The Buffalo River made headlines again when a rare chunk of smithsonite (zinc carbonate), weighing 12,750 pounds, was mined at the Morning Star Mine on Rush Creek. Initially, plans were made to transport the massive specimen overland by wagon to Walton’s Ferry at Buffalo City, but the weight proved too much for the steep, rough roads, forcing the plan to be abandoned.
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| 1893 - Jumbo Colorization by Vincent S. Anderson |
A barge was eventually constructed at Rush, and the specimen was floated down to the mouth of the Buffalo River.
The steamer ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ก, commanded by Capt. C.E. Pond, met the barge, transferred the heavy cargo onto its deck, and set course downstream for Batesville. With Capt. Pond walking the deck and Capt. Will Warner at the helm, the ๐๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐ก safely transported the prized exhibit to Batesville, where it was shipped by railroad to the World's Columbian Exposition—commonly known as the Chicago World's Fair—held from May 5 to October 31, 1893, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World.
The Rush, zinc nugget, named "Jumbo," was proudly displayed at the Exposition. However, the fair once again highlighted the significant transportation challenges faced in the remote wilderness of the Buffalo River region.
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| Steamboat Randall Colorization by Vincent S. Anderson Photo from Dr. Abraham Photo Gallery at the Baxter County Library |
I am always grateful for historians of the past like Duane Huddleston, who have documented the history of the White River and the Ozarks. Thanks to his diligence, our rivers have been carefully chronicled.
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