of all our wishes is daily arriving. Already during the present season we have seen on our shores five steamhoats and several more daily expected. Who would or could have dared to conjecture that in 1819 we would have witnessed the arrival of a steamboat from Philadelphia or New York ? yet such is the fact. The Mississippi has become familiar to this great American invention, and another new arena is open. A steamboat, owned hy individuals, has started from St. Louis for Franklin, two hundred miles up the Missouri, and

"two others are now here destined for the Yellowstone. The time is fast approaching when a journey to the Pacific will become as familiar, and indeed more so, than it was fifteen or twenty years ago to Kentucky or Ohio. 'Illustrious nation,' said a distinguished foreigner, speaking of the New York canal, 'illustrious nation, whose conceptions are only equaled by her achievements.' "

The "Independence," Capt. Nelson, was the first steamboat that entered the Missouri River. Sailing from St. Louis in May, 1819, she reached Franklin, on the Missouri, after a voyage of thirteen days,1

Sixty-first boat, the " Elkhorn," three hundred tons, huilt at Portland, Ky., in 1819, owned hy Messrs. Gray & Anderson, in the New Orleans trade.

Sixty-second hoat, the " Providence," two hundred tons, built near Frankfort, Ky., in 1819, and owned hy L. Castleman & Co. Sixty-third hoat, the " General Putnam," two hundred tons built at Newport, Ky., in 1819, owned hy James M. Byrne & Co., of Cincinnati, and engaged in the New Orleans trade.

1 "FRANKLIN (BOON's LICK), May 19, 1819.

" ARRIVAL OF THE STEAMBOAT .- With no ordinary sensation of pride and pleasure we announce the arrival this morning at

of which four days were spent at different landings. Her voyage extended up the Missouri to Old Chariton, from whence she returned to St. Louis.2 The United States government the year previous had determined to explore the Missouri River up to the Yellowstone, and for that purpose, as elsewhere stated, Major S. H. Long had built at Pittsburgh the " Western En- gineer."

To Col. Henry Atkinson had been intrusted the command of this expedition, and starting from Plattsburgh, N. Y., in the latter part of 1818, he arrived in Pittsburgh in the spring of 1819. The " Western Engineer" was completed soon after, and arrived at St. Louis June 8, 1819. On the 21st the expedition started for the Missouri.3 " It was ac-

this place of the elegant steamboat 'Independence,' Capt. Nel- son, in seven sailing days (hut thirteen from the time of her departure) from St. Louis, with passengers and cargo of flour, whiskey, sugar, iron castings, etc., being the first steamboat that ever attempted ascending the Missouri. She was joyfully met by the inhabitants of Franklin, and saluted hy the firing of cannon, which was returned by the ' Independence.'

" The grand desideratum, the important fact, is now ascer- tained that steamboats can safely navigate the Missouri."

? "On Wednesday last arrived steamboat 'Harriet,' Capt. Armitage, twenty-six days from New Orleans.

"On Sunday arrived the 'Johnson,' from Cape Girardeau, with United States stores, one of the fleet destined for the Mis- souri expedition.

" On Saturday the steamhoat 'Independence,' Capt. Nelson, arrived from Franklin and Chariton, on the Missouri. The ' Independence' has met with no accident on her route, although much troubled with hars and the impediments in the channel of the river. Both the inhabitants of Franklin and Chariton gave a dinner to the captain and passengers on hoard. The 'Independence' was three days coming from Franklin, but only running nineteen hours. She has been ahsent from St. Louis in all twenty-one days. This trip forms a proud event in the history of Missouri. The Missouri has hitherto resisted almost effectually all attempts at navigation ; she has opposed every obstacle she could to the tide of emigration which was rolling up her hanks and dispossessing her dear red children, but her white children, although children by adoption, have become so numerous, and are increasing so rapidly, that she is at last obliged to yield them her favor. The first attempt to ascend her hy steam has succeeded, and we anticipate the day as speedy when the Missouri will he as familiar to steamhoats as the Mis- sissippi or Ohio. Capt. Nelson merits and will receive deserved credit for his enterprise and public spirit in this undertaking.". -Gazette, June 9, 1819.

3 " The steamboat ' Johnson' passed here on Wednesday last with troops, etc., for the Yellowstone."-Gazette, May 25, 1819.

" The steamboat 'Jefferson' arrived on Saturday last from Louisville. She is another of Col. Johnson's hoats destined for the Western expedition, and las heen delayed by the breaking of her machinery."-Gazette, June 23, 1819.

"The ' Western Engineer' left St. Louis on Monday, the 21st inst., and proceeded on her journey up the Missouri. This undertaking is worthy of an enlightened and patriotic gov- ernment, and its success will confer deserved renown both on its projectors and its executors."-Gazette, June 23, 1819.

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NAVIGATION ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

companied by three other United States steamers and nine keel-boats, bearing a detachment of government troops. The names of the steamboats and of their commanders were 'Thomas Jefferson,' Capt. Orfort ; ' R. M. Johnson,' Capt. Colfax ; and the ' Expedition,' Capt. Craig.

" The little fleet entered the Missouri with martial - music, display of flags, and salute of cannon. In honor of the statesman who acquired the territory of Louisiana for the United States, the precedence was accorded to the ' Thomas Jefferson,' but some disar- rangement of its machinery prevented this boat from taking the lead, and the 'Expedition' secured the distinction of being the first steamer of this flotilla to enter the Missouri. The 'Thomas Jefferson' was doomed to a still worse mishap, for not long after it ran on a snag and sank.

" The steam-escape of the ' Western Engineer' was shaped like a great serpent coiled on the bow of the boat in the attitude of springing, and the steam hiss- ing from the fiery mouth of the python filled the In- dians with terror. They thought that the wrath of the Great Spirit had sent this monster for their chas- tisement."1

The Gazette of the 2d of June contained the fol- lowing " steamboat news:"

" Arrived at this place on the 1st instant the fast-sailing and elegant steamboat St. Louis, Capt. Hewes, in twenty-eight days from New Orleans ; passengers, Col. Atkinson and Maj. McIn- tosh, of the United States army, and others. The captain has politely favored us with the following from his log-book : 'On the 5th May left New Orleans. At 3 p.M. passed steamboat Volcano, bound down. 10th, at 6 A.M., passed steamboat James R088 ; at 11 p.M. passed steamboat Rifleman, at anchor, with shaft broke. 15th, at 3 P.M., passed steamboat Madison, six days from the Falls of the Ohio. 20th, passed steamboat Gov- ernor Shelby, bound for New Orleans. 22d, run on a sand-bar and was detained till next day. 26th, at 7 P.M., at the grand turn below Island No. 60, passed nine keel-boats, with Sixth Regi- ment United States Infantry, commanded by Col. Atkinson, destined for the Missouri ; at 11 p.M. took on board Col. Atkin- son and Maj. McIntosh ; at quarter past eleven run aground, and lost anchor and part of cable. 27th, the steamboat Har- riet passed while at anchor. 28th, at 3 p.M., passed steamboat Jefferson, with United States troops, having broke her piston ; at 4 p.M. repassed the steamboat Harriet.' "

On the 9th the same paper announced that Capt. Hewes, of the " St. Louis," had gratified the citizens of St. Louis with a sail to the mouth of the Missouri,

and that " the company on board was large and gen- teel, and the entertainment very elegant."

The return of the " Maid of Orleans," Capt. Tur- ner, on the 28th of July, and the departure of the "Yankee," Capt. Hairston, early in December for New Orleans, complete the record of steamboating for 1819.

About this time began the long and active career on the river of Capt. John C. Swon, one of the best- known names in the steamboat trade of St. Louis. Capt. Swon was born in Scott County, Ky., May 16, 1803. His father was an early pioneer from Mary- land, and a large land-owner in Kentucky. He died in 1814 while locating lands in St. Francis County, Mo., and young Swon passed under the guardianship of Col. R. M. Johnson, who had then lately been Vice-President of the United States. In 1819 the boy sailed up the Missouri to Council Bluffs, and was so infatuated with the river that he resolved to follow it for a livelihood. The wild and romantic scenery of the Missouri, the high bluffs, dense forests, and broad prairies offered special attractions to the eye and fired his youthful imagination. In the fol- lowing year he returned home and obtained permis- sion from his guardian to engage in the river trade.

Consequently, in 1821, Capt. Swon obtained a position as clerk on the " Calhoun," under Capt. Silas Craig, and for two years was engaged in the St. Louis and Louisville trade, the boat occasionally making a trip to New Orleans, when Swon usually had charge of the vessel himself.

From 1823 to 1830, Capt. Swon was connected with several of the most famous boats of that period, among which may be mentioned the "Steubenville," " Governor Brown," and " America," under Capt. Crawford and Capt. Alexander Scott.

In 1825, Capt. Swon, having formed an extremely favorable idea of the place from his frequent visits, made St. Louis his permanent home. In 1830 he temporarily left St. Louis and went to Pittsburgh, Pa., where, in company with Capt. James Wood, of that city, he built the " Carrollton." He subse- quently took charge of that vessel, and ran her in the St. Louis and New Orleans trade. In 1833 he built the " Missouri," and commanded her for one season ; in the next year he built the " Majestic," in 1835 the "Selma," and in 1837 the " St. Louis," the largest steamer up to that time ever employed on the Mississippi.

In 1839 he sold the "St. Louis," and engaged in the wholesale grocery business in St. Louis with R. A. Barnes, the firm being Barnes & Swon, but in 1840 he retired from the partnership and resumed his old

" Last week Col. Henry Atkinson, on seeing the ferry-boats worked by wheels, immediately conceived the idea of applying them to the barges bound up the Missouri with United States troops, stores, cte. In about three days he had one of the barges rigged with wheels and a trial made, in which she was run up the Missouri about two miles and back in thirty min- utes."-Gazette, June 30, 1819.

1 Professor Waterhouse.

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HISTORY OF SAINT LOUIS.

calling. He then returned to Pittsburgh, and brought out the " Missouri" in 1841. In August of that year the boat was destroyed by fire while lying at the wharf at St. Louis. Undaunted, however, Capt. Swon went to Louisville, and purchased the " Alexander Scott" in 1842, and managed her until 1845, when he sold her, and purchased an interest in the "J. M. White," which vessel he commanded until 1847, when he sold her, and proceeded to comply with a resolution, formed on account of family reasons, to build just one more boat and then leave the river. He contracted for the " Aleck Scott," and launched her in March, 1848, for the Missouri trade. Both the " Alexander Scott" (previously mentioned) and the " Aleck Scott" were named in honor of one of young Swon's earliest captains, Alexander Scott, one of the best known river-men of that period. Capt. Swon commanded the " Aleck Scott" until July, 1854, when he sold her and retired from the river, thus ending a long, active, and useful career, devoted to the development of the river interests of Missouri.

In 1857 he purchased a beautiful place at Webster Station, on the Missouri Pacific, and lived there sev- eral years in rural quiet. In 1867-68 he disposed of it and visited Europe. Upon his return he settled in St. Louis, where he has continued to reside, enjoy- ing in well-earned ease the fruits of a more than usually industrious manhood.

Capt. Swon has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married in 1830, was Anna Kennett, sister of L. M. Kennett, ex-mayor of St. Louis. Of this union two children were born, who are now dead. After three years of singularly happy married life Mrs. Swon died, and Capt. Swon married Miss Ken- nett, a cousin of his first wife. This lady died in the spring of 1882, leaving no living children.

Capt. Swon was chosen superintendent of the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad in the early stages of that enterprise, but did not accept the position. He is a director in the Hope Mining Company, his only busi- ness connection, although he has been solicited to assist numerous enterprises. He has taken a lively interest in the problems of transportation which St. Louis has had to grapple with, and cherishes an honest pride in his own labors in that direction, having done probably as much as any one man to de- velop the river and steamboat interests of the city and State. Well preserved and wonderfully fresh for a man over eighty years of age, he remains one of the few survivors of the adventurous class of steamboat- men who aided so largely in building up the river commerce of the Mississippi valley.

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History of Saint Louis City and County, from the earliest periods to the present day: including biographical sketches of representative men, Part 26

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898 Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts Number of Pages: 1358

Author: Scharf, J. Thomas (John Thomas), 1843-1898
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia : L.H. Everts
Number of Pages: 1358