The Flash

Hi, Linda & steamboating colleagues:
Linda, fascinating quest RE: "The Yellow Rose of Texas" linked to the Str. FLASH. 'WAY'S PACKET DIRECTORY, 1848-1983,' covers boats in the age of photography. 1836 was a tad too early and there would probably only be a drawing...if that...of the FLASH. There are drawings, prints etc. of various scenes up and down the rivers in the 1830s and any one of those depicted 'could' resemble the FLASH. There are others on this web who may have more information on the elusive FLASH. I see no Lorenzo de Zavla in WAY'S DIRECTORY and only a mention of a 'J. Morgan' linked to the Str. J.M. SHARP built in 1859 with J. Morgan as part owner in 1865. 1836 to 1865 is a long time but J. Morgan could, possibly, have still been on the rivers--if it is indeed the same man.

The "Yellow Rose of Texas" in also intriguing. Coming to Texas from new New York continues the legend of the symbolic yellow rose in history: "Start anew...second chance...warmth and friendship. Alas, some of the ancients also believed the yellow rose to be a symbol of "deceit." I hope others on this site can help you more. Keep us posted.

Cheers,
R. Dale Flick

Flash

Thanks for the info. de Zavala may have been a silent partner in the ownership of the Flash. James Morgan stayed in Texas for sometime. He founded the community of Morgan's Point and had his finger in many real estate deals with backing from eastern money men. I don't know when if ever he returned to New York however Emily D. West Morgan couldn't get out of Texas fast enough after the Battle of San Jacinto. She returned on the Flash.

Thanks again!

Hi, Linda & steamboating colleagues:
I ruminated over Lorenzo de Zavala and know you are aware of his early career as a member of the Constitutional Convention, 1836, in which Texas became a free republic. In addition, he was quite the entrepreneur in land, boats etc. There exists the Zavala archives beginning roughly 1818. One archival source mentions "Steamboats, Texas, 1806-1925.' I questioned the beginning date for steamboats there of 1806.

No doubt you're aware of the collection at University of Texas, Austin and their Center of American History. Mention of other early steamboats in Texas but, so far, nothing of the Str. FLASH. Something caught my eye: A local history group down there published a recent meeting near the Lorenzo de Zavala home mentioning their dinner was held locally at the 'Steamboat Restaurant.' That sound familiar?

Cheers,
R. Dale Flick

The Elusive Flash!

Well, I was assuming that the Flash was a steam boat but am finding out that it may not have been. Like I have said...I know nothing about boats! Franz said that if it came from New York that it may have had sails with a steam engine and paddle wheel. Then I found where it was listed as the privateer Flash. And somewhere in something I read today, I came across the Steamboat "eatery" in the Houston area. Also learned that not only did the Flash bring the Yellow Rose to Texas but the Flash also carried the Twin Sisters to the San Jacinto battlefield from Galveston! What a boat! Now what the heck happened to her? This is really getting so interesting!

Flash Found!

Thanks to everyone who has helped this poor land "lubber" in her quest for informtion on the Flash. I have found this morning that the Flash was a schooner (whatever that is but will soon find out!) I just hate writing about something in a story and then find that I know nothing about it. Learning about the Flash was a true experience and I appreciate everyone's love for the boats! Linda

Most of the sources I've seen say that Henry Austin (Stephen F.'s cousin) brought the first river steamer, the Ariel, to Texas ca. 1829. She ran for a season or so on the Riio Grande, then was moved to the Brazos. She was damaged crossing the bar at the mouth of the Brazos and laid up to rot in Buffalo Bayou.

Most of the Texas coasting trade was in small schooners, but these are sailing vessels rather than steamboats. The Texas Navy had several of them, and there are drawings available of them. These would have been pretty typical of the coasting schooners, although on the larger end of the scale. A schooner is a two masted vessel, fore and aft rigged on both masts. (OK, I know that some of the very late schooners had up to seven masts, but two is typical.)

Hi, Linda & Hank:
Thanks, Hank, for the data on the FLASH RE: 'schooner' rigging. I too thought earlier the FLASH may have been a 'coastie' as Franz also mentioned but wasn't all that sure. Yes, rigging and nomenclature on sailing vessels can be confusing: sails, rigging, schooner, barkentines, brigantines etc. The information rolls in and I hope it points Linda in the right direction. Keep us posted.

Cheers,
R. Dale Flick

You might also be interested in the articles on Morgan, de Zavala and the Texas Navy in the online Handbook of Texas; http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/MM/fmo50.html

There are also other related subjects there and each article gives references for the material in the article.

According to the Handbook of Texas the Flash and another small schooner named Kosciusoco belonged to the New Washington Association of which Morgan was agent. What I should have posted earlier is a schooner is a vessel fore and aft rigged on all masts. Two masts were typical on the small coasting schooners in the Texas trade in the 1830's & 40's. Later on, and in larger trades three masts were common and there are a number of rig variants. Many, if not most, of these little coastal vessels were very shallow draft with centerboards so they could get over the bars at the mouths of all the Texas rivers. Many were so small that they did not have a wheel and were steered by tiller.