Chronicles of Oklahoma
|
| Fort Smith | ---------- | 548 | miles | Canadian | ---------- | 628 | " |
| La Flore's | ---------- | 560 | " | Illinois | ---------- | 633 | " |
| Wilson's Rock | ---------- | 566 | " | Webbers Falls | ---------- | 636 | " |
| Ft. Coffee | ---------- | 569 | " | Taylors' Bar | ---------- | 640 | " |
| Skullyville | ---------- | 575 | " | Cabin Creek | ---------- | 650 | " |
| French Jack's | ---------- | 585 | " | Green Leaf | ---------- | 655 | " |
| Black Rock | ---------- | 588 | " | Spaniard Creek | ---------- | 660 | " |
| Sans Bois | ---------- | 596 | " | Bayou Menard | ---------- | 672 | " |
| Sallisaw | ---------- | 602 | " | Frozen Rock | ---------- | 676 | " |
| Vian | ---------- | 612 | " | Creek Agency | ---------- | 680 | " |
| Pheasant Bluff | ---------- | 618 | " | Fort Gibson | ---------- | 683 | " |
| Canadian Shoals | ---------- | 623 | " |
Most of the boats which plied the river to these points were of comparatively small size, ranging from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty tons burden and were of light draught. A large number of steamboats on the Arkansas were wrecked on the branches of submerged trees; though some of these were raised and repaired, others were a total loss. Several were also wrecked by boiler explosions, accidents that were not uncommon during the early days of steamboat navigation.11 The steamboat, Tom Bowlin, Captain Smith, was lost in 1835, from striking a submerged rock at Webbers Falls (or Falls of the Arkansas), which was the
most difficult point in ascending the river above the Oklahoma boundary.12 Low water in the river meant tedious delays from a week to ten days, at times. During high water all went well and rapid progress was made upstream, but when the Arkansas was low the small steamboats of weak power could not overcome the current at Webbers Falls. Sometimes the smaller vessels were towed over the riffle by a long rope and a yoke of oxen owned by a man by the name of Thornton, who lived in the neighborhood and charged five dollars for his services.13 Captain Houston of the "Trident" could run his powerful sternwheeler to Fort Gibson on less water than any other boat. If he struck a sand-bar in the channel, he would back his boat and make repeated attempts to "jump her over." In the meantime, the women in the cabin screamed with fright and the stewards held the swinging lamps to keep them from smashing against the walls.
One of the prominent Cherokee citizens who lived at Webbers Falls in early days was "Rich" Joe Vann, owner of a large cotton plantation there and three hundred negro slaves. Because of his passion for horse racing, he became the owner of the celebrated "Lucy Walker," for a time the fastest quarter-mile horse in the world. It was said that she never lost a race and that Joe Vann sold her colts for five thousand dollars each. He built a splendid side-wheeler steamboat for the river trade between Louisville, Kentucky, and New Orleans, manned her with his own negro slaves, and named her the "Lucy Walker," after his famous race horse. On her first round trip, under the command of Captain Halderman, of Louisville, she ascended the Arkansas to Webbers Falls, carrying away Joe Vann's cotton crop and, also, that of Lewis Ross. Vann was a delighted passenger
on his fast steamboat from the start, keeping up a continual round of drinking in celebration. Upon the arrival of the "Lucy Walker" at Louisville, Captain Halderman resigned, Vann taking command himself. Just then a fast steamer was leaving the wharf and he vowed he would beat her to New Orleans. Taking his stand on the boiler deck of the Lucy Walker, he swore and shouted at his negroes who even went so far as to fire the engines with large slabs of bacon to make the chimneys red hot, according to orders. The steamer hurried through the Falls canal, touched the landing at New Albany, Indiana, long enough to take on a few passengers, but as she backed out and rounded into the Ohio, she blew up with one of the most frightful explosions ever known along the Mississippi or any of its tributaries. Many of the passengers were lost, all the negroes were either killed are horribly wounded, and Joe Vann's remains were never found.14
The arrival of a steamboat was the occasion of much excitement for the people living in the settlements along the river, a crowd of spectators always gathering at the landing when the boat's whistle was heard coming up the stream. Many of the steamers had a swivel gun at the bow, which was fired upon the approach to a landing. Then the negro roustabouts on deck would swing their hats and sing lustily in praise of their boat, an improvisator standing at the capstan leading the song as the sweet music of the grand chorus rose and fell at regular intervals:15
"Come, shake de ash, my bully boys,
And make de fires burn,
De engineer am coming round
To give her another turn
Ranjo, oh, oh, O, O!
De captain on de boiler deck,
Ise sure I heer'd him say,
He beat de Daniel Webster
And pass her on her way,
Ranjo, oh, oh, oh, O, O!
De ladies in de cabin
are troubled in der mind,
Because de took der passage
On de Bully Brandywine
Ranjo, oh, oh, oh, O, O!
As the boat made her moorings and the gang-plank was dropped to the landing, a crowd of people would rush on board to the bar to drink ice water or fresh lemon punch. The landing would soon be piled with freight for the traders and stores for the government, if the steamboat had stopped at Fort Smith or Fort Gibson. Usually, a line of Indians stood at the edge of the wharf, solemnly viewing the scene of bustle and excitement. Sometimes, the engineer amused himself by blowing off the mud valve with its loud roar and clouds of steam, to see everyone that stood near run pell mell from the boat. Perhaps, another steamer would land, adding to the busy scene. Huge bundles containing thousands of buffalo and beef hides, deer skins, and furs, hundreds of bales of cotton, and barrels and hogs-heads of pecans would be rolled on board. Traders who had been eagerly waiting for "a good boat" would hurry up the gangplank, followed by slaves or hired men "toting" powder kegs and axe boxes filled with Mexican silver dollars, the principal currency at the trading posts in the West. Finally, when everything was in readiness, the steamboat backed out and rounded into the river, as the roustabouts heartily joined in singing the chorus to "Fare yo' well Miss Lucy;" but, as the boat passed out of sight down the bend of the Arkansas, the last notes one could hear were the sweet echoes of
While steamboat navigation of the Red River above the Oklahoma boundary did not begin as early as navigation on the Arkansas, yet its story is equally as interesting and important. To really understand the Red River, however, one must become acquainted with certain terms well known in the language of the river-men on that stream.
Since the flood plain of the Red River was formed by alluvial soils, no rocky country holding the stream into narrow confines for any distance, except in places along its upper courses, the swift current during seasons of high water frequently caused the river to change its course and make great bends and sharp turns in its main channel. Thus, whenever a flood poured downstream, the soft, alluvial soil of the low banks yielded to the force of its rushing waters, forming new and shorter channels, called "cut-offs."
During the floods, large tracts of country and dense
forests which were formerly seen on the banks of Red River as far up as the edge of the Great Plains, were swept away. As huge trees were uprooted and carried downstream, many of them became lodged wherever a point of land projected into the river. Countless thousands of other trees, tossed about by the flood, piled up at some of these places. Oftentimes the great masses of fallen timber extended for miles up tre river and completely choked its channel, forming the most desolate scene imaginable, with the gnarled, naked branches and bleaching roots of the trees, lying jagged against the skyline. These huge drifts were called "rafts."
Sometimes a tree became fastened by a portion of its roots to the bottom of the river, its trunk and branches free to wave up and down in regular motion with the action of the current. Such trees were called "sawyers." Usually a boat going downstream could pass over a "sawyer," but traveling upstream it was different. As the craft pursued its way along the apparently unobstructed channel of the river, a "sawyer"—dethroned monarch of the forest—with its long, strong branches temporarily hidden beneath the surface of the water, became an enemy of sure destruction, as it suddenly appeared ahead and slowly rose high into the air, though it continued to bow and scrape a polite warning.
Again, other trees were almost buried in the bed of the river. Then the long trunks with their branches broken off in sharp points, standing firm as rocks, and nearly always hidden below the surface of the water, were called "snags." These were the most formidable enemies of river craft, not only on Red River but also on the Arkansas, as well as the Lower Mississippi and others of its tributaries.
During the period when the rivers were the highways of travel in the Southwest, "cut-offs," "rafts," "sawyers," and "snags" presented real problems in extending the field of commercial activity. These enemies of the rivermen even won a place in the literature of early days. John C. Brainard, an early American poet, in one instance wrote:
" I have been
where the wild will of Mississippi's tide
Has dashed me on the sawyer."
Another writer pointed out that these terms were significant
of the qualities that western boatmen and hunters wished to apply to themselves and their heroes. He illustrated his statements with the following graphic remark: "We presume that the beau-ideal of a political character with them, would be, one who would come at the truth by a 'cut-off'—separate and pile up falsehood for decay like trees of a 'raft:' and do all this with the politeness of a 'sawyer'—and with principles unyielding as a 'snag.' "16
Steamboat navigation on Red River above the present eastern boundary of Oklahoma was delayed for more than a decade after its beginning on the Arkansas because of the "Great Red River Raft" that obstructed its channel in Northern Louisiana. The "Great Raft" extended for more than one hundred and sixty-five miles; its head was located about two hundred miles overland below Fort Towson, or six hundred miles below the mouth of the Kiamichi, by the meanders of the river. The "Raft" not only delayed the opening of trade on the Upper Red River, but also interfered with the settlement of some of the richest lands in Southern Arkansas, which were unfit for cultivation on account of the overflow from the river, caused by the "Raft," during high water.
Commercial transportation up Red River into Southern Oklahoma began with the shipping of supplies to old Fort Towson, at the mouth of the Kiamichi River. The first supplies of corn purchased by the Government for the immigrant Choctaws, under the terms of the treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek (negotiated and signed September 27, 1830), were shipped by flat-boat in the early spring of 1831, to the Government station located near the site of old Fort Towson.17 Two months later, (May, 1831), Colonel Benjamin R
Milam, of Long Prairie, Lafayette County, Arkansas, left Natchitoches, Louisiana, with the steamboat "Enterprise" (formerly called the "Alps"), Captain Hawley, with two keel-boats in tow, bound on, an upstream voyage to the mouth of the Kiamichi. The Enterprise and one of the keel-boats carried full cargoes of supplies for Camp Phoenix (afterward renamed Fort Towson). As this voyage up Red River meant the passage through winding bayous and narrow cutoffs around the "Great Raft," it was considered by everyone a very adventurous undertaking, especially as there was a low stage of water at that time. However, it was carried through successfully, the cargoes being unloaded at the mouth of the Kiamichi; after which a safe return was made downstream.18
The voyage of the Enterprise suggests the voyage up Red River of another adventurous steamboat called the "Emperor," Captain Raft, the story of which is told by T. B. Thorpe in a small volume of sketches about the Southwestern Frontier, entitled "The Hive of the Bee Hunter," published in 1854. Even though the volume may not be generally known as a source for accurate historical data, yet from its faithful descriptions of scenes on the Southwestern Frontier, one is led to believe that its author was familiar with life in that region. At any rate the story of the voyage of the "Emperor," contained in the book, is doubly interesting since it introduces the quaint, frontier character of Zeb Marston, who not only was said to have located at an early date on Red River but also was the first settler at Eagletown, now in the eastern part of McCurtain County, Oklahoma. Eagletown was originally in old Miller County, Arkansas Territory, which included all of Southeastern Oklahoma, east of the Kiamichi, up to 1828. Mr. Thorpe's references to the voyage of the "Emperor" and to Zeb Marston are as follows:19
"Captain Raft, of the U. S. Mail steamer Emperor, it may not be uninteresting to know, was one of those eccentric men that had singular ambition to run a boat where no one else could-he was fond of being a great discoverer on a small scale. In one of his eccentric humors, Captain Raft run the Emperor up Red River, as the pilot observed, about 'a feet,' which in the Southwest, means several hundred miles.
"Among the passengers upon that occasion was old Zeb Marston, a regular out-and-outer frontiersman, who seemed to spend his whole life in settling out of the way places, and locating his family in sickly situations. Zeb was the first man that 'blazed' a tree in Eagle Town, on the Mountain Fork, and he was the first man that ever choked an alligator to death with his hands, on the Big Cossitot. He knew every snag, sawyer, nook and corner of the Sabine, the
Upper Red River, and their tributaries, and when 'bar war scace,' he was wont to declare war on the Cumanchos, and, for excitement, 'used them up terribly.'
"But to our story—Zeb moved on Red River, settled in a low, swampy, terrible place, and he took it as a great honor that the Emperor passed his cabin; and, at every trip the boat made, there was tumbled out at Zeb's yard a barrel of new whisky, (as regularly as she passed), for which was paid the full value in cord wood.
"Now, Captain Raft was a kind man, and felt disposed to oblige every resident that lived on his route of travel, but it was unprofitable to get every week to Zeb's out-of-the-way place, and as he landed the fifteenth barrel, he expressed his surprise at the amount of whisky consumed at his "settlement," and hinted it was rather an unprofitable business for the boat. Zeb, at this piece of information, 'flared up.' raised his mane, shut his 'maulers,' and told Captain Raft he could whip him,—the pilot, and deck hands, and if they would give him the advantage of the 'under grip,' he would let the piston-rod of the engine punch him in the side all the time the fight was going on.
"Raft, at this display of fury from Zeb, cooled down immediately, acknowledged himself 'snagged,' begged Zeb's pardon, and adjourned to the bar for a drink. One glass followed another, until the heroes got into the mellow mood, and Zeb on such occasions, always 'went it strong' for his family. After praising their beauty individually and collectively, he broke into the pathetic, and set the Captain crying, by the following heart-rending appeal:
"'Raft, Raft, my dear fellow, you talk about the trouble of putting out a barrel of whisky every week at my diggins, when I have got a sick wife, and five small children, and no cow!—whar's your heart?' "
While the voyage of the "Enterprise" was the beginning of steamboat navigation on Red River, it was not until after the removal of the "Great Raft" that shipping by steamboat became common above that point. This work was begun as early as 1830 under the direction of the War Department but was discontinued a year or two later because of lack of funds, about fifty miles of the "Raft" having been cleared away in the meantime.20 The work was resumed in 1833 and continued five years under the supervision of Cap-
tain Henry N. Shreve, who was employed by the Government as superintendent for the improvement of the Missouri, Arkansas and Red rivers. A writer of that period, who was well acquainted with conditions in the Southwest, made the following statement with regard to Captain Shreve's work:21
"The mechanical ingenuity of Captain Shreeve has wonderfully improved the navigation of the western rivers by removing the sunken trees, which, under the name of 'snags' and 'sawyers' are noted and formidable obstacles to steamboat navigation. The boat used for removing the snags was a steamer of the simplest construction, but of such power that the largest tree, however firmly imbedded, was extracted in a few minutes. The expenditure for the removal of the Great Red River Raft, with the cost of constructing a steam snag-boat, to prevent the formation of fresh obstructions, has been above 300,000 dollars."
The work of clearing the channel of Red River for regular steamboat passage gave impetus to the opening up of lands in the southern part of Arkansas Territory and the the Choctaw Nation and in North Texas. In 1833, there was no settlement on Red River from forty miles below the raft up to Fort Towson, with the exception of a small one near the Caddo Agency (near Lake Soda, Louisiana), and a few settlers in Arkansas and Texas above the "Raft." In his report to the War Department in 1839, Captain Shreve stated, "There are now many flourishing cotton plantations on that part of the river where the raft was located, and where the lands were then nearly all inundated by back-water caused by the masses of timber which formed the raft."
At the same time, many plantations were opened up along Red River in the Choctaw Nation, which is now included in Southeastern Oklahoma; several cotton-gins were established in that section of the country by some of the wealthier Choctaws and Chickasaws, and the river trade began to flourish. Cotton was the largest export, though corn was also sold in considerable quantities in good crop seasons. There was also a brisk trade in furs and pecans, but this was on the decline after the Red River lands were opened for agriculture. Doaksville became the principal commercial center in this region, most of the merchandise being ship-
ped to the landing near the mouth of the Kiamichi River, called, the Fort Towson Landing.
Among some of the Choctaws and Chickasaws who were owners of many slaves and large plantations in the Red River country were Captain Robert M. Jones, David Folsom, Pittman Colbert, George Colbert, Sampson Folsom, Jackson Kemp, James Tyson, and the Loves—Henry, Sloan, and Benjamin. Captain Jones became one of the wealthiest men in the whole Southwest. He was part owner in a profitable trading establishment at Doaksville, operated five large plantations with upward of five hundred negro slaves, and owned a number of steamboats. Among these was one called the "R. M Jones," and another, the "Frances Jones," the latter named for his only daughter. Captain Jones' largest plantation, containing between 4,000 and 5,000 acres, was called "Lake West." Although it was divided up into a number of smaller farms at the time of allotment of lands in severalty in the Choctaw Nation, just before Oklahoma became a state in 1907, the country, originally included in the "Lake West" plantation, is still one of the interesting localities in the southeastern part of Bryan County, near the town of Oberlin. Another one of Captain Jones' plantations was at the mouth of Clear Boggy, and a third was at Shawneetown, in present McCurtain County.22
While one enthusiast, on the subject of trade on the Upper Red River, maintained that at a moderate cost steamboat shipping was entirely possible as far up as the "Cross Timbers," one hundred miles above the Washita River, yet the mouth of that stream remained the fartherest up of any shipping point on the north side of Red River, and that generally during high water.23 It is interesting to note that Captain J. B. Earhart, who had a contract from the Government for delivering corn to the garrison at Fort Washita in 1843, made two trips with his steamboat up the Washita River to within less than a mile of the fort during the summer of the same year24
By the end of the next decade (1853) regular trade by steamboats plying Red River during the boating season, which began in December and lasted until the following July, was carried on at more than thirty-two landings above Shreveport, at that time a thriving town which had been named in honor of Captain Henry M. Shreve. These thirty-two landings, not including private landings at many plantations, extended 495 miles above Shreveport, by the meanders of the river. The most important landing in the Choctaw Nation was the Fort Towson landing, about six miles from Doaksville.
Advertisements and news in general concerning the Red River trade appeared in columns of the "Choctaw Intelligenc-
er," a weekly newspaper printed regularly for a number of years at Doaksville. This was the one newspaper in the Choctaw Nation in early days and was the second oldest printed within the boundaries of Oklahoma. Unfortunately copies of this newspaper are exceedingly rare. The issue for Wednesday, October 15, 1851, which it has been the good fortune of the writer to see, carried an item with reference to the condition of Red River, reporting that the stream was lower than it had ever been known to be and that the "Choctaw," built for the "upper trade" was the only steamer which could ascend even as far as Alexandria, Louisiana.
For the real story of commerce along Red River, from 1842 to the late "seventies, one has to consult the advertisements and notes on the river news appearing in the "Northern Standard" (later called "The Standard"), a weekly newspaper published at Clarksville in Red River County, Texas. Clarksville for fourteen miles from Rowland Landing on Red River, about on a line extending south of the present town of Valliant, in McCurtain County, and 451 miles from Shreveport, by the meanders of the river. There were more than a dozen landings above the Oklahoma line in 1854, among them being Pecan Point, Rowland, Albion, James Bluff, Jonesborough, Fort Towson, Kiamichi, Wright's, Mouth of Boggy, Pinehill's, Slate Banks, and Preston opposite the mouth of the Washita. These included landings on both sides of the river.
Looking back through the files of the "Northern Standard," one may glean vivid mental pictures of more than one hundred small steamboats built for the busy "Upper Trade" on "Old Red," as the river-men familiarly called the stream. Indeed, the story of those sturdy little vessels is that of Lilliputians in the world of commerce, yet they were none the less willing and efficient along a highway that played no small part in beginning the development of the Southwest, including Oklahoma. However, a few extracts and advertisements from the columns of the "Northern Standard" can tell the story of early steamboat navigation on Red River better than any other description. The following are taken from the vantage point of Rowland Landing:25
August 20, 1842:
The steamboats Hunter, Mechanic and Odessa, were all aground on Little Prairie Bar, a few days since.
The Glide had gone down for their goods, and contemplates, we are informed, towing keel boats from Fulton to Fort Towson, a business she will be able to accomplish at almost any stage of water, as she draws only ten inches of water.
January 13, 1844:
Regular Packet from Shreveport to Fort Towson and all Intermediarly Landings in Lakes (of Louisiana) and Red River.—The fast, new light draught Steamboat Frontier, Cheatham Master, will ply regularly between the two above named places. The steamer Frontier is an entirely new boat throughout, strong and of best materials, built by G. K. Cheatham, at Louisville, Ky., the dimensions to suit navigation of upper Red River and Bayous from Lakes to the River; and will ply regularly between Shreveport and the head of navigation, meeting the Southwestern at Shreveport. Both boats owned by G. K. Cheatham. No boat has yet entered the trade, so thoroughly adapted to it. For freight or passage, for which the boat has superior accomodations, apply on board.
January 30, 1845:
Regular Packet Between New Orleans Fort Towson—"Lone Star."—The light draft and splendid Passenger Steamer "Lone Star" will run as a Regular Packet between New Orleans and Fort Towson. * * * The Lone Star will leave Cincinnati (Ohio) about the 1st of March for Upper Red River, affording an opportunity of shipping Produce, and merchandise from the West.
December 18, 1847:
Cash Paid for Hides and Peltries.—The subscriber will pay six cents a pound, for sound dry hides, and nine cents for good peltries; and one dollar each for heavy coated bear skins, delivered at any shipping point between Fort Towson and the Raft; * * * until the 1st of May next. I shall run the Steamer Belle of Illinois from the Raft to Fort Towson and the Captain of the Boat will pay for the above whenever they shall be delivered to the boat.
July 8, 1848:
Red River.—The River is now nearly bank full. The Duck River came up on Saturday last. The Franklin arrived at our Landing on Friday, and passed up to Towson. Other boats are expected daily.
March 17, 1849:
We should have noted in our last, that the River after running at a low stage of water for a few days, had again several feet, and on Friday of last week, the Envoy, the Texian, and the Dime were all at our landing. Old Red has served us well this winter. We have had almost uninterrupted navigation, and freights are at reasonable rates.
August 11, 1849:
Red River.—This sweet stream is only 16 miles wide at Fulton. In consequence of the generous profuseness of its waters, we got
no mail yesterday from "the States"—have a prospect next week, a small schooner having been sent over toward the region where Fulton "used to was" to bring over the documents to the benighted in this region.
June 8, 1850:
Red River.—"Old Red" is at its lowest stage. We should think the "June fresh" was due about now, at least it would come in very good time. The Mustang arrived at our landing on Tuesday morning and passed up.
December 4, 1852:
The river has been in boating order for three months, but the first boat of the season, The Frances Jones passed up on Monday last, and the second, the R. M. Jones, on Tuesday. The Texas is hourly expected.
December 25, 1852:
Ho! for Red River.—The new, splendid, light-draught Steamer "Jim Turner" S. B. Allen, Master, will commence as a regular packet from New Orleans to all points on Red River above the Raft, on or about the 1st of January next and continue throughout the season. The "Jim" has been built expressly for the Upper River, is entirely new, well furnished in every respect, with all the improvements of build and machinery to comply with the late act of Congress for "The better security of lives of passengers &c, &c. Shippers and planters may rely on the Boat's remaining in this trade as it belongs to it and nowhere else. Our motto is live and let live." The patronage of the Red River district as well as the public generally, is most respectfully solicitated.
February 29, 1853:
The River.—The river is high. During the present week, The Frances Jones, the Jim Turner, and The Preston have been up, and the Texas Ranger, and R. M. Jones are looked for hourly; may have arrived before we go to press.
April 16, 1853:
The Weather, Red River, &c.—Since our last publication we have had considerable rain, which put a stop in a great measure to outdoor work. We understand from "above" that a considerable rise in Red River may be looked for—sufficient to enable boats to bring up freight, and take the cotton from the various landings to New Orleans. If we had a railroad through this country, we would be Independent of "Old Red" and its "sharks." In the meantime the planters are compelled to "pay the piper" to the tune of $3.50 to $5.50 freight per bale of cotton to New Orleans.
April 22, 1854:
Red River.—We should have mentioned in our last that the Steamboats Shreveport and Echo had been at the landing during the week. The Shreveport brought goods for this place—the Echo had Government freight for Ft. Tow son. Both went down some days since loaded with cotton.
June 3, 1854:
The river has been in good boating order for a week past. On Friday the Luda arrived at our Landing—on Saturday the Echo, and on Monday the Ranger. The Echo and the Luda had some freight for Wright's and went up to R. M. Jones' Boggy Plantation for his cotton, and passed down on Thursday.
Then come the last of the records that practically mark the close of steamboat days on Red River, for on December 29, 1872, at the beginning of the boating season, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas completed its line to Denison, Texas, where it connected with the Houston & Texas Central, making the first through railroad from St. Louis across the Indian Territory on to Galveston:
March 9, 1872:
On Tuesday night the Hamilton came up to Rowland laden for that place, Kiamitia, and Arthurs Landing. Cannot go far until the water rises. The Cherokee is on a sand bar somewhere above. We doubt not the boatman in the river looked anxiously for a river raiser, but the wind blew aside the clouds, and starlight was in the ascendant soon after the departure of the day.
March 22, 1873:
The River.—The river holds its position about one foot above low water mark. The Royal George, in a fit of disgust, was about to leave on Thursday flying light, but upon a promise of increased freight rates, was induced to wait a raise and float down heavily laden. Of course we cannot have a river or get our cotton down, until we have heavy rains.
April 26, 1873:
The River.—The river is a puzzle. A few days ago we announced a heavy rise. Now it is down, nearly fordable at Albion. When the George started down last Thursday, she ran into a sand bar opposite Wauhop's farm, and there she remained. There were too many channels across the bar, and none deep enough to let the boat through. * * * The late rise being nearly all out of Kiamitia and Boggy soon expended itself. Joe Bryarly was in town Thursday, looking like a man of many sorrows.
It happens that Joe Bryarly has no great place in history, but he was representative of the river-men, since others in his family and possibly he, too, had been in the "Upper Trade" for many years.26 Evidently, from the above report, there were troubles on his mind other than that concerning low water in the "sweet stream:"
"Joe Bryarly was in town Thusday, looking like a man of many sorrows."
No doubt he had heard the echoing whistle of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad on a recent voyage with the Royal George up "Old Red."
—Muriel H. Wright.
