The Hudson Part 4

Paragon, built in 1811 331 "

Richmond, built in 1813 370 "

It makes one smile to read the newspaper notices of those days. The time was rather long, and the fare rather high--thirty-six hours to Albany, fare seven dollars.

_From the Albany Gazette, September, 1807._

"The North River Steamboat will leave Paulus Hook Ferry on Friday the 4th of September, at 9 in the morning, and arrive at Albany at 9 in the afternoon on Sat.u.r.day. Provisions, good berths, and accommodation are provided. The charge to each pa.s.senger is as follows:

To Newburg Dols. 3, Time 14 hours.

Poughkeepsie " 4, " 17 "

Esopus " 5, " 20 "

Hudson " 5, " 30 "

Albany " 7, " 36 "

For places apply to Wm. Vandervoort, No. 48 Courtland street, on the corner of Greenwich street, September 2d, 1807."

The wind blew over the land and the waves With its salt sea-breath, and a spicy balm, And it seemed to cool my throbbing brain, And lend my spirit its gusty calm.

_Richard Henry Stoddard._

_Extract from the New York Evening Post, October 2, 1807._

Mr. Fulton's new-invented steamboat, which is fitted up in a neat style for pa.s.sengers, and is intended to run from New York to Albany as a packet, left here this morning with ninety pa.s.sengers, against a strong head wind. Notwithstanding which, it is judged that she moved through the waters at the rate of six miles an hour.

_Extract from the Albany Gazette, October 5th, 1807._

Friday, October 2d, 1807, the steamboat (Clermont) left New York at ten o'clock a.m., against a stormy tide, very rough water, and a violent gale from the north. She made a headway beyond the most sanguine expectations, and without being rocked by the waves.

Arrived at Albany, October 4th, at 10 o'clock p.m., being detained by being obliged to come to anchor, owing to a gale and having one of her paddle wheels torn away by running foul of a sloop.

But see! the broadening river deeper flows, Its tribute floods intent to reach the sea.

_Park Benjamin._

The following was recently recopied in the _Poughkeepsie Eagle_, as an old time reminiscence:

=To Poughkeepsie from New York in Seventeen Hours.=

--The first steamboat on the Hudson River pa.s.sed Poughkeepsie August 17th, 1807, and in June, 1808, the owners of the boat caused the following advertis.e.m.e.nt to be published in prominent papers along the river:

=STEAMBOAT.=

FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC.

The Steamboat will leave New York for Albany every Sat.u.r.day afternoon exactly at 6 o'clock, and will pa.s.s:

West Point, about 4 o'clock Sunday morning.

Newburgh, 7 o'clock Sunday morning.

Poughkeepsie, 11 o'clock Sunday morning.

Esopus, 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

Red Hook, 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

Catskill, 7 o'clock in the afternoon.

Hudson, 8 o'clock in the evening.

She will leave Albany for New York every Wednesday morning exactly at 8 o'clock, and pa.s.s:

Hudson, about 3 in the afternoon.

Esopus, 8 in the evening.

Poughkeepsie, 12 at night.

Newburgh, 4 Thursday morning.

West Point, 7 Thursday morning.

As the time at which the boat may arrive at the different places above mentioned may vary an hour, more or less, according to the advantage or disadvantage of wind and tide, those who wish to come on board will see the necessity of being on the spot an hour before the time. Persons wishing to come on board from any other landing than these here specified can calculate the time the boat will pa.s.s and be ready on her arrival. Innkeepers or boatmen who bring pa.s.sengers on board or take them ash.o.r.e from any part of the river will be allowed one shilling for each person.

PRICES OF Pa.s.sAGE--FROM NEW YORK.

To West Point $2 30 To Newburgh 3 00 To Poughkeepsie 3 50 To Esopus 4 00 To Red Hook 4 50 To Hudson 5 00 To Albany 7 00

FROM ALBANY.

To Hudson $2 00 To Red Hook 3 00 To Esopus 3 50 To Poughkeepsie 4 00 To Newburgh and West Point 4 50 To New York 7 00

All other pa.s.sengers are to pay at the rate of one dollar for every twenty miles, and a half dollar for every meal they may eat.

Children from 1 to 5 years of age to pay one-third price and to sleep with persons under whose care they are.

Young persons from 5 to 15 years of age to pay half price, provided they sleep two in a berth, and the whole price for each one who requests to occupy a whole berth.

Servants who pay two-thirds price are ent.i.tled to a berth; they pay half price if they do not have a berth.

Every person paying full price is allowed sixty pounds of baggage; if less than full price forty pounds. They are to pay at the rate of three cents per pound for surplus baggage. Storekeepers who wish to carry light and valuable merchandise can be accommodated on paying three cents a pound.

By palace, village, cot, a sweet surprise At every turn the vision looks upon; Till to our wondering and uplifted eyes The Highland rocks and hills in solemn grandeur rise.

_Henry T. Tuckerman._

=Day Line Steamers.=--As the cradle of successful steam navigation was rocked on the Hudson, it is fitting that the Day Line Steamers should excel all others in beauty, grace and speed. There is no comparison between these river palaces and the steamboats on the Rhine or any river in Europe, as to equipment, comfort and rapidity. To make another reference to the great tourist route of Europe, the distance from Cologne to Coblenz is 60 miles, the same as from New York to Newburgh. It takes the Rhine steamers from seven to eight hours (as will be seen in Baedeker's Guide to that river) going up the stream, and from four and a half to five hours returning with the current. The Hudson by Daylight steamers en route to Albany make the run from New York to Newburgh in three hours; to Poughkeepsie in four hours, making stops at Yonkers, West Point and Newburgh. Probably no train on the best equipped railroad in our country reaches its stations with greater regularity than these steamers make their various landing.