NICHOLAS ROOSEVELT'S 1811 STEAMBOAT NEW ORLEANS
Extract from Pittsburg Dispatch 23 November 1911

Autotype of New Orleans Safe in Port

Reaches Steubenville Too Late to Enjoy All Program of Reception

East Liverpool Greets

Trip from City Down River Continuous Series of Ovations

Seriously retarded by a stiff and chill Nor'wester, the gallant autotype of the New Orleans steamed into the port of Steubenville at 10 o'clock last night, too late for its hospitable people to execute the planned programs. Reserved boxes at the theater for the women voyagers were left vacant and the men missed the pleasure of a smoker at Elks' Hall. The party were, however, greeted by a large committee of the Chamber of Commerce and whisked in automobiles through the scenic portions of the city.

East Liverpool had been touched at 6 o'clock, and there Mayor Samuel Crawford, T.B. Milligan, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and J.M. Howley of city officialdom extended welcome. The stop was but for 30 minutes, but it sufficed for an interchange of enthusiastic welcomes and enabled W.A. Donkin, official boomer, to distribute the allotted portion of Pittsburgh literature, statistical and eulogistic.

The trip down the Ohio had been an undeviating series of ovations. Sirens screeched, while barges and steamers tied up along shore sounded their pleasure.

Old Friend Heard

There our old familiar friend, pandemonium, broke loose again. At Dam No. 7 the Government engineers presented the women travelers with bunches of chrysanthemums. Last night for a time there was dancing on board, the music furnished by graphophone, donated by a Pittsburg firm. The party was joined by P.C. Elsey, who will represent the river interests of the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company on the trip. Miss H. Dora Stecker and Rev. Dr. C.S. Bullock left the party at Steubenville. The New Orleans will leave that port tomorrow morning and will make Wheeling her first stop.

The already famous autotype of the original New Orleans, pulled its nose out of the wharf's chancery at 10:40 o'clock yesterday morning and began what must be a memorable trip. At the departure every steamer within the harbor let is whistles begin a choral effort to have the welkin ring. The tiny craft responded and the din was fully enough to mark the important event.

Who's Who on Board

The passengers who ventured the trip were:

Burd S. Patterson, Captain James A. Henderson and wife, William H. Stevenson and wife, Rev. G.P. Donehoo and wife of Coudersport, Pa., Dr. C.S. Bullock of New London, Conn., Congressman A.J. Barchfield, wife and daughter Helen, Miss H. Dora Stecker of Cincinnati, W. A. Donkin of the Industrial Development Commission, Assistant City Solicitor Harold M. Irons, George M. Lehman, Professor Archer B. Hulbert, of Marietta, Colonel John L. Vance, president of Ohio Valley Improvement Association, and Thomas J. Hawkins of the Historical Society.

Just as the reproduced New Orleans backed out a telegraph messenger displayed unwonted celerity and delivered this message of welcome: "New Orleans awaits with open arms the arrival of the New Orleans and wishes all on board a pleasant voyage." It was signed by W.O. Hart of the Louisiana Historical Society. Burd S. Patterson, secretary of the Western Historical Society, sent a response telling how Pittsburg had commissioned the voyagers to convey the city's warmest greetings to the Crescent City, its government, its societies, and its buyers. tons of boom literature were ballast for the courageous craft, and it will be disseminated in every port entered.

The 28 staterooms of the boat were elaborated appointed with all comforts and the commissary, under Steward Orvell Knoll, had been stocked as if for a trip around the world. The water itinerary designated East Liverpool as the first anchorage where a reception was scheduled. The night was designated for rest within the hospitable harbor of Steubenville.

The prime motive of the repetition of the original trip in 1811 is to permit the Industrial Development Commission to carry to the Southland the news of an awakened Pittsburg. The boat is due in New Orleans November 23. The passengers will come home by railroad.

Melvin O. Irwin, who is in command of the boat, was the last person boarding the quaint little craft. The oldest man on board was Captain R.L. Moore, formerly a local river man, who is 84 years of age.

Congressman Nicholas Longwell and Mrs. Alice Roosevelt Longwell, his wife, will board the boat at Cincinnati and make the remainder of the trip to the South.


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