The "City of Shreveport" (Steamboat)

Sometimes the subject of an adjacent article on a newspaper page is as/more interesting than what is being researched. Such is the case with this find. In 1909, the Shreveport Transportation Company was chartered to revive river traffic on the Red. To that end, the company purchased the steamer Lucille, built in Alabama in 1908, and renamed it the "City of Shreveport." The last boat said to have made the S'port to New Orleans trip was the H. M. Carter in Feb-1907. 

Directory of River Packets in the Mobile-Alabama-Warrior-Tombigbee trades, 1818-1932, Page 266

Its maiden voyage, hailed a great success, initiated in N. O., began 30-Dec (rather than the advertised 28th, per a subsequent article) and returned 14-Jan-1910. The captain was George L. White, an experienced Red River pilot.

New Orleans Times-Democrat 21-Dec-1909, Page 13

Shreveport Times 26-Dec-1909, Page 2

New Orleans Times-Democrat 25-Dec-1909, Page 13

Among its reported cargo delivered to the Crescent City:

• 556 bales of cotton
• 353 sacks of cotton seed
• 127 barrels of syrup
• One piano
• A cow and calf

The jubilation was apparently short-lived however, as no evidence was found of any subsequent trips to/from the Port City. Perhaps at the time the Red was deemed too unpredictable for routine traffic, as an article a few days prior to the initial voyage mentioned recent rains brought the water level to a navigable stage, where previously it was not. By October 1910, the steamer was operating on the Ouachita River in northeast Louisiana; and continued to do so for all of 1911.

An example advertisement:

New Orleans Times-Democrat 07-Nov-1910, Page 13

The town of Jonesville, LA purchased the vessel in 1915. At the time, its service was said to have been discontinued two years prior, and the boat was "not in first class shape." Plans were to beach it in order to conduct repairs, then run it on the Black River. Whether this actually took place is not known, as mention again drops out of any Louisiana newspapers of the day.  

According to the Directory of River Packets... (referenced previously), the vessel burned in either 1919 or 1920.

Mary Flood Gates - Forgotten Shreveport Jazz Singer

Mary Thomas Flood Gates Ferguson (1900-1983) was local jazz singer and radio personality of the 1920s who signed with a major record label and made a modest splash on the music scene before eventually giving up her career for a husband and child. She is shown below in a photo that accompanied an article announcing a then upcoming performance for the Shreveport Aeronautic Association.

Shreveport Times 13-Jan-1928, Page 9


Photographs of flip sides of one of her records offered several years ago on an online auction.

Roots Vinyl Guide Auction (closed)


A period advertisement for same.

Pensacola (FL) 11-Mar-1928, Page 20

While with Columbia, Mary cut at least three records (six songs) in what was noted to be the "Chicago Style." In addition to the two previously mentioned were the following:

Why Couldn't It Be Poor Little Me? / You'll Leave Me Blue

If I Only Believed In You / I Had You-I Lost You-I Found You

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Mary Flood Gates (vocalist)," accessed December 11, 2017


EARLY LIFE

Mary was born in Mississippi in 1900 to Martin Thomas and Edna May (Anding) Flood. The family, including younger siblings Martin and Margaret, was reported living in Brookhaven at the time of the 1910 U. S. Census, and in Columbia during the 1920 count.

TIME IN SHREVEPORT

In July 1921, she married Oscar Cecil Gates in Arkansas. At the time, she was 21 and a resident of Shreveport; while he was 25, a native of Richmond, Virginia; and had once been a resident of New York City, and of Raleigh, NC the prior year. His trade was in printing and linotype. Their marriage was apparently very brief.

The first mention of her musical abilities appeared in 1922, where it was reported she served as an accompanist at a local recital that also featured her younger sister Margaret. In 1925, she played piano behind her sister's vocals on a program broadcast from the Hotel Youree on KWKH radio. One number was aptly titled "Baby Sister Blues." Note two songs penned by Margaret were performed as piano solos.

Shreveport Times 28-Jul-1925, Page 5


Below, Margaret is shown as a student at Louisiana State Normal School, now Northwestern State University,

1924 Louisiana State Normal Potpourri (yearbook)

At a radio trade show held in December 1925 at the Hotel Youree, featuring distributors and dealers of radio equipment and supplies, Mary was director for a program of musical entertainment and dancing. It was said she had more than seven years experience in that area.

Shreveport Times 02-Dec-1925, Page 9

The 1926 Shreveport city directory identified Mary as a sales lady at the local Brook Mays music store.

Shreveport Times 14-Apr-1926, Page 5

Over the years, she appeared frequently in newspaper social columns, performing herself or accompanying others at church services and other functions such as weddings.

A January 1926 advertisement for an appearance by child actor Annabelle Magnus at the New Majestic Theater identified Mary as a "popular KWKH entertainer." 

Shreveport Times 04-Jan-1926, Page 7

The performance is recapped below. In addition to accompanying Annabelle, Mary sand two songs herself - "Sleepy Time Gal" and "Nobody Seems to care. She is again identified as "popular KWKH entertainer" as well as director of radio programs. 

 

Shreveport Times 05-Jan-1926, Page 8

Annabelle Magnus was a child actor who appeared in several films in the 1920s and 1930s, said here to have Shreveport connections. A 1933 El Paso newspaper article, identifying her as a local to that city, stated she had "outgrown the 'Our Gang' comedies," however her name is not included on any found lists of cast members.

El Paso Herald-Post 07-Jul-1933, Page 6


Mary identified below on the bill of a radio program.

Shreveport Times 03-Sep-1926, Page 9

In April 1927 it was announced Mary (incorrectly identified as "Miss") had received a recording contract with what turned out to be Columbia Records. Note the song titles of her demo recordings match her discography of what was ultimately released. She was said to be the "first woman from the south" so chosen, and to possess a deep contralto voice that fit the "semi-jazz" ballads she sang.

Shreveport Times 17-Apr-1927, Page 4


Listen to two of Mary's recordings:

The 1928 Shreveport city directory listed Mary as a music teacher living at 1821 Marshall Street.

She was described singing at a Russian-themed charity ball put on by the Panhellenic Association in February 1929, where her outfit was described "a black circular skirt appliqued with Russian fixtures. A turquoise blue bolero and a smocked blouse completed her costume. Mrs. Gates wore a colorful red and gold headdress."

LIFE AFTER MUSIC

In July 1929 it was announced she had married John Howard Ferguson of New Orleans and the two would be living in Dallas.

Dallas Morning News 20-Jul-1929, Page 6

Those plans apparently changed abruptly, as the 1930 census shows the couple, with three month-old son John Jr., residing in New Orleans.  By 1940, they are reported in San Antonio, having lived there at least five years. In a 02-Mar-1951 San Antonio Light cooking article, she was referred to as a "well-known food authority" and "formerly one of Good Housekeeping's advisory board members. A 1959 article noted she had been the catering business for 15 years.

The lone reference to her musicianship found in later life was this entry in a December 1952 social column.

San Antonio Light 07-Dec-1952, Page 9-C

Husband Howard (as he went by) passed away in 1956. Mary died 15-Nov-1983, and is buried in Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio.

Wrestler Young Beel And The St. Paul Bottoms Incident

Shreveport police were called to an alley off of Common Street where an unconscious man was reported to have been seen. They found H. T. Tyler, a telegraph operator from Nacogdoches, Texas; who was unconscious and showed signs of having been roughed up. He'd been drinking earlier at a near-beer establishment in the St. Paul Bottoms area of the city when he caught the attention of three men who allegedly beat him with brass knuckles and robbed him. Among those accused of carrying concealed weapons and highway robbery was A. H. Behm, known professionally in the wrestling world  as "Young Beel."  

Shreveport Times 18-Dec-1913, Page 6

This tale touches on three of this writer's local historical interests - (1) wrestling (or better described here as "wrasslin'"); (2) vice, in that the crime occurred in the Bottoms, Shreveport's one-time vice district; and (3) Oil City; though the last is minimally connected. When Beel was apprehended, police found flyers on him advertising an upcoming match to be held in that town. No opponent was however identified.

BACKGROUND ON BEEL

The earliest found mention of Young Beel appeared in March 1905 when it was reported he scored a victory over Kid Roman.in Baltimore, Maryland.  Interestingly, in December of that year a "Young Beel" won a three-round boxing decision over Kid Sallis in Buffalo, New York. (Note: Nicknames such as "Young," "Kid," and even "Battling" were popular among boxers and wrestlers of that time.) 

A photo of Beel, somewhat resembling the late actor Charles Bronson, from 1908. He was described as the "fastest, cleverest wrestler in the business."

Richmond (IN) Palladium-Item 27-Nov-1908, Page 2


Some other early appearances:

Billed as being for the "Lightweight Championship of the World," he reportedly competed against Orfrees (no first name given) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The sanctioning body was not disclosed. He apparently did not win, as it was never cited in his later resume. (Oct-1907)

Pittsburgh Daily Post 18-Oct-1907, Page 14

He appeared on the same card, though not against, Charles Hackenschmidt. The two would apparently reconnect later in Texas. (see below) (Nov-1908)

Performing a stunt to demonstrate his endurance, while training in Spencer, North Carolina, he supposedly kept up with an automobile to which he was tied. A woman witnessing the event contacted the authorities, thinking he was being abused. It was claimed he clocked in at 10 miles per hour in a run of the same distance. (May-1910)

Said then to have been from Michigan, he wrestled Jim Downing in Little Rock, Arkansas (Oct-1910)

The criminal charge was not the first time his name had appeared in the Shreveport newspaper. A couple of years earlier it was reported from New Orleans he roughed up a professional burglar trying to rob his hotel room.

Shreveport Times 28-Feb-1911, Page 3

Prior to the hotel incident, he had at least two Louisiana-based matches - losing to Ed LaCroix (27-Dec-1910)  and defeated William Michaelis of Abita Sprinngs (04-Feb-1911). Both took place in Covington.

A couple of months later, Otto Abps, whose alias was identified as Young Beel, was billed as "champion of the south and of Germany" in a match  lost to John Berg in Victoria, Texas. After the match some charged (and some wrestling histories acknowledge) that Berg was actually Charles Hackenschmidt, well-known in wrestling circles. Also on the card was Joseph Savini of Corpus Christi, who would later become a fan favorite in Shreveport. (Apr-1911)

MATCH IN SHREVEPORT AGAINST JACK FISHER

Two months prior to his arrest, Beel grappled against "Champion Lightweight Wrestler of the Southwest," Oklahoman Jack Fisher at the Shreveport Athletic Club.

Shreveport Times 13-Oct-1913, Page 7

Shreveport Times 16-Sep-1913, Page 10

An article published the day of the match provided insight to the contestants, and identified some of Beel's prior opponents. Prior to the match the men would demonstrate various wrestling holds for the audience. Also, in a demonstration of strength, Beel would allow a loaded five-passenger automobile  to be driven over his chest. 

Shreveport Times 14-Oct-1913, Page 7

During the match, Beel became hurt and unable to continue. The action is recapped below. No mention was made of the pre-match feat of strength or, if it took place, whether it contributed to his injury. 

Times 15-Oct-1913, Page 7


OUTCOME OF CHARGES

During the grand jury's investigation, one of the accused, Pat Murphy (AKA, R. R. Page), had reportedly agreed to testify against the other two.

Shreveport Times 20-Dec-1913, Page 8


The trial set for Monday, 09-Feb-1924.

Shreveport Times 03-Feb--1914, Page 2

In an interesting twist, Behm and Berry were released when District Attorney W. A. Mabry entered nolle prosequi (Latin for "we shall no longer prosecute") into the court record. Murphy, apparently having tried to place blame elsewhere, had himself had been convicted earlier and was already serving a 14-year prison term.

Shreveport Times 10-Feb-1914, Page 10


Below: William Alexander Mabry, as candidate for the position in 1912.

Shreveport Times 03-Sep-1912, Page 10

EPILOGUE

What ultimately became of Beel is not known. Over the following years, his name appeared in the news sporadically. Examples include the following:

• Beel (said of of Birmingham) vs. Kid Keller of Chicago in Galveston, Texas (Jun-1914)
• Failed to show against Harry Brondell in Davenport, Iowa (Jun-1915)
• Lost to "lightweight champion of America" Eugene Tremblay in Montreal, Quebec (Nov-1916)
• Battled  Johnny Myers, identified as "welterweight claimant," to a draw in Chicago (Dec-1916)
• Identified as "Joe Hollack" and competing against Stanley Pinta of Los Angeles in Springfield, Illinois. (Mar-1919)
• In the last mention found of Beel it was noted that professional novice Jack Sachs would be given an "acid test" by going against him in Chicago. (Nov-1923)

Note while he appeared in a great many places, and was identified by several aliases, there were never any inconsistencies in the overall storyline found to suggest there were multiple wrestlers by that name traversing the country. For example, the name never appeared in two places at once, or in different places within a time span impractical for one to have reasonably traveled back in that day - for example him wrestling in Chicago, then in Houston the following day. During the time from December 1913, when he was presumably put in jail; until the court hearing on 09-Feb-1914, no mention of Beel appeared anywhere else in the country, with one exception.

It was reported that Young Beel lost a match held in Louisville, KY in straight falls to Japanese wrestler "Matsuda" on 06-Feb-1914, where in a comment he was described as "weakened." This was three days prior to when his charges were dropped in the Shreveport court. Perhaps, and this is this writer's speculation, once Murphy had been determined the real offender, and there was no longer reason to hold Behm and Berry, they were released prior to the hearing and the court entry was a formality to close out the case, not requiring their appearance. Once free, Beel "got out of Dodge" as quickly as possible, and the month-plus tenure in a Shreveport jail cell would explain his apparent rusty skills against Matsuda.