OLD STEAMBOAT DAYS ON THE HUDSON RIVER

First Edition 1907 Published by The Grafton Press, New York, NY

Table of Contents

1. ROBERT FULTON
2. THE FIRST STEAMBOAT
3. SOME OLD-TIMERS
4. RIVAL LINES ON THE RIVER
5. HOW THE GREAT RIVER MONOPOLY WAS BROKEN
6. STEAMBOAT EVOLUTION
7. OLD RIVER CAPTAINS
8. FAST TIME ON THE RIVER
9. DISASTERS OF RIVER TRAVEL
10. FLOATING TOWNS
11. BARGE TRAVEL ON THE RIVER
12. THE STEAMBOATS OF TO-DAY
13. HUDSON-FULTON MEMORIALS
14. HENRY HUDSON’S RIVER

Foreward

The approaching dual celebration of the Ter-Centennial of Henry Hudson’s discovery of the great river bearing his name, and the Centennial of Robert Fulton’s successful application of steam to navigation on that same stream, would seem to warrant the appearance of this little volume. Aside from this fact, the subject is one that calls up many interesting reminiscences on topics that have not heretofore been grouped along the lines the author has endeavored to follow.

Most of the old river men best calculated to furnish both information and advice in the preparation of a book such as this, have gone on their last long trip, while those who remain are comparatively few and widely scattered. There are possibly still many old steamboat men who have, stored away in ancient scrapbooks and records, highly interesting data that should be brought together in some permanent form—and which the writer would be pleased to incorporate in some future edition—for the benefit of those who may seek to learn something more of the unfolding of one of the most glorious and important periods in the country’s development. To those who have helped the author in any way—and there have been many—grateful acknowledgment is hereby given.

Many books have aided in furnishing the data that will be found in the following pages, among the number being “Reigart’s Biography,” J. H. Morrison's “History of American Steam Navigation” and “Munsell’s Annals.” Special thanks are due Mr. Samuel Ward Stanton, editor of the “Nautical Gazette,” for his permission to use the interesting table of old boats, prepared by him, and several illustrations that have appeared in that publication.

The fact that the author’s father followed the river for many years, handling the wheel of the old North America on her sprints to cut down the time, and his great-uncle commanded the good sloop Robert Burns long before that, carrying both freight and passengers, has added no small degree of interest to the labor involved in the preparation of “Old Steamboat Days on the Hudson.”

To the memory of his father in particular, the author would inscribe whatever of interest and value may be found in this tribute to the men of the early days, who made possible the important chapter of the country’s history that deals with steam navigation on the Hudson River.

D. L. B.
September 30, 1907

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