May 20 Thursday – Pennsylvania left for St. Louis. When the boat was backing out, Sam had to leap for the rail from the John J. Roe, ending his visit with Laura Wright. Years later he would send her a thousand dollars in response to a letter asking for help. The loves of Sam’s life were invariably put on haloed pedestals, none more so than Laura Wright [MT Encyclopedia Baetzhold 799; Powers MT A Life 82].
May 16 Sunday – Pennsylvania arrived in New Orleans. While there, Sam met fourteen-year-old Laura Wright (1845-1932). They spent most of the three days together. Sam was then twenty-two, but the age difference was not unusual in those days. Laura was with her father, Judge Foster P. Wright of Warsaw, Missouri, visiting her uncle, William C. Youngblood and her cousin Zeb Leavenworth on the John J. Roe. Sam went to visit Zeb and Beck Jolly, old mates from past trips. In his Autobiography Sam described Laura:
May 10 Monday – Pennsylvania left for New Orleans.
May 5 Wednesday – Pennsylvania arrived in St. Louis.
April 30 Friday – Pennsylvania left for St. Louis.
April 26 Monday – Pennsylvania arrived in New Orleans.
April 20 Tuesday – Pennsylvania left for New Orleans.
April 16 Friday – Pennsylvania arrived in St. Louis.
April 10 Saturday – Pennsylvania left for St. Louis.
April 6 Tuesday – Pennsylvania arrived in New Orleans.