Chapter Eleven

White River - Gateway to Marion County

By: Duane Huddleston

 Pages 115-116

Captain Stallings arrived at the Music Creek mines in March, after having brought the TOMPKINS to McBee's with a crusher for mine owner Joe S. Lemon. Since the other boats had refused to transport the massive equipment, Lemon offered all his future business to the TOMPKINS. They made plans to transport the crusher to the Pangle farm, on Jimmie's Creek, but the river fell, stranding the boat at McBee's for almost a month. To save expenses_, the deck hands were returned to Batesville.

When the river rose again, Captain Stallings hired local men to complete the crew and departed on April 16 for Lead Hill. While jumping Summers Shoal, at Denton's Ferry, the line slipped from the captain and stuck William Spangler, shattering his leg. Captain Stallings sent for a doctor, and after making satisfactory arrangements for Spangler's treatment, headed the TOMPKINS up river. He went as far as Long's Ferry and returned to McBee's, picking up 146 bales of cotton and 20 tons of ore at the mouth of Music Creek, some 15 miles above Oakland. After completing his load at McBee's and other Marion County landings, he turned the prow of the TOMPKINS toward Batesville.

The J. P. EAGLE and RALPH served the Marion County landings in 1892, with occasional trips by the TOM HESS, John T. Warner, master. The Ralph Transportation Company had further difficulties, when the Springfield directors tried to place Captain Charles Eagles and Albert G. Cravens in charge of their steamer. The matter was thrown into litigation and referred to Federal Court in Little Rock. The RALPH docked at Batesville and was still there in mid-March.

As the enterprise proceeded, the steamer RANDALL was purchased in late April of 1892 to ply between Batesville and Buffalo City. Its purpose was two-fold,-to carry materials for the building of the railroad, and to carry commercial freight and passengers. Built in 1889, the RANDALL was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and had a carrying capacity of 44 tons and 32 passengers. Semi-weekly trips were started to Buffalo City, with Captain Will T. Warner as master of the boat, and Captain Cravens as pilot.

The RANDALL became the favorite of W. R. Jones, who mentioned it more frequently than the EAGLE, which also served the area. He plugged a RANDALL excursion trip from Buffalo City to Batesville on June 11, 1892, pointing out that the round trip fare was only $5, which included meals while the steamer was moving.

By the fall of 1892, several changes were made in the steamboats serving Marion County. Captain Woodbury sold the EAGLE and leased the 220-ton J. A. WOODSON, and Captain John T. Warner rebuilt the TOM HESS, renaming her the RALPH E. WARNER. Captain William T. Thomas built the OAKLAND and readied her for service to McBee's Landing.

The RANDALL, RALPH E. WARNER, OAKLAND and J. A. WOODSON ran during the 1892-1893 boating season, making frequent trips to Buffalo City and McBee's. The RANDALL began carrying zinc ore from Buffalo City and so Captain Will Warner tied up the OAKLAND and assisted Captain Pond.

The RANDALL brought J. E. Wickersham's tools for his new tinshop and a good supply of stock to McGee's Landing in early May, while the WOODSON made an excursion trip to McBee's, her last of the season. Later, the RALPH E. WARNER docked at Batesville on a trip from Marion County, and Captain John T. Warner counted 27 cedar rafts lying overnight at the mouth of Buffalo River, enroute to Independence County.

As the business interests of W. C. McBee continued to grow, he wanted a steamboat capable of easily ascending the river to Lead Hill, so he hired Captain Cravens and E. B. Johnson to build one to carry freight and passengers on eight inches of water: Constructed at McBee's Landing, the small craft was 64 feet long, 14 feet wide, displaced 25 net tons, and could carry 14 tons of freight. It was named MYRTLE after one of McBee's daughters. To increase the hauling capacity, a barge called SANDY was built. Captain Cravens became master of the MYRTLE.

As 1894 approached, three steamboats served the Marion County ports; the J. A. WOODSON, Captain Woodbury, master; the RALPH E. WARNER, Captain John T. Warner commanding; and the MYRTLE with Captain John Shipp in charge and Captain Cravens as pilot. Low water curtailed operations in January, but the MYRTLE arrived at Buffalo City on the 10th and left with a cargo of cotton. Captain John Shipp promised to make weekly trips, water permitting. The river was at a good boating stage by February 1, resulting in the frequent arrival of steamboats at McBee's and all three vessels were there on February 10. Good steamboating conditions continued for several weeks, with the boats hauling away about $50,000 worth of cotton.

In the summer of 1894, Captain Will T. Warner built the DAUNTLESS, a beautiful 73-ton steamer, and the Warners gave hot competition to the other vessels during the winter months. The MYRTLE, now under the command of Captain Stallings was forced to Black River, where she ran until late February, 1895.