St Louis and Tennessee River Packet Co Pass

*Packet 'Pass'/Names*
Morning, Kathleen and Steamboating colleagues:
Thanks for posting the above steamboat 'Pass' from the ST. LOUIS & TENNESSEE RIVER PACKET CO. 1898. I did a desultory search on the 'Hon. A.A. Burleigh' and 'Patton & Sherman.' The R.R. no doubt a railroad of the day in the south. One vague reference of years before 1898 mentions a 'Sherman' railroad in the south and into Texas. No biography so far on A.A. Burleigh, whomever he was.

The scribbled signature of John S. Massengale, Traffic Agent, came up with more data. Massengale began his career as a Mud Clerk with the company moving up to Purser on the Str. CITY OF BAYOU SARA in 1884. The boat burned with a loss of eight lives at New Madrid, MO. in 1885 as per Capt. Fred Way's brief PACKET DIRECTORY listing.

Massengale's rise up to Traffic Manager typical of many young men then. A number were hired after some business, book keeping, stenography training in business schools of the day or trained by the 2nd or even 1st Purser. Few, contrary to steamboat legends, 'hired off the river bank' Horatio Alger style without clerical training--but it did happen. Being posted ashore as Traffic Manager put him in the thick of things with the company central business affairs he could never have had remaining on the boat. A number of such pursers, managers led to later positions ashore with banks, investment houses, real estate or even higher with the packet line home office as the Secretary Treasurer. Others often also turned their attention to later careers with the railroads. Again thanks and keep those postings coming. Cheers!

R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.

*ST. LOUIS & TENNESSEE RIVER PACKET CO. WEB*
Dear S&D colleagues:
No doubt I've possibly been sleeping at the throttle until today when, while tooling around on my internet search engine, I typed in a 'search' for ST. LOUIS & TENNESSEE RIVER PACKET CO. and hit SEARCH with one immediately popping up. And what a fine site it is with excellent history, fantastic B/W photos in high definition of all company boats down until their last years. One great river history source to consult and add to your 'Favorites.' Reading the web history text I see many references also to the famed LEE LINE of Memphis and the competition existing then with the ST. LOUIS & TENNESSEE RIVER PACKET CO. There is much very fine, rich historical text well written to read here.

The real shoe dropper for me was to read that the web master and BLOG writer is none other than David Masssengale, great grandson of John E. Massengale who's signature appears on Kathleen Lathom's posted 'Pass' above. I intend, if possible, to contact David Massengale. This is almost too spooky for words. Commentators mention regarding the above, "There are many new fine web sites coming out on steamboats."

You may attempt calling up the web at: St Louis & Tennessee River Packet Company - Home

Or simply type in ST. LOUIS & TENNESSEE RIVER PACKET CO. and hit 'GO.'

R. Dale Flick
Old Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati

Thanks Kathleen for the pics of China & Pass(es) and thanks Dale for the Link to the STL & Tenn Packet company. Fascinating reading and photos.

Keep the China photos coming!