Editor's note: This excerpt is from Benjamin Silliman. Remarks Made on A Short Tour between Hartford and Quebec in the Autumn of 1819.  Second Edition.  New Haven, 1824. 
Thank you to Contributing Scholar George A. Thompson for finding and cataloging  the article. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.

 Albany contains from ten to twelve thousand inhabitants, and is the second city in the state (we might almost say empire) of New-York.  . . . it is one hundred and sixty miles from New-York, and one hundred sixty-four from Boston.  It rises, for the most part, rapidly from the river, and exhibits a very handsome appearance from the Greenbush side.  The greater part of the population, however, is on the flat ground, immediately contiguous to the river, where the Dutch, who founded the town, first commenced building, agreeably to their established habits in Holland.  Instances are innumerable, where people continue from habit, what was at first begun from necessity, and this seems to have been the fact in the present case.  The town extends about two miles north and south, on the river, and in the widest part, nearly one mile east and west.  It is perfectly compact -- closely built, and as far as it extends, has the appearance of a great city.  It has numerous streets, lanes and alleys, and in all of them, there is the same closeness of building, and the same city-like appearance.
               
The principal streets, and especially Market, State and Pearl streets, are spacious, and the houses in general, are handsome and commodious; many are large, and a few are splendid.  State-street is very wide, and rises rapidly from the river, up a considerably steep hill.  The Capitol stands at the head of it.  This is a large and handsome building of stone* furnished with good rooms for the government (p. 60) and courts of law; in the decorations and furniture of some of these apartments, there is a good degree of elegance, and even some splendor. There is also a State Library, just begun; it does not yet contain one thousand volumes, but they are well selected, and a fund of five hundred dollars per annum is provided for its increase, besides three thousand dollars granted by the legislature to commence the collection.
  
I could not but regret that the tessellated marble pavement or the vestibule, otherwise very handsome, was shamefully dirtied by tobacco spittle; such a thing would not be suffered in Europe.  It is, however, only a sample of the too general treatment of public buildings, and places in the United States, and constitutes no peculiar topic of reproach, in this instance; but it is particularly offensive in so fine a building.  
               
The view from the Balcony of the Capitol is rich and magnificent: the mountains of Vermont and of the Catskill are the most distant objects, and the banks of the river are very beautiful, on account of the fine verdure and cultivation, and of the numerous pretty eminences, which bound its meadows.
               
The Academy of Albany, situated on the Capitol Hill, is a noble building of Jersey free stone.  Although it has (as stated to me by Dr. B----) cost ninety thousand dollars, only the lower rooms are finished.  Schools are, however, maintained, in it; for nearly two hundred children, and it is prosperous, under the able direction of Dr. T. R. Beck, and several assistant teachers.
               
This Institution was erected at the expense of the city of Albany, and is honorable to its munificence, although a plainer building, which, when completely finished, would have cost much less  money, would probably have been equally useful, and might have left them, out of their ninety thousand dollars, a handsome fund, in addition to what they now possess.

Among the interesting things of Albany is the seat of the late General Schuyler, situated quite in the country, at the south side of the town.  It is memorable, principally, from its historical associations.  It was the seat of vast hospitality and the resort of the great men of the revolution.
 
The house of the late Gen. Schuyler, is spacious and in its appearance venerable; it has long since passed away from the family, and is now possessed by a furrier.
               
At the opposite, or northern extremity of Albany, and almost equally in the country, is situated the seat of the patroon, Gen. Stephen Van Rensselaer.  It is well known, that he possesses a vast patrimonial estate of forty miles square, lying in the vicinity of Albany which has descended, unbroken, from his early American ancestors.  Such a phenomenon, in a republican country, is very remarkable, and cannot fail, in spite of our early prejudices, and the strong bias of national feelings, to excite a degree of admiration, if not of veneration.  We are still more disposed to indulge there feelings, when we find the hereditary possession of such wealth, associated with distinguished excellence, in public and private life, with the most amiable and unassuming manners, and with a princely although discriminating liberality.
               
The house, (which was built by the father of the present patroon,) is a palace.  It stands on the flat ground, by the river, and looks down Market street, which here terminates abruptly.  The house has in the rear, nothing but green fields and beautiful rural scenes.  It is embowered in groves, and shrubbery and reminded me powerfully, of some of the fine villas in Holland, to which, both in situation and appearance, it bears a strong resemblance.

Albany is the great thoroughfare and resort of the vast western regions of the State; its streets are very bustling; it is said that two thousand wagons sometimes pass up and down State street in a day; it must hereafter become a great inland city.
               
It stands near the head of sloop navigation and of tide water: sloops of eighty tons come up to the town, besides the steam-boats of vastly greater tonnage, but of a moderate draught of water.

The situation of Albany is salubrious, and eminently happy, in relation to the surrounding country, which is populous and fertile.  No one can estimate the importance of the regions west, which, in their progressive increase, and aided by the stupendous canal,* now in progress, must pour a great part of their treasures through this channel.

*  Already united to the waters of the Hudson, and beginning to verify the remark in the text.  1824.

Albany was the seat of the great convention, held in 1754, for the purpose of bringing about a confederation of the Colonies, for their mutual defense and general benefit, and it has been signalized, by not a few other meetings, for momentous public purposes.
               
We passed a part of three days in Albany, and were not without strong inducements to protract our stay.  The public houses are excellent, affording every accommodation and comfort with that quiet and retirement, and that prompt civility, so commonly found in English Inns, and which, until within a few years, were so rare in those of America.  Polished and enlightened society, and the courtesies of hospitality held out still stronger attractions, but our allotments of time did not permit us to remain any longer, and we hastened to set our faces towards the British dominions.
 
BANKS OF THE HUDSON, ABOVE ALBANY.
 
We determined to go by Whitehall, as we wished to avail ourselves, of the rapid and comfortable conveyance, to the confines of Canada, now established on Lake Champlain.  Being unwilling however, to pass rapidly by, or entirely to avoid, all the interesting objects on the road, we adopted such an arrangement, as might permits us to take the banks of the Hudson and Lake George in our route.  Indeed, from Albany, upon the course proposed, every part of our way was to be over classical ground.  History sheds a deeper interest over no portion of the North American States.  He who venerates the virtues and the valour, and commiserates the suffering of our fathers, and he, who views, with gratitude and reverence, the deliverancies which heaven has wrought for this land, will tread with awe, on every foot of ground between Albany and the northern lakes.

We were obliged, on this occasion, to deny ourselves a visit to Schenectady, and its rising literary institution, and to the waters of Ballston and Saratoga.  Leaving them therefore to the left, we proceeded along the banks of the Hudson, principally on the western shore.
               
This is a charming ride.  The road is very good and absolutely without a hill; the river often placid and smooth, but sometimes disturbed by a rocky bottom, is almost continually in sight, and flows through beautiful meadows, which are commonly bounded, at small distances from the Hudson, by verdant hills, of moderate height, and gentle declivity. 
    
SINGULAR HORSE FERRY-BOAT.
 
The ferry-boat is of a most singular construction.*  A platform covers a wide flat boat.  Underneath the platform, there is a large horizontal wheel, which extends to the sides of the boat; and there the platform, or deck, is cut through, and removed, so as to afford sufficient room for two horses to stand on the flat surface of the wheel, one horse on each side, and parallel to the gunwale of the boat.  The horses are harnessed, in the usual manner for teams -- the whiffle trees being attached to stout iron bars, fixed horizontally, at a proper height, in the posts, which are a part of the permanent structure of the boat.  The horses look in opposite directions, one to the bow, and the other to the stern; their feet take hold of the channels, or grooves, cut in the wheels, in the direction of radii; they press forward, and, although they advance not, any more than a squirrel in a revolving cage, or than a spit dog at his work, their feet cause the horizontal wheel to revolve, in a direction opposite to that of their own apparent motion; this, by a connexion of cogs, moves two vertical wheels, one on each wing of the boat, and these, being constructed like the paddle wheels of steam-boats, produce the same effect, and propel the boat forward.  The horses are covered by a roof, furnished with curtains, to protect them in bad weather; and do not appear to labor harder than common draft horses, with a heavy load.

* They have now become common, and are worked by four horses where the boat is large.  1824.

The inventor of this boat, is Mr. LANGDON, of Whitehall and it claims the important advantages of simplicity, cheapness, and effect.  At first view, the labour appears like a hardship upon the horses, but probably this is an illusion, as it seems very immaterial to their comfort, whether they advance with their load, or cause the basis, on which they labour, to recede.
 
TROY, LANSINGBURGH, AND WATERFORD.
 
Troy, six miles north of Albany, is a beautiful city, handsomely built, and regularly laid out; its appearance is very neat; it stands principally on the flat ground, by the Hudson -- contains five thousand inhabitants, a court-house, jail, market-house, and two banks, a public library, a Lancasterian school, and five places of public worship.  It has an intelligent and polished population, and a large share of wealth.  A number of its gentlemen have discovered their attachment to science, by the institution of a Lyceum of Natural History, which, fostered by the activity, zeal, and intelligence of its members, and of its lecturer, Mr. Eaton, promises to be a public benefit, and to elevate the character of the place.
               
Near it, on the opposite side of the river, are extensive and beautiful barracks, belonging to the United States, with a large park of artillery.  Below the town, are fine mill seats, on which are already established, several important manufactures, for which kind of employments Troy appears very favorably situated.  Small sloops come up to this town, which, for size, and importance, is the third, and fourth, in the state.
               
We had to regret that the arrangements of our journey did not permit us to pass as much time in Troy, as, under other circumstances, would have been both useful and agreeable.
               
Lansinghburgh, through which we passed, three miles north of Troy, is inferior ot it in the number and quality of its buildings.  Its population is not far from two thousand.  It is a large and handsome settlement, situated, principally, on one street, and has an academy, a bank, and four places of public worship.  Sloops come up to this place, and it enjoys a considerable trade.
               
It was formerly more flourishing than at present. Troy has, for a good many years, gained the preeminence, and seems likely to retain it.
               
Waterford is a pretty village, of one thousand inhabitants, and stands on the western bank of the Hudson, at its confluence with the Mohawk, where a number of islands, producing the appearance of several mouths, give diversity to a very beautiful scene.  It is ten miles north of Albany.  From the Lansingburgh side, we crossed into it, over a commodious bridge.  The name of this place, was formerly Half-Moon point. 

FORT EDWARD.
At this Fort, we first observed the canal, which is destined to connect the head waters of Lake Champlain with those of the Hudson.  It is now on the point of being united with this river, and they are constructing the walls of the Canal of a very handsome hewn stone: it is obtained, as I am informed, near Fort Anne, and presents to the eye, aided by a magnifier, very minute plates and veins, which feebly effervesce with acids. . . ; is it a peculiar kind of sand stone?  It is of a dark hue, and is shaped into handsome blocks, by the tools of the workmen.  I was gratified to see such firm and massy walls constructed of this stone; indeed, in point of solidity and beauty, they would do honor to the modern wet docks of Great Britain.
               
It is intended to have a lock at this place, where there is a considerable descent into the Hudson.
               
There is a village at Fort Edward, bearing the same name, and I ought to have remarked that there are villages, at Stillwater, Saratoga and Fort Miller; but there is nothing particularly interesting in any of them.  

Immediately after leaving this battle ground, we arrived on the banks of the canal, which is to connect the Hudson with Lake Champlain.  Being almost constantly in sight of it, and very often as near it as possible, we were seriously incommoded by deep gullies, and heaps of miry clay, thrown out by the canal diggers, through which we were compelled to drag our way; and when we were not in the mud, we found a road excessively rough and uncomfortable, from the united effect of much rain and much travelling, with occasional hot sunshine, in a country whose basis is a stiff clay.  We rode almost constantly in sight of Wood Creek, as well as of the canal.

​After a very fatiguing journey from Fort Anne, several miles of which I walked, we arrived safely at Whitehall, at the head of Lake Champlain, a little before night.

WHITEHALL -- THE CANAL.
The canal terminates twenty-two miles from Fort Edward, at Whitehall, where they are now (p. 181) constructing a lock, with handsome massy hewn stone.  There is a considerable descent to the surface of Lake Champlain, and Wood Creek, whose mouth and that of the canal are side by side, here rushes down a considerable rapid with some grandeur.  This is the place formerly called the falls of Wood Creek, at Skeensborough.
               
As Wood Creek is really a river, navigable by larger boats than those which will probably pass on the canal, and as the canal and river from Fort Anne, a distance of about ten or eleven miles, are often close together, so that a stone might be thrown from the one to the other, a traveller naturally inquires why the larger natural canal should, with vast expense, be deserted for the smaller artificial one.  The answer will probably be founded upon the shortening of distance, by avoiding the numerous windings of the creek -- the obtaining of a better horse road for dragging the boats -- security from the effects of floods and drought, in altering the quantity of water -- and the securing of a more adequate supply of water for that part of the route between Fort Anne an the Hudson; in either case, there must be locks at Whitehall.*

The immense utility of this canal is already sufficiently obvious in the vast quantities of lumber and other commodities which now find their way into the Hudson. -- March, 1824.

WHITEHALL PORT.
This is a well-built, and apparently thriving little place, situated on both branches of the muddy Wood Creek, which, on its way to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, sluggishly flows through the village, till it makes its escape into Lake Champlain; it then tumbles down a steep declivity, over a bed of rocks, and foams, and roars, as if in exultation, at making its escape from its own Lethean channel.
               
Whitehall, anciently called Skeensborough, was famous in General Burgoyne's campaign.  Here he destroyed the little American flotilla, in July, 1777, and the baggage and stores of the American army; and here he had his head quarters for some time, while preparing to pass his army and heavy artillery over land to Fort Edward.
               
Whitehall is situated at the bottom of a narrow defile in the mountains, and has the bustle and crowded aspect of a port, without the quiet and cleanliness of a village.  Some of the houses are situated on elevations and declivities, and some in the bottom of the vale -- some are of wood, and others of brick, but I was gratified to see many of them handsomely constructed of stone -- of the fine gneiss rock which abounds here -- the two parts of the town are connected by a bridge over Wood Creek.  The population of this town is between two and three thousand, and the village contains a Presbyterian meeting-house, four ware-houses, ten stores, and more than a hundred dwelling-houses.
               
The fever and ague is now very prevalent here, and many sallow faces, and feeble frames, are to be see about the streets.
               
The country, both up Wood Creek, and down the lake contiguous to the town, looks as if it might nourish fever and ague, but the inhabitants deny that it is their inheritance, and profess to consider the visitation of this summer as fortuitous.  I am afraid that their canal, with its stagnant waters, will not help them to more health.  A thick fog prevailed here, most of the time that we were in the place, and rendered it uncomfortable to move out of doors till the middle of the forenoon, when it blew away.
               
This will probably become a considerable place, situated as it is, at the head of lake navigation, and at the point of communication, between the Hudson and Lake Champlain.  it derived some ephemeral importance, from the local navy maintained on the lake, in time of war; there is a small naval arsenal here, and at present there are a few naval officers and men at this station.

PASSAGE DOWN LAKE CHAMPLAIN.
The carriage and horses were received on board the steam-boat at Whitehall, and accommodation which we had not expected; and thus we avoided the inconvenience of having them go around by land, to Burlington, in Vermont, to wait our return from Canada.  The steam-boat lay in a wild glen, immediately under a high, precipitous, rocky hill, and not far from the roaring outlet of Wood Creek; we almost drop down upon the port, all on a sudden, and it strikes one like an interesting discovery, in a country, so wild, and so far inland, as to present, in other respects, no nautical images or realities. 
               
We left Whitehall between two and three o'clock in the afternoon, in the Congress, a neat and rapid boat, and the only one remaining on the lake, since the late awful catastrophe of the "Phoenix".   
               
The lake, for many miles, after it receives Wood Creek, is, in fact, nothing more, than a narrow sluggish river, passing, without apparent motion, among high, rocky, and even mountainous ridges, between whose feet and the lake, there is, generally, a considerable extent of low, wet marshy ground, of a most unpromising appearance, for any purpose, but to produce fever and ague, unless by and by, it should by dyking and ditching, be rescued, like Holland, from the dominion of the water, and converted to the purposes of agriculture.
               
The channel, through which we passed, is, for miles, so narrow, that the steam-boat could scarcely put about in it, and there seemed hardly room for the passage of the little sloops, which we frequently met going up to Whitehall.  At the very head of this natural canal, lie moored, to the bank, stem and stern, the flotillas of McDonough and Downie, now, by the catastrophe of battle, united into one.
               
When I passed this place in June 1821, these vessels were lying a little way down the lake, mere wrecks, sunken, neglected and in ruins -- scarcely seven years from the time of the fierce contention, by which they were lost and won.

Editor's note: The following article is from the Commercial Advertiser, November 15, 1822. Thank you to Contributing Scholar George A. Thompson for finding, cataloging and transcribing this article. The language, spelling and grammar of the article reflects the time period when it was written.

FOR THE COMMERCIAL ADVERTISER.  The Catskill Mountains.
               
On the 18th of September, 1822, a large party of ladies and gentlemen visited the Pine Orchard, situated on one of the lofty summits of the Catskill mountains, and about twelve miles from the village of Catskill.
               
The road from Catskill to the base of the mountain, is tolerably good; and although it is over some considerable hills, the traveller feels little inconvenience, until he arrives at Lawrence's Tavern, near the foot of one of the cluster of mountains, and about seven miles from Catskill.
               
At this house, a large portion of the party halted, and partook of refreshments, and some proceeded up the mountain.  Immediately on leaving Lawrence's, the ascent becomes considerable, and often times difficult, passing over many rugged cliffs which continued almost without interruption, until we arrived at the Pine Orchard, which is distant about five miles.  As we approached the Pine Orchard, the views from the various openings of the woods near the road, become extremely interesting; occasionally, we ascended a very steep hill, and then winding on a course round some inaccessible cliff of rocks, again descended into a wild and lonely glen. At about 5 o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived at the Pine Orchard, so named from a small flat of land, on the summit of one of the mountains, on which grow a number of yellow pine trees.
               
The scene that here was presented to the eye, was uncommonly grand and sublime.  This point of the mountain is an elevation of 2800 feet, and the summit on which we stood is composed principally of granite rock, of an immense perpendicular height.

The sun was shedding his last declining rays over the world beneath us, and already the faint mists of the evening, partially obscured the far distant mountains that seemed to stretch their blue tops to the horizon. From the hasty contemplation of this delightful landscape, the company was early summoned to a cold collation, and soon afterwards to the Ball Room.  The building for the accommodation of the company, corresponded with the situation in which it was erected.  It was a temporary frame house, one story high, built with rough boards, consisting of two rooms for the ladies, a kitchen and supper-room adjoining.  Connected with this building, was another, built in a similar manner -- about sixty feet long and designed for a ball room.  The dining room presented a most singular and beautiful appearance; . . . the wild mountain had afforded every decoration; and the boughs of fir, the hemlock, and the spruce, were tastefully arranged along its walls.

 ***  The company, consisting of about seventy ladies and gentlemen from different parts of the state of New-York, assembled in the ball room; and at an early hour cotillions and country dances commenced, and were continued during the remainder of the night, except for the necessary intermission in partaking of an excellent supper, prepared in a very handsome style, by Mr. Bigelow.  All seemed to enjoy the festivities of the dance -- the music was well selected, and the party in fine spirits.  Indeed it was a most gratifying scene to behold so splendid a collection of youth and beauty . . . on the wild mountain's top, surrounded by the tall ever-green trees, and where, but as yesterday, the wild beasts of the forest roamed undisturbed!
               
At a seasonable hour the company separated and retired to rest; but at the dawn of day the music beat the reveille, and, according to a previous arrangement, the party again collected on the summit of the mountain's brow, to witness sun-rise.  Female beauty, renovated by refreshing sleep, appeared in all its loveliness, and the fresh morning air of the mountain, added lustre to many a fair cheek.  The grey mists of the morning, still rested on the immeasurable valleys below, and the distant mountains were but dimly seen.  ***  As the day-light increased, the vapours of the night gradually began to move, until the sun, proudly rising in his glory, shot his long and genial rays over the boundless landscape before us.  Who could survey such a scene, and not feel his soul regenerated from every selfish feeling!  The winds seemed pillowed in the valley, and as the sun majestically rose and dispelled the morning dews, the view became more and more extensive, until the eye had a boundless range over mountains, and forests, and fields, and towns!  Here and there lay the cultivated farm, and the blue smoke, gradually curling among the green trees of the valley, pointed to view the farm-house, and showed the early preparation of its rural tenant for breakfast.  Yonder rolled the Hudson, whitened by many a sail on its azure bosom. -- At a further distance, in the perspective were seen numerous cities and towns; and the roving eye, still wandering, fixes on objects that "distance scarcely bounds."  *
               
The traveller is richly compensated for his toil and trouble in climbing the Catskill mountain, if he can be there on a cloudless summer morning, at sun-rise.
               
The company, after partaking of an excellent breakfast, prepared by Mrs. Bigelow, descended the mountain, and again met and sociably dined together at Lawrence's.  Then they departed to their respective homes, and will long cherish in memory, the happy moments experienced in a visit to the Pine Orchard.  OCTAVIAN.
               
*  This summit of the mountain has a view extending at least one hundred miles.

Most of the cities along the Hudson River, and even some of the villages, at one time had steamboats named in their honor. The old colonial city of Kingston was no exception and for a six-year period in the late 1880's, Kingston was the home port of a sleek and graceful steamboat named “City of Kingston.”

During the post-Civil War years, the Cornell Steamboat Company and the Romer and Tremper Steamboat Company operated freight and passenger steamboats out of Rondout Creek for New York, each company operating a steamer on alternate nights so as to provide daily service.  On March 27, 1882, the Cornell steamboat “Thomas Cornell” was wrecked by running up on Danskammer Paint, north of Newburgh, in a fog.  The “City of Kingston” was built to replace her and was launched at Wilmington, Delaware on March 11, 1884. 

When she first appeared, the “City of Kingston” was a sharp departure from other steamboats of the day.  Almost all steamboats then were wooden hulled side wheelers with walking beam engines, but the “City of Kingston" had an iron hull and a screw propeller powered by a 750 h.p. compound engine.  She was also equipped with 165 electric lights, which in 1884 put her well ahead of almost anything afloat or ashore.  She is generally credited with being the first steamboat of a type that later became standard as overnight freight and passenger carriers out of almost every major city along the Atlantic coast. 

Her First Trip
The “City of Kingston” arrived in New York from her builder’s yard the latter part of May 1884 and on May 31 set out on her first trip to Kingston.  With a group of invited guests, she left New York at about 1:30 p.m. and was escorted through New York harbor by the Cornell tugboats “Hercules,” ‘‘S.L. Crosy” and “Edwin Terry,” all gaily decorated for the occasion with flags and with guests aboard.  She arrived at Rondout shortly after 6 p.m. where she was greeted by a large crowd, including many local dignitaries. 

The “City of Kingston" entered regular service on June 2, 1884.  Her schedule called for her to leave Rondout at 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with landings at Esopus, Cornwall and Cranston's the later landing being named for the large hotel on the bluff south of the village of Highland Falls.  On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday she would leave her pier at the foot of Harrison Street, New York at 4 p.m. for the up-river run. 

During the summer, on Saturdays she would leave New York at 1 p.m. and make connections at Rondout at 6 p.m. with a special train of the Ulster and Delaware Railroad for Catskill mountain resorts.  Sunday nights, the train would make connections with the “City of Kingston’’ at Rondout from where she would depart at 11 p.m. for New York.  Arriving in the metropolis at 6 a.m., the steamer would then run right back up river to resume her regular Monday night schedule.  Normally, the steamer would run from the latter part of March until about the middle of December. 

On June 23, 1886 the “City of Kingston” had her first serious accident.  She left her last up-river landing at Cranston’s at about 9:40 p.m. and being somewhat ahead of schedule was proceeding down through the Hudson Highlands at reduced speed.  She had a good passenger list and a large load of freight, the principal item of which was Hudson River Valley strawberries.  It was a hazy night of early summer, the kind when the smoke from passing trains used to lay over the water off Conns Hook, there being no breeze to carry it away. 

Loaded With Cement
All of a sudden off Manitou, directly ahead of the “City of Kingston,” lay schooner the “Mary Atwater,” drifting with the tide.  The “Mary Atwater” had left the James Cement Company, opposite Wilbur, that morning loaded with 550 barrels of cement.  The schooner was displaying no lights, it frequently being the habit of schooner men in those days on a still night to keep all lights out so as not to attract mosquitoes and bugs. 
​
They would have a lantern ready in the hold and when they heard the plop, plop, plop — plop, plop, plop of the side wheels of an approaching steamboat, they would then run the lantern up the mast.  On a quiet night, they would normally hear the pounding of steamer's side wheels up to two miles away.  The “City Kingston," however, having a propeller made no noise at all through the water.  Since she made no noise, the “City of Kingston” had become known to sloop and schooner men as ”The Sneak.”

In the haze, the “City of Kingston” was upon the darkened ‘‘Mary Atwater” too late to avoid a collision.  Her knife-like bow cut the schooner in two and the “Mary Atwater” immediately sank.  Although the schooner’s helmsman was saved, her owner and the cook asleep below decks were drowned.  The “City of Kingston" was undamaged. 

Many steamboatmen used to think nothing could surpass a sidewheeler for speed.  So on one of the “City of Kingston's” summer Saturday up-trips — July 2, 1887 — the crew of the smart sidewheeler ‘‘Kaaterskill” of the Catskill Line thought they would give a lesson to the new propeller steamer from Kingston.  The “City of Kingston” left her New York pier a few minutes after 1 p.m. and between there and Rondout was scheduled to make landings at Newburgh and Poughkeepsie.  The “Kaaterskill” got underway a few minutes later from her dock three piers below and was to go straight through to Catskill.

Accepted Challenge
On the “City of Kingston," they could tell by the smoke pouring from the ‘'Kaaterskill's’’ twin smoke stacks and by counting the strokes of walking beam, that her throttle was wide open and she was planning a race.  The “City of Kingston” accepted the challenge and, at the time, it was estimated she had a lead of nine minutes.

All the way up through Tappan Zee and Haverstraw Bay, if one was standing on the shore at Ossining, Rockland Lake or on the Haverstraw steamboat dock they could heard the heavy beating of the “Kaaterskill’s” paddle wheels pounding into the clear waters of the Hudson for more speed.  But try as she might, she could not shorten the distance.

The “City of Kingston" was cutting through the water like an eel and causing hardly any commotion in the water at her bow or stern, while the “Kaaterskill” was causing water fly in all directions from her large paddle wheels. 

The “City of Kingston” lost approximately nine minutes landing at Newburgh and Poughkeepsie which canceled her lead.  Leaving Poughkeepsie, the two steamers were almost abreast of each other, the "City of Kingston" slightly ahead.  Between there and Rondout Light, the "City of Kingston’’ steadily increased her lead and made the 10 mile run from Hyde Park to the mouth of Rondout Creek in exactly half an hour.  As she entered Rondout Creek, her rival, the "Kaaterskill’’ was below Port Ewen and the loser of the race by four minutes.  Many old boatmen told me the “City of Kingston’s” success was due in large measure to the skill of First Pilot William H. Mabie getting her in to her landings and on her way again in minimum time. 

Another Collision
The following year, on June 5, 1888, the “City of Kingston’’ was in a collision in New York harbor with the steam yacht ‘‘Meteor." The steamboat had just left her pier and the yacht was getting underway from her anchorage off 24th Street.  The yacht's bow sprit hit the “City of Kingston” on the starboard side and ripped out considerable joiner work before it broke off.  In the investigation that followed, the ‘‘City of Kingston” was held blameless and the captain of the yacht had his license suspended for 10 days. 
​
In 1889, after only six years of service on the Hudson River, the "City of Kingston'’ was sold and went to the Pacific coast.  To get there she had to go all the way around Cape Horn.  

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Editor's Note: The text is an announcement for an 1840 excursion on the steamer American Eagle to the dedication of the Thomas Paine Monument in New Rochelle, NY erected the previous fall on 28  November (Thanksgiving Day) of 1839. The monument was organized and raised through the efforts of Gilbert Vale (1789-1866) of New York City, a teacher of navigation, equal rights reformer, printer, publisher, author and Thomas Paine biographer. Well over 200 persons, mostly in NYC but throughout the country, donated towards the monument's creation. Vale and the New York Assemblyman Job Haskell were the keynote speakers for the 1840 event and the banquet following was held at the Mansion House in New Rochelle aka Captain Pelor's Hotel and The Cross Keys. ​

​NEW-YORK, SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 1840,
VISIT TO ROCHELLE AND THE PAINE MONUMENT ON THE 4th JULY, 1840. The steamboat American Eagle will leave the slip east of but adjoining the Fulton ferry, at precisely 9 A. M on the 4th of July and will return from Rochelle at 6. P. M. on the same day, at their usual prices 50 cents each way. Light waggons will convey passengers, who may not choose to walk, from the landing to the Monument, at 25 cents; as we are informed by a friend who has made the arrangement: and as the distance is at least two miles, we do not recommend any to walk, at least without an umbrella, if it should be a clear day. The waggons will stop at the Mansion House in the village, for a few minutes, and any person wishing to dine there at 50 cents, can leave their names. It is expected that several short addresses not exceeding twenty minutes each will be delivered at the monument or in the nearest shade. N. B. - The Captain will advertise the trip in the Sun two or three days previous to the excursion, and will there name other particulars, and as the party may possibly be large, we advise our friends to be on board the steamboat in time. Several private conveyances will go by land: these will leave the city between 7 and 8 A. M., and cali at Bradford's ("Here she goes," &c.) Harlem. No public land conveyance is engaged, but a stage runs daily at 2 P. M. from the Bowery, near Bayard street.
The Beacon. 1:32 New Series. 27 June 1840. p. 256