Kingsport Spirit

Transcribed by AI from the 1847 Knoxville Register (14 years prior to the Civil War)

“To the CASSANDRA, owned by the Messrs. Deerys & Churchwell, and commanded by Capt. Chapman, belongs the honor of having first succeeded in reaching Kingsport, the highest point on the Holston by many miles to which a steamboat has ever ascended.

This favorite boat left here week before last, for Kingsport, the determination of her commander being to reach that point if at all practicable. She accomplished the object in safety, arriving at her destination on Tuesday, the 9th inst. The citizens of the town and county were greatly gratified at the event, and greeted all on board with a true-hearted East Tennessee welcome. An excellent dinner was provided at the public-house kept by Mr. Grim, and the hospitalities of the place were freely tendered to the visitors. Rev. F. A. Ross delivered a speech on the occasion, which is spoken of as having been an excellent and appropriate one. And what is more praiseworthy and commendable in the citizens of Kingsport than almost anything else that occurred, they made to Capt. Chapman, the worthy and enterprising commander of the boat, the liberal present of a house and lot in the town, valued at some $250 or $300.

From what we have heard of the incidents of the occasion, we have no doubt there was as lively an interest manifested in the event by the people of Sullivan, as was exhibited by the citizens of Knoxville, when the old Atlas, which was the first steamer that ever reached this place, made her first appearance at our landing, under the command of Capt. Conner.

We hope the feeling that was awakened in Sullivan will not be suffered to die away; but that all the people, without distinction of party, will arouse themselves to the importance of having such improvements made in the river as shall secure to them the advantages of steamboat navigation for at least a light draught as the Cassandra, and for a good portion of the year.

Coming down, we understand the Cassandra accomplished the trip between Kingsport and Knoxville in between ten and eleven hours running-time!—The distance is estimated to be from 175 to 200 miles—so that with the current in her favor she must have run at the rate of between fifteen and twenty miles an hour. From McBee’s Bridge, said to be 30 miles by water above this place, she made the run to Knoxville in precisely one hour and thirty-three minutes—gliding along as gracefully as a bird, and arriving here on Thursday about the middle of the afternoon.

She left again for Kingsport, with a heavy freight of cotton for the factories at that place, on Saturday morning. There were on board of her several passengers, some of whom were going to Kingsport, and others to Rogersville and different points along the route. The proprietors extended to us a very polite invitation to join the company for the trip; but our engagements, very much to our regret, prevented us from availing ourselves of their courtesy.”