P-003: Ruth Ferris Collection Prints

This part of the Ruth Ferris Collection contains prints, mostly lithographs taken from illustrated periodicals in the 19th century.
Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library

Pages

A Trip on the Atchafalaya River
1. Entrance to Atchafalaya River. 2. A "Swamper's" house on the Atchafalaya. 3. A Swamper. 4. Steamer running the rapids of the Atchafalaya. 5. Red River Landing. 6. Castle on the Atchafalaya. 7. Little Whiskey Bayou. 8. A Swamper's garden (in a Canoe). 9. The ash cabin, Atchafalaya. 10. Map showing changes in the Mississippi's current.
Agricultural and Mechanical Fair
The Great Fair at St. Louis, -- A view of the grounds.
Beer-Garden
A German beer-garden, -- Sunday night.
Burning of steamers on the Ohio River at Cincinnati, May 12, 1869.
We illustrate on page 349 the disastrous conflagration which took place on the Ohio River, at Cincinnati, on the morning of May 12. A little before two o'clock a fire broke out in the Clifton, caused, it is supposed, by the upsetting of a lamp. Five steamers were lying in close proximity, and above these six others. In less than half an hour the six steamers below were destroyed, nearly all of them being burned to the water's edge. Those on board the Clifton were just able to escape with their lives, so rapid was the conflagration. Before the earliest engines could reach the scene four of the boats were already in flames. The heat was so intense that they could only approach the boats with the greatest difficulty. But their daring was equal to the emergency, and they fought their fierce foe at close quarters. Some of the boats had on board a large quantity of oil, and as the barrels caught fire they floated out into the river, and then down the stream, make it a stream of burning fire. The Kentucky shore was lighted up, and the flames showed its banks filled with spectators drawn from their beds by the magnificent spectacle. A deck-hand was burned to death on the Clifton, and it is reported that five hands on the Cheyenne suffered a similar fate. Three or four men from the Darling were drowned in their attempt to get ashore. The loss of property amounted to nearly $1,000,000, exclusive of cargo.
Chaperon
Green River packet "Chaperon"
Crevasse on the Lower Mississippi
Illustration of fishermen on the riverbank of the Mississippi at flood stage. House and men in a canoe in the background., From Harper's Pictorial History of the Civil War.
Eisenbrucken. III.
1. Rheinbrucke zu Koblenz. 2. Mississippibrucke bei St. Louis (Nordamerika) wahrend des Baues., Iron Bridges. 1. Rhine bridge to Koblenz. 2. Mississippi bridge at St. Louis (North America) during the construction.
Emigrants Crossing the Plains
F.O.C. Darley, fecit. H. B. Hall, Jr. Sc.
Fort Augustus and Loch Ness
Fort Augustus and Loch Ness.
Fort Benton
U. S. P. R. R. Exp. and Surveys - 47th and 49th parallels.
Fort Snelling
Fort Snelling (Minnesota). Drawn after nature from the proprietor Herman J. Meyer.
Gioacchino Rossini
The great Italian Composer.
Government Snagboat No. 2
Government snag-boat removing obstructions from the channel of a western river. - Drawn by Schell and Hogan. - [See page 870.]
Grand Tower and Devil's Bakeoven
Grand Tower and Devil's Bakeoven, Mississippi River. Drawn after nature for proprietor Herman J. Meyer.
Great Crevasse of the Mississippi
The great crevasse of the Mississippi on the plantation of Mr. Bell, near New Orleans, April 11, 1858.--See page 7.
Great Falls of the Missouri River
U. S. P. R. R. Exp. and Surveys - 47th and 49th parallels.
Hailing a Steamboat
On the Mississippi. By our special artist and correspondent.
Ice Bridge at St. Louis
Ice bridge over the Mississippi at St. Louis.-[Photographed by R. Benecke, St. Louis.]
J. M. White
J. M. White, Hal Henderson sketch. Proof from cut of drawing used on cover of "Steamboat, Art, Decoration and Elegance" by Ruth Ferris.
Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana
Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana. (Near the Mouth of the Great Miami) Drawn and Engraved for the Ladies Repository.
Lake Pepin
Grand - Spirit - Tables (Lake Pepin)
Queen of the West
The federal ram "Queen of the West" attacking the rebel gunboat "Vicksburg" off Vicksburg.--[See page 139.]
River Scenes at Cairo, Illinois
Cairo at midnight. Coaling in Cairo. On the Mississippi - By our special artist and correspondent.
Sectional Dock Co. of St. Louis
The Sectional Dock Company have now two complete Docks in successful operation, located at the foot of Lesperance Street. In connection with these Docks they have a Floating Saw Mill, with circular and upright saws and Planing Mill; and have recently added to their facilities a New Saw Mill on shore, 40 by 125 feet, on the most approved plan, with circular and upright saws, and planing mill. They have also a sufficient number of Flats for caulkers' use and guard work when off the Docks; a Blacksmith's Shop, where all chain work, rudder irons, bolting etc., can be done that may be required. With these they have other facilities, sufficient for doing with expedition all repairs properly belonging to ship carpenters' work, including bridgetrees, gallows frames, cullender timbers, water wheel beams, full length floors, etc.; and have always at comand a sufficient number of experienced workmen, with lumber and all other materials for necessary repairs. These Docks possess peculiar advantages for straightening a boat or vessel that has become hoged or twisted, which is done by raising or depressing any one or more sections or either end of them. The management of those Docks and work done on or about them is in charge of a practical and skillful mechanic in that line, and long experience. Parties employing this Company for dockage and repairs may be assured that all repairs and workmanship will be made satisfactory to them...
St. Louis Riverfront
View of the bridge now building across the Mississippi at St. Louis. - Sketched from the shot-tower by Robert P. Mallory. (See page 30).
Street Scene in Cairo, Illinois and Government Auction on the Levee At Cairo, Illinois
Passing along the levee at Cairo, with its dust, filth, and obtrusive drinking-saloons, gaping wide open for victims to trash within, ti would appear to a stranger, from the great number of such places, that the people of Cairo had powers not accorded elsewhere to ordinary mortals of resisting the effects of 'tangle-leg,' 'red-eye,' 'twist-knee,' and other brands peculiar to the locality. Outside of each place are gathered a knot of hard-looking fellows. There is a suspicious air of 'lying-in-wait' common to these frequenters of the levee which is not calculated to inspire confidence in a stranger.
Terrific Fire Among the Steamers In the Harbor of St. Louis, Mo.
Between five and six o'clock on Wednesday morning the 2d of July, a fire broke out in the cabin of the steamboat St. Clair, lying at the extreme end of the upper landing, which immediately communicated to the Paul Anderson, lying below her, and before many moments both were enveloped in flames. The hawsers were immediately cut loose, and the burning boats were sent floating down the stream. The current drove them alongside the Grand Turk, Southerner, and Saranak No. 2, lying immediately below, and the flames instantly communicated with those steamers, and in a moment those boats were also enveloped in a terrific blaze of fire. The J. M. Stockwell, lying below the Saranak, also caught fire, and in less than three quarters of an hour, and before the engines could possibly arrive, the above six steamboats were totally destroyed. The Southerner was a splendid new steamer, and only came out at the beginning of the season. She was built in Mobile, entirely of maple wood, and valued at $35,000. She was undergoing extensive repairs, and about to have a magnificent passenger cabin placed on her for the trade between this port and New Orleans. She was not insured in any of the offices here, as far as we could learn. The Paul Anderson was an old boat and was not worth as she stood more than $1000. Her machinery had been taken out, which rendered her all but valueless excepting the wood work and the hull, which was not considered of much account. The J. M. Stockwell was a Wabash river boat, worth about $800. The St. Clair was also an old boat, and not considered worth more than $10,000. The Grand Turk, although a very old craft, was still in fair condition, and was valued at about $20,000. She, years ago, cost $60,000, but had passed the best of her days, and was not worth more yesterday at the outside than the above amount. The Saranak No. 2 was also an old steamboat, not worth more than about $6000. The St. Clair was an old boat, valued at about $10,000. The total amount of property destroyed would probably amount to $75,000. With the exception of the Southerner, none of the other boats were worth much. There were immense crowds of persons collected on both sides of the river, witnessing the fire, which presented at one time a fearfully grand and picturesque sight. It is supposed to have originated through the work of an incendiary.

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