River News Columns

Researched by Sharon M. Kouns (c)

IR Aug. 5, 1852
• The Ohio River is becoming quite low; but few boats are running; the Fashion has gone ten or twelve days for repairs; the Cabinet is still making her regular trips, in good time, from Big Sandy to Cincinnati, and has proved herself to be a first-rate low boat - the very best.
• Vessels Built in the U. S. - We abstract from documents accompanying the last Report of Secretary of Treasury, some statistics relating to ship building in the United States from 1813 to 1851, inclusive, ending June 30. From these documents it appears that the __?___ number of vessels built in the country during this period of 37 years, amounts to 36,126. This includes ships, brigs, schooners, sloops, steamers and canal boats. Schooners are the most numerous class of vessels, the number built during this time amounting to 16,787 - nearly one half of the whole. The number of ships built in the time was 3,418. The first report of steamboat building was in 1823, in which year 15 were built; and from 1823 to 1851, inclusive, a period of 29 years, the whole number of steamers built in the country was 2,945. The largest number built in any one year was in 1851, when 233 were built. The greatest number of vessels of all kinds built in any one year was in 1848, in which year were built 254 ships, 174 brigs, 701 schooners, 175 steamers and 547 sloops and canal boats. P. S. We have before us a reliable steamboats built from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st, 1851, in the four Ohio river col__tion districts, as follows: Pittsburgh, 112; Wheeling, 46; Cincinnati; 111; Louisvill (sic), 61 - total 320.

IR Aug. 5, 1852 - Burning of the Henry Clay.
• The steamer Henry Clay was burned on the Hudson river a few miles above New York, on Wednesday afternoon of last week. It was a sad disaster, involving the loss of some fifty human lives. It appears that the boat had been racing very hotly with the Armenia all the way from Albany, so much so that the boats missed several of their landings. The passengers became greatly alarmed and requested the officers to desist from the race, but, were told that there was no danger. The result was that the fires were made so hot, that the wood work near the boiler took fire, immediately enveloping the entire vicinity of the machinery in flames, and cutting off all communication between fore and aft. It is said that large quantities of tar rosin or other inflammable substances were in the boiler room, which caused the very rapid spread of the flames. The boat was run ashore, struck her bow upon the bank, but most of the passengers were aft, where the _____ is represented to have been terrific, 300 or more passengers being driven gradually by the flames into the water. As fitting as it may seem there was not a single yawl or boat on board, and no effective apparatus to extinguish a fire. Some twenty-five dead bodies had been recovered on the same night of the fire. Among the lost we observe the names of Stephen Allen, Ex-Mayor of New York, Prof. Bailey, of West Point, Prof. Bartlett, of Poughkeepsie, and A. J. Downing, the eminent Horticulturist. Among the saved we notice the names of Capt. S. Dean, and Capt. C. W. Batchelor, of the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati packets Buckeye State and Alleghany, who were on board with their families, also saved.

IR Aug. 12, 1852 - The Henry Clay
It now appears that the destruction of life by the burning of this ill-fated steamer was much greater than was first supposed. Probably nearly one hundred persons perished by the disaster. The officers and some of the ____ers of the boat have been arrested, and ordered to and (?) bail each, in the sum of $10,000; the public and the press demand that they shall be dealt with to the ____ most extent of the law - most rigorously.
The New York National Democrat details a conversation with Capt. S. Dean, of the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati packet Buckeye State from which we extract, as follows:
“I have seen boats blown up on the Ohio and Mississippi, and have witnessed much distress in consequence - but sir, never, never, did I, in all my life witness so much suffering and agony, and despair and death as I did on that cursed North River steamer, in the short space of twenty minutes.”
“It was murder! Absolute, deliberate murder, on the part of those who had control of the boat, all the way from Albany until the final tragedy was consummated.”
“Did they race?”
“Race? Why the scoundrels raced all the way! I liked it well enough at first; but after the colision (sic) at Kingston, the ladies became nervous. Some fainted, and some cried; seeing the affair becoming serious I appealed to the acting captain to stop the strife (?). He took no notice at all of what I said and I then went to the engineers’ enclosure, to ascertain the height of steam.”
“Did he tell you?”
“He told me to mind my own business. There were two steam gauges, but no man, save, perhaps, the engineer himself, could have ascertained what number of inches they indicated. I didn’t like the appearances. The leaking steam from the joinings smelt hot and queer, such as we sometimes get West, with a very strong fire under a pressure of four hundred pounds.”
“I know what it is to “fire up,” both with wood and coal. I have used tar myself on the Western rivers, and I should think that tar, or some similar combustible, was used on the Henry Clay immediately previous to the accident. There is no doubt they were racing. I was told so everybody knew it. But, I have no doubt that the rapidity with which the flames spread was owing in a great measure to the intense heat around the boilers and the fact of their feeding the furnace with some other substance but anthracite.”
He further stated that he saw several children with their clothes on fire, on the stern of the boat, and has no doubt that numbers of them perished in the flames, together with several females who fainted in the saloon when the fact of the fire became so terribly real.

IR Aug. 12 , 1852
• The Ohio river is in a low stage, yet has sufficient water for the ordinary light draught boats.
• The Cabinet and the Fashion are making regular trips, prompt time, in their respective trades.

IR Aug. 12, 1852 - Arrested.
• Daniel O’Neal was found with two watches - a gold and a silver one - in his possession. On Saturday last, which didn’t belong to him. - These watches were repaired by Mr. Coriell, a few days since and put in possession of Capt. Brubaker, of the steamer Reveille, who was to deliver them to a gentleman at Hanging Rock. The Reveille went to the N. York warehouse, before leaving on her upward trip, and it is supposed that Daniel came across and appropriated them while at the warehouse. He then came to town and offered them for sale to Mr. Coriell who recognized the watches at once; and the gentleman for whom they were intended having sent word that they had not been received. Daniel was at once arrested. He was committed to jail to await his trial. - Portsmouth Inq.

IR Aug. 19, 1852 - An Incident
• A passenger who was on board the ill-fated steamer, Henry Clay relates the following incident connected with the disaster: “He had been on the bow of the vessel and was one of the first to escape. Upon reaching the shore, he counted twenty three persons who sank to rise no more. He sickened at the sight and was just turning to leave the spot, when he saw a little boy only seven years of age emerge from the smoke and flame on the after part of the promenade deck, kneel down and clasp his hands as if in prayer. He remained in this attitude but a moment, and then leaped into the water. Our informant watched the little fellow as he went under the water, expecting not to see him again. Presently the young hero rose to the surface, brushed aside his auburn ringlets, and struck out manfully for the shore, which he reached in a short time. Upon landing he sat down upon the bank exclaiming - Oh, these poor people! I wish I could save them! And then burst into a flood of tears, at the awful scene of suffering and death before him. What a noble heart was in that boy, who, so young, could only ask deliverance from danger of his heavenly Father, but feel for the sufferings of others. Does it not also speak volumes in the praise of the mother of that boy?

IR Aug. 26, 1852
• The steamer Cabinet is now doing a “land of (can’t make this out from my copy)

IR Aug. 26, 1852 - Steamer Altona.
• We see it stated that the fastest run of the St. Louis packet Altona, was seventeen and a half miles per hour against the current. The best run ever made on our Ohio river race track, against the current, was fifteen miles per hour by the Telegraph No. 2. Others have made fast runs also, especially when they run their passengers from time to eternity without notice.

IR Sept. 2, 1852 - Steamboat Disaster.
• The steamer Dr. Franklin No. 2, burst a boiler near ___________ on the Mississippi, on Sunday, Aug. 23rd, instantly killing 9 persons, including both engineers and scalding some 30 deck hands and deck passengers, many of whom have since died, 6 missing. The boat received but little damage. P. S. The latest account we have seen from St. Louis, states that 20 (or 29) bodies of the crew and deck passengers had already been buried, and that 10 to 12, were still missing. The boat is said to have been under full headway, and the disaster is attributed to the want of water in the boilers, the engineer being deceived by the quantity of mud which it is supposed the boiler contained. Some of the passengers walked about the boat and conversed freely after the accident, but having inhaled the steam died in a few hours.
• There was a rise of several feet in the Ohio on the first of this week; the water commenced falling rapidly on Tuesday; there is still a good boating stage.
• Mr. Davidson, of the wharfboat, has our acknowledgments for a late Cincinnati paper which contained matters of importance to us which we should not have received in any other way.
• Haverhill Ferry. We are right glad to note the present prosperity of our friend Joshua Oakes of the Haverhill and Greenupsburg ferry. He has fine ferrying accommodations - much better than before the disasters of the ice last winter - and after his bad luck on two or three occasions within 18 months past, we consider it no more than fair for his friends who happen to be in the range of that ferry to cross the river, if for nothing more than to patronize fast the cleverest fellow that draws the breath of life.
• New Idea in Steamboating. - A new plan for building steamers has been brought out in England, and an experimental boat built to run from Ludlow to Bonlong. The boat is 235 feet long, 20 feet beam, of 250 tons burden and has an engine of 50 horse power. The bow and stern are filled with fixed(?) air, like a life boat. If it meets the expectations of the inventors and builders, two immense vessels of 10,000 tons and 1,000 horse power will at once be built on the same plan; they will run from London to the East Indies in 30 days without stopping on the way.
• Steamer Look Out. - It is well enough to mark some steamboats. Jesse Young, well known reliable citizen of Scioto county informs us that his daughter in company with Mrs. Forsythe recently had $3.00 fare each exacted from them on the above boat from Ironton to Gallipolis; the customary price on better boats is $1.00. Also his wife in company with Mrs. Murphine had a $1.50 each extracted from them on the steamboat last week from Ironton to Junior Landing; customary price 50 cents. The ladies in each case remonstrated but received only short and ungentlemanly replies. - Look Out.

IR Sept. 9, 1852
• Steamboat Murders. - are still taking place “thick and fast.” The latest is that the steamer Reindeer - that “crack North River boat,” - burst a boiler on Saturday afternoon last killing ten persons instantly, badly scalding 30, and injuring many more slightly. Up to Monday evening, thirty-two deaths had resulted from the explosion.
• Steamer U. S. Aid. - The attention of shippers is directed to the card of the above steamer in another column. The clerk, Capt. Davidson, late of the steamer, Relief, is well known to the shippers of this vicinity. The boat is entirely new, has made but one trip, and is calculated for an excellent low water passenger boat.

IR Sept. 16 1852
• The Fashion is making very punctual trips, tri-weekly, from Big Sandy to Portsmouth. We trust that she will soon commence daily trips again. By the way why not have a daily river mail be, the Fashion, from Portsmouth? There is to be a river mail from Cincinnati to Portsmouth, commencing on the 1st of October, and it seems to us that by effort a river mail might be secured to connect from Portsmouth to Greenupsburg, Ironton and Catlettsburg.
• Steamboat Racing. - The New York Mirror continues its reprobation of Steamboat Racing, and particularly racing on the Atlantic, between the Collins and Cunard line: The numerous hair-breadth escapes, known at the time only to the pilots, and to some few perhaps, of the passengers, are gradually coming to light; and almost every traveler who returns from a steam voyage across the Atlantic has some thrilling tale to tell of the dangers he has passed. Icebergs have been shaved; rocks have been grated; sand bars have been scraped; fishing vessels have been run down; and fatal collisions were but hair breadth escapes. Our fast captains have boasted of not even ‘slowing’ their engines during the entire passage, notwithstanding fogs, rocks, and ships were darkening their course. - On the dangerous banks of Newfoundland through starless midnight, when the fog was like a blanket, and the darkness could be felt, the vessel has been driven on at full speed, with the pilot trembling at the wheel, hearing the horns of the fisherman all around him; while the unconscious passengers have slept soundly with only a film between them and death. The Captain, on his arrival, is complimented for his criminal hardihood with a string of resolutions and a service of plate, while the owners are congratulated on “beating all competition.” This is all wrong; and owners, captains, passengers and the public are to blame.
• The Cabinet is doing a very fine business, has freight in abundance, and on some of her last trips has been crowded with passengers. Her very clever clerks never forget to bring us the “papers,” and merit our “double and twisted thanks.

IR Sept. 28, 1852
• We are requested to state that the steamer Cabinet will lay up during the next week, and it is now supposed, will be ready for her down trip on the Monday following.
• Serious Accident. - On Friday evening last the steamer Reveille dropped down to the New York Company’s warehouse, for the purpose of taking some freight before proceeding to Cincinnati. While lying there, the packing of one of her steampipes gave way, and the steam rushed out, scalding Mr. and Mrs. Evans severely on the hands and face, and injuring their child, aged about one year, so severely that it died in about two minutes. An aged woman was also severely scalded. They were from Jackson, Ohio. Portsmouth Tribune & Clipper.

IR Oct. 7, 1852 - Commodore Abraham Whipple.
Among the most noted men that settled in Marietta, was Commodore Abraham Whipple, the man who had the honor of firing the first gun on the seas for our freedom. He was as brave as a lion, and Dr. Hildredth has given a most entertaining sketch of his adventures as a sea captain. He once frightened a French privateer who was pursing him, off the track, by mounting hats and caps on handpikes, and turning square on the enemy, who supposing his previous fight was only a stratagem to get him in his power, turned and pressed all sail to make good his escape. With this Whipple was altogether satisfied. This was during the old French war. On the 17th of June 1772, he commanded some row boats in an attack on an English Schooner, the Gaspee, which had become very obnoxious to the Rhode islanders, and had got fast in the mud in pursuit of the Providence packet, the Hannah.
It was on this occasion that the first gun was fired and the Gaspee was captured and burned. This treason to King George was not traced to its author, until just before the revolution actually began. When Sir James Wallace who now blockaded the ports and rivers on the Rhode Island coast, sent him the following letter:
“You, Abraham Whipple, on the 17th day of June, 1772, burned his majesty’s vessel, the Gaspee, and I will hang you at the yard arm. James Wallace
To which Whipple replied:
“To Sir James Wallace: Sir - Always catch a man before you hang him, Abraham Whipple.
In 1801 he commanded the St. Clair, a small vessel built at Marietta, down the Mississippi, to New Orleans, and thence to Havanna. In after life he used to claim the distinction of firing the first gun at the British in the revolutionary war on the ocean, and the navigating of the first vessel built on the Ohio river, to the sea.
IR Oct. 7, 1852 - Removal of the County Seat from Burlington to Ironton. Passed the General Assembly March 20, 1851 but wasn’t moved until the Courthouse in Ironton was built in 1852.

IR Oct. 21, 1852
• The Steamer Cabinet is now making her regular trips from Big Sandy to Cincinnati. Week before last, while the water was very low, she was chartered for the Cincinnati and Aurora trade, but somewhat of a rise having taken place in the river, she was up ready for her down trip on Monday morning last.
• The Steamer Relief was sunk on Tuesday of last week in deep water, some distance from Vanceburg. Her cargo was for C. A. M. Damarin, of Portsmouth, for Jackson, Clinton, and other furnaces.
• Fashion No. 2. This fine little packet hauled off last week for repairs. Mr. Johnson, her clerk, informs us that she may be expected down from Big Sandy, on next Monday, re-painted, re-carpeted, and in first rate running order in every respect.

IR Nov. 11, 1852
• Capt. Perry Kerr and J. Shute have bought the steamer Haverhill, and are about to take her down to some of the Bayous and the lower Mississippi, freighted with produce.
• The Steamer Cabinet has changed commander, and went down on Monday morning under the charge of Capt. Sam. Crawford, a most popular selection. - McClure and Reedy are the clerks, the former known as one of our most honest and accommodating citizens, and the latter as a very accurate and faithful business man. We can do no less than predict for the Cabinet the same abundant prosperity she has heretofore had since in this trade.
• The foregoing facts are drawn from an article in the “Smithsonian Contributions to Knowledge,” and are the result of investigations and observations by Charles Ellet, Jr., Civil Engineer.

IR Nov. 11, 1852
• Some ten or twelve flat boats loaded with produce from the upper part of this county started out with the present rise of the river, for the “lower country.”
• Capt. H. N. Gillett informs us that he has just received a letter from his son, P. W. Gillette, who arrived at Oregon City on the 16th of September, 130 days from St. Joseph - well and in excellent spirits.
• That fine little packet Fashion No. 2, is out again in fine style; has been thoroughly re-painted and re-fitted, and is now in excellent running order, and has most popular officers.
• Our most profound bow to Mr. Davidson of the wharfboat for a thousand and one favors.
• The river commenced rising during the latter part of last week, and is now at a fine boating stage. The Buckeye State came down on Monday evening the first of the large packets.
• On Monday morning while the Cabinet was at Poage’s Landing [now Ashland], Ky., above this place, Dan Donley, an Irishman, fell overboard and was drowned.

IR Nov. 18, 1852 - Steamboat Explosion.

The steamer Buckeye Belle exploded both boilers at Beverly on the Muskingum, last Friday afternoon. Seven persons were killed outright, two or three more died before the next morning, eight or ten were missing on the night of the explosion, and quite a number of others were very badly injured, some of whom have probably since died. Among the injured were Senator C. C. Convey, of Marietta, who had his leg badly broken, and Representative Bartlett, of Washington, and Okey, of Morgan, both badly scalded, and who were on their way to Columbus. The boat is said to have been blown nearly to pieces, the cabin, pilot house and everything fore and aft the wheel house completely torn to fragments, so that even the tops of the ladies’ cabin sunk almost to the lower deck. There were seven or eight ladies and some children on board, but all escaped with their lives, being taken off the stern of the boat in skiffs. Every flue in one boiler collapsed, and the other boiler was not to be found on the afternoon of the disaster. The explosion it is said was occasioned by gross recklessness on part of the engineers, the water getting too low, and one of the engineers was on the safety valve at the time of the explosion., which took place as the engine was stopped to let the boat pass into the guard lock. We gather the foregoing from the State Journal,

IR Nov. 25, 1852 - The Buckeye Belle.

From the Marietta Intelligence we learn further particulars of the awful explosion of this steamer.

It appears that she was wrecked, blown almost completely to small fragments beyond parallel in the case of steamboat explosions, and that the number killed was very great in proportion to the number of persons on board - about thirty individuals having lost their lives, and others maimed for life. The largest piece of a boiler which has been found is only 10 or 12 feet long. The explosion took place on Friday, and as late as Sunday fragments of human bodies were found, in one place a piece of an arm, in another a leg, and close at hand a liver; and on Monday the tongue of a man was picked up on the bank, and in another place the head of a man with a hat on, no other remains being near. A red hot brick was thrown more than 300 feet up the hill, and fired the leaves of the woods, and a rabbit was killed by the fall of a brick more than 400 feet from the boat.

Senator Covey was sitting in the ladies cabin, and had his leg broken by the fall of a hot stove upon it. The stove was removed from him by a young lady, a Miss Stone, of McConnellsville, who, it is said, carried Mr. Covey out from amid the wreck, unassisted, he being a large man, and she a delicate female. Mr. Covey died on Wednesday. His loss is very much mourned as he was an able man, and a very honest and upright citizen.
Representative Bartlett, of Washington, and Okey, of Monroe, were scalded severely, and we have a report from the river that they are both dead but do not give credit to the report.
The Intelligence says that reports are current that intemperance on the part of engineers and some other officers of the boat was the cause of this terrible affair. Be it as it may there was most criminal recklessness - murder, wholesale and in the highest degree.

Spirit of the Times began their newspaper Dec. 1852 ... B. F. Cory, editor; H. Crawford, James C. Terry, Ralph Leet, John Campbell. First published in Ironton and later in Portsmouth, Ohio.

IR Dec. 9, 1852
• We made a trip to Cincinnati last week, consuming the entire week; should like to give an account of the trip, but cannot do so now. At present must be content with stating that it was a very pleasant trip. We went down upon the Cabinet and returned upon the same boat as far as Franklin Landing. Coming up the boat made time equal to the usual time of the Pittsburgh packets, and made several more landings. We think some of our people ought to take passage on the Cabinet oftener than they do. Surely she has very clever and obliging officers, makes good time, and we found on her good accommodations, and good fare. - Let our citizens patronize their own.

IR Dec. 23, 1852 - Steamboat Disasters.
• On Tuesday morning of last week, the steamer Western World, was run into and sunk on the lower Mississippi, by the steamer H. R. W. Hill. Ten or fifteen lives are supposed to have been lost, and the boat and cargo (1400 barrels of flour, a large quantity of corn, and 60 head of cattle) a total loss, the bottom having turned up; names of the drowned are not given.
• The steamer Moro Castle was also sunk near the same place; we have none of the particulars.
• Also the steamer Cleopatra, bound from Black river to New Orleans, with 900 bales of cotton, was recently burned; several lives lost.
• Also the steamer Magnet blew up at Grand_low island, about 30 miles above Marietta, on the 14th inst., killing the pilot instantly, and mortally wounding four others. This Magnet was an old stern wheel boat.

IR Dec. 23, 1852 - Minnesota.
• We notice from Minnesota papers some items of interest. - Navigation at St. Paul closed on the 10th of November, and during the week the mercury ranged from zero to 30 degrees above. The first steamboat arrived at St. Paul last spring on the 16th of April, accordingly the season of navigation in 1852, was six days less than seven months. From the 10th to the 30th of November no southern mail had arrived at St. Paul, and the editors did not look for any for several days longer. The number of steamboat arrivals during the past season was 171; different boats 17. Flour was quoted at $7 and pork at $30 per barrel; fresh pork 10 to 12 cents and beef 8 to 10 cents per pound; hams 15; butter 40; lard 25; potatoes 75; beans _3 and salt _1 per bushel.