onlinesteamboatmuseum

Steamboat Waybills, page 8


WaybillSONOMA

SONOMA (1881-1913)

Way's Packet Directory Number-5139

Sternwheel Packet

Built 1881 at Harmar, Ohio at the Knox Yard

Owned by Captain Edmund B. Cooper & Captain E.W. Webster

Captain Cooper ran her on the Ohio River, Parkersburg-Belleville.

In December 1892 she ran daily on the Muskingum River, Marietta-Beverly.

She also made some trips on the Big Sandy River.

In 1897, Captain Webster enlarged her at Parkersburg.

She made daily trips Marietta-Beverly from 1893 to 1909.

From 1909 to 1910, she ran Marietta-McConnelsville.

She sank, while downbound, at Lem Lawrence's landing between Beverly and Luke's Chute on April 19, 1910.

The LORENA took her freight and the towboat DARLING pumped her out.

In 1911 she ran excursions and substituted for the H.K. Bedford in the Pittsburgh-Parkersburg trade.

On May 12, 1905, she took Theodore E. Burton, chairman of the Congressional Rivers and Harbors Committee, plus ten others up the Muskingum River, 10 miles from Marietta.

By 1913, the SONOMA was in the Madison-Frankfort trade when she turned over and sank on the 3rd of May that year after she hooked a snag while backing out of a Kentucky River landing one mile above Glen Mary in Henry County. Captain Webster (master at the time, pictured in upper left hand corner of the waybill) quit the river after the sinking.

The photo of the waybill from the La Crosse collection is the same one that was screened by the printer and placed in the upper right hand corner of the waybill.


waybillGuidingStar

Beautiful display type used to compose "Triplett, Bacon & Co. Forwarding Merchants and Wharf-Boat Proprietors" on the Ohio River at Owensboro, Kentucky dated May 13, 1879

John Fryant's observations regarding the photo of the GUIDING STAR:

"Wow! She looks brand new. Stage gunnels haven't been painted yet. You can see that there was steel plating around the bow. Some sort of big spar or derrick laying inside on the main deck as well as a yawl boat. You can also see that the 'scape pipes and stacks slanted outward from the vertical. Great photo! Thanks for sharing."

GUIDING STAR (1878-1893)

Fred Way's Packet Directory Number 2470
Sidewheel Packet
Built in 1878 at Cincinnati, Ohio
Originally had engines from the Robert Burns; these were replaced in 1880.
The cabin had black walnut and bird's-eye maple finish.
There were 50 cabin staterooms, a bar, and a barbershop.
Her roof bell weighed 1,800 pounds.
She came out in the Cincinnati-New Orleans trade.
Captain Miller lost her at a U.S. marshal sale in Cincinnati, June 1881.
Captain Hegler purchased her and continued in the trade.
Destroyed by ice eight miles below New Madrid, Missouri on January 6, 1893
After she was lost, her roof bell was used on a fertilizer plant in New Albany, Indiana.
In 1914, C.C. Bowyer bought the bell for the Homer Smith



WaybillFANCHON

FANCHON

Way's Packet Directory Number 1979

Sternwheel steamboat built at Brownsville, Pennyslvania in 1875.

174 x 35 x 4.7 Engines,

161/4's- 41/2 ft. Two boilers, each 42" dia. by 26 ft.

Owned by Capt. Tom C. Sweeney.

She was chartered in the spring of 1877 for a trip up the Missouri and Yellowstone. Often ran Pittsburgh-Cincinnati, and out of New Orleans in winter.

In 1880-1882 running New Orleans-Opelousas, Capt. H.H. Broad, master, with E. Quatrevaux, clerk.

Boilers exploded at New Orleans with loss of life and was demolished.


WaybillGoldenEra

There are several photos of the first GOLDEN ERA which was a sidewheeler (we have a photo of that boat in our museum along with a photo of a model of the boat in a museum in Galena, Illinois) but so far I haven't found a photosof the sternwheeler GOLDEN ERA. This waybill is a scary old artifact that looks like it should have a hand drawn map to a pirate's treasure on the back of it.

Way's Packet Directory Number 2370

GOLDEN ERA

Sternwheel packet boat built Cincinnati, Ohio., 1866. 155.7 x 32.4 x 4.9
Same hull as the former GOLDEN ERA, a sidewheeler (1862-1866) and new upper works.

Capt. A.M. Halliday, master, with J.S Alexander,clerk, in 1867, and made trips on the upper Ohio.

She was taken to New Orleans in the fall of 1868 owned in shares by Captains Gus Hodge, A.M. Halliday, and J. J Blagg. Capt.Gus Hodge, master, and he owned 19/20. Sold March 1870 to Warren P Ketchum, New Orleans, with Capt. B.F Litterall, master. Broken up for scrap July 1870.


WaybillTRENTON

This waybill for the steamer TRENTON was filled out at Washington, a small town on Bayou Courtableau in the heart of Cajun country in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.

First settled in 1720, Washington is the third oldest settlement in Louisiana after Natchitoches and New Orleans.

www.cajuntravel.com/

Once the second largest port in Louisiana and a major inland commercial route for the area, Washington was a thriving steamboat town in its heyday. Steamboat service began in the 1820s after Bayou Courtableau and the Atchafalaya River were cleared of obstruction. Horse carts and boats from area plantations brought in agricultural products including sugar, cotton, and livestock. At Washington, everything was loaded onto steamers to be shipped to New Orleans through a myriad of bayous, rivers, and inlets leading to the Atchafalaya River. With the heavy commercial activity during the steamboat days came the necessary structures: warehouses, shops, and homes for the planters and steamboat captains. Much of the original town is included in the Washington Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places.

www.steamboatwarehouse.com

Construction of the Steamboat Warehouse Restaurant began in 1819 and was completed around 1823. Restored in 1977, Jack Womack's Steamboat Warehouse Restaurant, located on the banks of Bayou Courtableau, remains a feast for the eyes and appetite.

Enjoy a rendezvous with the past. Settled in 1720, the town of Washington is the third oldest settlement in Louisiana. In 1900, the last steamboat left Washington, and since that time other areas in the state have surpassed the little community on Bayou Courtableau. But Washington has never lost the character and charm of its rich heritage. Antique dealers galore (100+), Magnolia Ridge with 6 walking and jogging trails, historic old homes (many open for tours), and other historical sites.

Only one copy of a scarce out of print book about the community is listed on abebooks:
www.abebooks.com

Washington Louisiana: Fabulous Inland Port, Historic Gateway to the Southwest by Sue Eakin Everett Company Pubishing, 1988

Steamer TRENTON

Way's Packet Directory Number 5446

Sternwheel packet Jeffersonville, Indiana, by Howard, 1869.

260 tons.

130 x 32.2 x 4 2

Built for Capt. J W Carleton, New Orleans, who commanded.

Connected at Camden, Ark., with the GOVERNOR ALLEN for Arkadelphia, Ark.

Sold, April 23, 1870, to Capt. John W. Tobin, entire, of New Orleans.

In January 1876 was running New Orleans-Opelousas.


WaybillSANDY

Four months after this waybill was written the SANDY No. 2 sank near Baton Rouge. So far have not been able to locate a photo of the boat.

Way's Packet Directory Number 5030

SANDY No. 2

Paddlewheeler built at New Albany, Indiana, in 1873
266 tons. Not known if she was a sidewheeler or a sternwheeler.

In 1877 she was running New Orleans-Opelousas, under command of Capt. A.P Trousdale, with J.B. Schmidt as clerk. Struck a log near Baton Rouge downbound at 12.30 A.M. May 15, 1877 floated 12 miles while sinking, hit the bank, and sank a total loss.


WaybillRobtYoung

The ROB'T YOUNG isn't listed in Way's Directory or in the La Crosse collection. From Trip 21 of the steamer, a waybill dated August 30, 1876, printed by T. Fitzwilliams & Co. New Orleans. Maybe something more will turn up about the YOUNG one of these days.


WaybillRUTH

Another very "distressed by humidity" waybill which I cleaned up to some extent but realized the futility of trying to make it look "as good as new." Am assuming that the diagonal swipe of the pen to the right of the year "187_" represents the number "1" to make it "August 16th, 1871." Haven't been able to find a photo of this boat.

Way's Packet Directory Number 4879

RUTH

Sternwheel Packet boat
Built at Freedom, Pennsylvania in 1870

140 x 35 x 5
Engines, 15's - 5 ft.
Three boilers.

Built for Captains Tom and John J. Darragh.
Owned 1874 by R.P Burton (5/8) and William Barges, St Louis.
Often took cotton out of White River to New Orleans.
Burned in White River in 1879 and was taken to Mobile, Alabama and rebuilt.
Burned there Jan. 17, 1890 with two other boats in a cotton shed fire.


WaybillSELMA

There are 2 dates on this waybill from the SELMA, Dec 21st upper right and January 5th, 1871 lower left. This is another "rusticated and distressed" bill, one of a bunch with "patinas" that may have been kept in a forgotten steamer trunk in a humid location for over a century before they were rediscovered. No photo of this boat has turned up boat yet.

SELMA (1867 -1875)

Fred Way's Packet Directory Number 5074

Sidewheel packet boat built at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in, 1867
600 tons. 180 x 37 5 x 7. Engines, 20's- 7 ft.
Three boilers, each 48" by 26 ft.

Built and owned by Capt. Thomas Rogers, Pittsburgh, who took her to Mobile and ran her to Montgomery, Alabama

She was back in New Orleans December 1868 having been bought by Capt. William T. Scovell and John Kouns, equal shares. Ran New Orleans-Shreveport.

Sold July 1870 to Capt. Charles C. Pickett (whose name is on this waybill. Cap'n Pickett ran her New Orleans-Opalousas and Atchafalaya. Sank and dismantled at New Orleans, Jan. 25 1875.


WaybillAnnieWagley

Way's Packet Directory Number 0298
ANNIE WAGLEY
Sidewheel packet
Built at Louisville, Kentucky in 1863
202 tons

Originally named CARABASSET and was in U S. service under that name during the Civil War.

Sold to private owners on August 17, 1865, and renamed ANNIE WAGLEY

Advertised as running in the New Orleans-Minden-Lake Bistereau trade with Capt. J. J Compere, master, with J.O. Jeffrion, clerk, circa 1866.

This waybill was originated on December 27th, 1869 while the ANNIE WAGLEY was in the New Orleans-Opelousas trade, with Capt. M. Kenison, master and T. Jobin, clerk (their names are printed on the document).

Snagged and lost in Bayou Lafourche at Labadieville, Louisiana on May 1, 1870.


WaybillBERTHA

BERTHA (1870-1881)

Way Packet Director 0589

Sternwheel packet boat
Built at Louisville, Ky , 1870.
135.6 x 32 x 4.9

Went to New Orleans where it was owned by Captain Gus Hodge 50% and Cornelius Dewees 50%. She was a regular on Ouachita and Old rivers, handling cotton.

In New Orleans-Opelousas trade, 1879, Capt. M. Kenison, with T. Jobin, clerk. (These 2 gentleman had also operated the ANNIE WEGLEY: see our waybill on the WEGLEY in these pages). The BERTHA burned on the Sabine River, Feb. 8, 1881, while under the command of Capt. Mark Smith. At the time she had been running between Orange, Texas, and upper Sabine River points.


WaybillBIGSUNFLOWER

BIG SUNFLOWER Waybill Sept 1st, 1877

Fred Way's Packet Directory 0622

Sternwheeler

Built Jeffersonville, Indiana, by Howard, 1869 125 x 28 x 4.

Ran Vicksburg to Yazoo and Tallahatchie rivers, Capt. T.G Ledbetter in command, connecting with the NATCHEZ for New Orleans.

There is some evidence that the BIG SUNFLOWER was extensively altered to become 147.8 x 28.9 x 4.5 with props, renamed JENNIE LANE, and is so registered in 1886 with home port at New Haven, Conn.





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All captions provided by Dave Thomson, Steamboats.com primary contributor and historian.

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