Arkansas (Packet, 1868-1884)

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Packet
• BUILT: Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, completed in Pittsburgh, 1868
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Sunk by ice 1884
• OWNERS: Captain A. H. Shaw; Captain "Diamond Jo" Reynolds, 1871; Captain Payton S. Davidson, 1878
• OFFICERS & CREW: Captain J. B. Wilcox (Master, 1875, 1878); Sherman Brown (Pilot, 1875); Stephan Dolson (Pilot, 1875); W. R. Tibbals (Pilot); Harry Rider (Pilot); Captain Charles Sencerbox (Master 1880-81); Captain William Burke (Captain and Mate); Sam Scutchfield (Engineer)
• RIVERS: Mississippi River; Missouri River; Arkansas River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 0348; First home port was St. Louis, Missouri; built for the Arkansas River-New Orleans trade, Captain A. H. Shaw principal owner. Part of Mountain (St. Louis-Fort Benton) trade, but didn't complete to Fort Benton in 1869. Arrived at New Orleans on December 29, 1970 with 2,301 bales, the biggest cotton load out of the Arkansas River to that date; spring 1871 brought out 2,322 bales. These cotton trips extended up to Fort Smith, Arkansas. Ran on the Lower Mississippi until, on a trip to St. Louis, Missouri in August, 1871, she was sold to Captain "Diamond Jo" Reynolds for handling Upper Mississippi grain and packet cargoes. She was sunk near Dubuque in mid March 1876 and raised. In 1878 she was sold to Captain Pate Davidson of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Homeport was La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1879. Captain Davidson used her several seasons in the Missouri and then on the Upper Mississippi. She was the first boat of the season to arrive at St. Louis from below, March 19, 1878. Sunk by ice, circa 1884, either at Louisiana, Missouri, or at St. Louis
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Deck hands on barges; one barge loaded with wood