Little Adrian in service in 1 875 navi- 

 gating the sunken logs, snags and flats 

 of the upper Black River. 



In the mid- 1 870s, a group of aspir- 

 ing businessmen formed the Black 

 River Navigation Company for the 

 purpose of monopolizing steamer trade 

 along the river from Point Caswell to 

 its headwaters. The N.C. General As- 

 sembly granted the company exclusive 

 rights of navigation for 50 years on one 

 condition — the company must clear 

 the upper river of submerged riffraff 

 within five years. 



The company did little or nothing 

 to improve navigation of the upper 

 Black River. The businessmen learned 

 that trade along this portion was not as 

 substantial as believed. Many small 

 farmers and loggers were reluctant to 

 trade their rafts, which cost nothing but 

 time, for the more expensive steamer 

 travel. And in no way did the company 

 anticipate how hard it would be to clear 

 the Black River. 



Because of their inability and un- 

 willingness to fulfill the contract, the 

 Black River Navigation Company de- 

 faulted on its agreement, and the mo- 



Continued 



Black River. After the Civil War, how- 

 ever, advances in engineering made it 

 possible to build small, shallow-draft 

 steamers. 



Richard P. Paddison, a native of 

 Harrells Store in Sampson County, 

 pioneered the opening of steamboat 

 traffic on the Black River in 1869 when 

 he began operating the Mary Eleanor 

 and Little Sam. 



Little Sam ran between Point 

 Caswell, a newly thriving Pender 

 County town, and the port city of 

 Wilmington. An advertisement in the 

 Wilmington Star described the 

 steamer's schedule and fares. 



"The steamer Little Sam is now 

 running regularly between Wilmington 

 and Point Caswell, leaving Wilmington 

 Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 



11 o'clock a.m. and Point Caswell 

 Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 

 9 o'clock a.m., touching at all interme- 

 diate landings for passengers or 

 freight. Fare $1 — meals extra. Freight 

 charges very moderate. For freight or 

 passage, apply to captain on board." 



Despite Paddison's advertising 

 efforts, the Little Sam didn't prove 

 profitable. Consequently, Paddison 

 briefly diverted his interest to the Tar 

 River, but returned to the Black River 

 nine months later with the steamer 

 North East. By now, Point Caswell had 

 added a turpentine distillery, a sawmill 

 and other commercial ventures that 

 increased river traffic to the town. 



Meanwhile, upriver trade of farm- 

 ing and naval store products grew, 

 causing Charles Howe to place the 



deainboab approached 

 a landing or town, the captain 

 would jignal ib arrival with the 

 blow of ib whittle. Different 

 wh'utlu ju/nified different 

 cargo. Thu poem explaiiu the 

 dejignatioiw. 



One toot of the whistle, 

 steamboats coming; 



Two toots of the 

 whistle, freight aboard. 



Three toots of the 

 whistle, a lady is coming 

 ashore; 



Four toots of the 

 whistle, a corpse aboard. 



COASTWATCH 13 



