Message Boards - Blogs http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/ Steamboats.org forum - steamboats - paddlewheelers - river cruises - river history en Sat, 04 Feb 2012 06:00:54 GMT vBulletin 15 http://www.steamboats.org/forum/images/misc/rss.jpg Message Boards - Blogs http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/ diamond joe reynolds http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/lee-farmer/151-diamond-joe-reynolds.html Wed, 01 Feb 2012 13:26:49 GMT Searching for any info of when reynolds ran cattle in colorado in the 1880s with the diamond jo cattlr brand. Our museum has the brand but little... Searching for any info of when reynolds ran cattle in colorado in the 1880s with the diamond jo cattlr brand. Our museum has the brand but little info. supposedly reynolds brought up longhorns from texas and took a big loss in 1884 due to the harsh winter. his foreman was reportedly john morrissey. ]]> lee farmer http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/lee-farmer/151-diamond-joe-reynolds.html MARY POWELL c.1861 - a rare model / Part 1/ Rex Stewart http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/rex-stewart/150-mary-powell-c-1861-rare-model-part-1-rex-stewart.html Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:00:40 GMT MARY POWELL, the gem of New York's Hudson River, was an exciting endeavor to pursue -from a different perspective.

I already had models in collections both here in America and across the Atlantic, but this fresh commission sparked my interest to further research this prolific Northeast steamboat and present her original appearance when built at the onset of the Civil War in 1861.

For further reading visit Hudson River Model Steamboats ]]> Rex Stewart http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/rex-stewart/150-mary-powell-c-1861-rare-model-part-1-rex-stewart.html The Delta Queens Captains Log, June 2 http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/149-delta-queens-captains-log-june-2.html Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:20:38 GMT At The Army Corp dock, St. Francisville. The morning was nice and clear, the river stage at 17 feet and rising. The tours got off, the gangway was... At The Army Corp dock, St. Francisville. The morning was nice and clear, the river stage at 17 feet and rising. The tours got off, the gangway was seated nicely on the newly graveled walk/ramp. About 10:30 am, the American Queen landed alongside to debark an ill passenger, Captain Garland Shewmaker at the bridgewing controls. I had the Delta Queens engines and thruster warmed up just in case of the AQ moving us, but we never even felt it as the huge boat landed gently alongside. She was there only a couple of minutes, just long enough for paramedics to trundle the ill lady and an AQ crewmember across our bow and to the waiting ambulance. The AQ gracefully backed out and away, then headed back up river, bound for Natchez, some 98 miles up a muddy river. We were bound for Alexandria and Nachitoches, Louisiana on the Red River, and I was worried about the forecast, rather ominous, calling for torrential rains the day after tommorrow, when we were supposed to be in Nachitoches. The small narrow Red River tends to rise very quicky in reponse to heavy rain...
We got all of our tours aboard and departed on time, headed up for The Old River lock at mile 304, about 38 miles up river. The afternoon and evening were uneventful, and we locked through the 75 foot wide lock at 6:30 pm, passed through the canal and turned out and up into the Red River. The Red was near normal, just slightly high. The Red River is lined with rock dikes in many places along the shores, and many of them dont have bouys on them. The river is near normal now, so all of the low rock dikes are all visible, and easy to avoid, but when the river rises only a few feet, the dikes go under and become almost impossible to see, especially at night. I only hope the forecast is wrong!
We locked on up through locks 1 and 2 on the Red and made it to Alexandria early, in the wee hours of the morning. The newly constructed city front afforded an easy landing with good ties. The deck crew had us secured quickly, with our 2 new hands really hustling as they ran the lines up the hill.
The morning started out clear and calm, but the skys slowly darkened as the day progressed, and the weather forecast called for severe storms and heavy rain this evening. We got everyone aboard and departed on time at 5 pm, and I hoped we could get up into the Nachitoches harbor and secured before the storms hit. No such luck. At 7 pm, we were beset by 60mph winds and torrential rain, completely blanking out both radars. I stood in the pilothouse stiff and tense, extremely worried about my vessel and her precious cargo. This was the part I hated about this job, the worry, and at times the fear for my boat, guests and crew. Any Captain who says hes never been afraid out on the river is a dam liar! We couldn't stop, we had to keep moving up the channel to maintain steerage in the wind. With the radars blanked out, we could only see the river banks illuminated in ghastly white flashes of the incessant lightning. Captain Milford stood at the sticks, leaning to one side, steering the old boat up through the storm. "Just an old Red River squall, Capt Mike" he said in his Louisiana drawl. I was so happy to have an old seasoned pilot like him at the controls right then! About 30 minutes had passed of this nightmare, then the storm eased as quickly as it had come, having mercy on us just as we neared the Natchtoches Harbor. We made the very sharp turn into the Nachitoches harbor, a very small pond really with barely enough roon for us. The wind had died to nothing and the night was cool and clear after the storm as I turned the Delta Queen in the narrow harbor and laid against a single cluster/piling. Not much to tie up to, all in all a **** poor set up!
June 3...
This morning, the tours got off on time , the tour manager in her usual nervous fluster, hustling guests off to busses like a mother duck after her hatchlings. Before she left, I took her aside and asked her to hurry the tours along, and explained my concern about the rising river and the once again ominous forecast for the evening. She was visibly angry that I would suggest she hurry her tours, and short change our guests! I was very ****ed at her attitude, but kept my cool trying to explain that if the river rose much more while we sat here we may just end up sitting here for a week waiting for the flooded river to fall, and how would that affect our guests? She stormed off without responding.
Sure enough, along about noon the weather forecast began warning of major storms approaching the region, with more high winds and torrential rains. After last nights torrents, this little river was already rising and was really going to rise now. The warnings worsened in the early afternoon, now flash flood warnings were being issued for the Red River! I called the tour leader and instructed them to cut the tours short and to return to the boat, which they did, arriving around 3:30 pm.I announced to all passengers and crew that we would be leaving early, trying to get down and out of the Red River before the dikes flooded under. Most of the guests I spoke to thought it was exciting ,but the tour manager was madder than a wet hen and a couple of musicians complained that I was cutting into their shore time! It took I all I had to control my anger as I tersely explained to them that the safety of this vessel was a hell of a lot more important than their god dam shore time! I'd like to see them talk to Capt. Ernie Wagner that way!
We got underway 45 minutes early at 4:15 pm, making a run for the big wide Mississippi River. The sky was slowing darkening again and light rain was beginning to fall. We made it down to the Alexandria bridges, one was opened and one was still closed! I had called earlier in the day to arrange to have both of the bridges open, and had been assured they would be when we arrived. We had to back full astern to stop the boat when we came around the bend and saw the closed bridge. We finally got the bridge tender on the radio, who apologised and said he forgot to get the other bridge open. We had to sit there above the bridge for a hour and tred water, backing in the increasing current until a highway emergency road crew arrived and got the bridge open. Finally, we raced on down the rising river as the rain picked up, the tops of most of the dikes just barely showing in the increasing current. We finally got down and locked through the last 2 locks that night uneventfully, and then locked on out through the Old River Lock and out into the big wide beautiful Mississippi River around noon the next day. The sky opened up and all hell broke loose, with high winds and torrential rains that lasted all day, but we were safe back out on the big muddy, headed south. We made it down to Baton Rouge at 10:15 pm, and I wanted to go in to the "paper clip" dock at the city front early to let the crew off, but, low and behold, there was a small US Navy ship right in our landing spot on the dock! We were scheduled to be there, but that of course does not matter to the Navy! I decided to try anyway. We called the vessel, The USS Blackhawk, a mine sweeper, but there was no response. We tried every channel, still no response. I had the pilot turn the Delta Queen alongside the ship, and we flashed our searchlights repeatedly on the vessel and its wheel house. No response! Even a blast on the whistle failed to rouse a single soul! This is our Navy?
I finally got in touch with the dock manager just up river at the Capital Marine Fleet barge, who agree to let us land up there for the day. We had been the before and their wharf barge makes an ideal spot to off and on load passengers. Those guys are great friends and true riverfolk! We finally got tied off on the fleet wharf barge at midnight. Several of our stalwart crewmembers headed off to the favorite crew watering hole, The Thirsty Tiger Bar...
The best laugh came the next morning came when I called and woke the tour manager at 6 am, and told her that our landing location had changed slightly during the night and told her she would have to tell the tour busses where we had moved to. She was extremely angry that I hadnt' called her the night before, but I explained that she wouldn't have been able to contact the bus drivers at midnight anyway, besides, we were only upriver a mile from the dock and within plain sight of the road. Oh well, as the crew is fond of saying, "As the Paddlewheel Turns!". ]]> Capt Mike http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/149-delta-queens-captains-log-june-2.html The Delta Queens Captains Log...Monday, November 24 http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/148-delta-queens-captains-log-monday-november-24.html Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:49:01 GMT I arose at 6 am after a few hours rest,and my usual peek out the door confirmed that for once, the weather man was right! The wind was now blowing... I arose at 6 am after a few hours rest,and my usual peek out the door confirmed that for once, the weather man was right! The wind was now blowing from the north at about 30 miles per hour, and the temperature was about 30 degrees. Bitter cold with the wind chill! I put on long johns and an extra coat, yanked my ball cap down tight on my head and stepped out into the cold. The morning was crystal clear and crisp, typical weather after the passing of a winter cold front. The pilot and I discussed the plans for the day as I had my first cup of coffee. We would get underway at 7:30 am, proceed up past Morgan City and through the bridges above. The Atchafalaya River stage was 1.6 today, plenty low enough for us to clear the lowest bridge. At 4 feet on the Morgan City gauge, there wouldn't be enough clearance for our 52 feet, even with the radars, masts and smokestack down. Although we had no clearance worries today, I admit to being concerned about the forecast river stages for the next couple of days. There had been heavy rains in the upper Red River Valley, the main tributary to the Atchafalaya River. Once up into the river, we would still have a few bridges and suspended pipelines to pass under to get to the Old River Lock, where we would re enter the Mississippi River. I would just have to hope for the best!
At 7:30 am, I gave the order to get underway, and the pilot backed the Delta Queen away from the bank and headed her up the channel towards the Morgan City bridges. We contacted the Coast Guard traffic control system, who gave us clearance to continue on up through the bridges. We had made a slight turn and were full ahead on the engines just about to pass through the first bridge when a large oil rig supply boat quickly backed away from the shore and started down stream through the bridges! We hurriedly called the boat and told him we were committed and couldn"t stop, he quickly realized his mistake and pulled over to the side of the channel between the 2 bridges and stopped, and we passed him on the port side only 20 feet off, narrowly missing a collision! Dam it! Some of these idiots don't pay attention!, He had gotten underway, turned south bound into the bridges without traffic control permission and hadn"t bothered to look over his shoulder!
We quickly cleared the last bridge, with about 4 feet of space from the top of the pilothouse to the underside of the bridge. I breathed a sigh of relief to be leaving the congested intercoastal waterway behind, and I took a seat on the bench to relax for a while. Here above Morgan City, the Atchafalaya River splits into dozens of different bayous and side channels, and can be confusing to a pilot. There are very few bouys on this river, so it caught my attention when I spotted one in the distance, off our port bow. I looked at the bouy in the binoculars, it was a red one. Hmmm... it was on the wrong side of the bow for our upstream course, surely he"ll (the pilot) will change course soon. We got closer to the bouy, and the pilot was still steering to the wrong side of it! I paused a moment. Closer, and I could now see clearly he was heading in the wrong direction! I spoke up quickly. "Captain, we better turn left and leave that bouy on our starboard side!" "What?" he asked, startled. I pointed at the bushes sticking up out of the water where he was headed. "You're gonna to run aground, change course to port now!" He quickly looked at the bouy through his binoculars, and said "SH*t!, and steered the boat hard to port clearing the bouy with about 20 feet to spare!
Neither of us said anything as we continued on up the channel. Even the best pilot will make a mistake occassionally, thats why we always have 2 people in the pilot house while we are underway.
The rest of the morning and afternoon passed uneventfully. About 1:30 pm I slowed the boat down and eased her bow gently into the bank at mile 88. This was the sight of a crumbling old cabin, where Harold and Mertle Bigler had lived many years ago. They had been a couple who had lived their entire lives out here in this immense swamp, in this very spot. As we held the Delta Queens bow against the shore, our guest Cajun Lecturer Greg Guirard told the story of the Biglers, and of how they had lived their lives in peace here, far away from the madness of the civilized world.
After about a half hour, the lecture was finished, and the passengers stood on the forward Texas deck bow as I backed the boat slowly away from the bank and the silent old cabin. As we turned the Delta Queen out into the river and came ahead full on the engines, we all watched in quiet thought as the old cabin slipped slowly away from sight, and the solitude of the swamp once again embraced the old home and the spirits of the Biglers...
I made my evening rounds of the vessel rounding each deck, looking into each lower compartment, passing through the crew holds. In the mid crew hold, a door was open revealing 3 of our waiters having a church meeting. I stopped briefly and said good evening, the went on my way, not wanting to intrude. I passed through the midship water tight door to the aft hold, where I nearly collided with a band member and his shiny saxaphone, hustling out of his cabin door enroute to the Orleans room above for the evening show. Up the steps and into the crew mess, I poured a glass of milk and paused for a moment. 3 deckhands and a bar tender stood transfixed watching a football game, and didn't even notice me there. Good, that's the way I like it. I headed back up towards my cabin, sensing that the boat was telling me that all was well, as the paddle wheel made her waterfall song... ]]> Capt Mike http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/148-delta-queens-captains-log-monday-november-24.html The Delta Queens Captains Log, Friday, November 21, 2003 http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/147-delta-queens-captains-log-friday-november-21-2003.html Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:31:56 GMT Secure at Robin St. Wharf, New Orleans I rested well, as only a captain can when he knows his vessel is tied up securely in a safe port. I arose at... Secure at Robin St. Wharf, New Orleans
I rested well, as only a captain can when he knows his vessel is tied up securely in a safe port. I arose at 7 am and prepared for the day and the beginning of a new cruise. I hoped to spend the morning reviewing the upcoming cruises on the Intercoastal Waterway, and to call all the ports and locks along our route to let them know we were coming. The morning was clear and warm as I made my way into the office to confer with my boss in the Marine Operations department. I submitted my preferred work schedule for next season, and was surprised when he said he had one made up for me already. I dreaded looking at it! Since I am one of the Captains with the least senority, I usually got stuck with the most difficult and least desirable cruises. As I looked down the schedule at my on-off dates, I began to smile, it was great! I was scheduled to be off when I wanted to be and on the times that I preferred to be! I told my boss thank you very much, and he replied that it was purely coincidental that I got a work schedule that I wanted. He just leaned back in his chair and smiled...
The rest of the day was totally uneventful. My only concern was that we had taken on fuel by barge during the day and I knew that the extra weight would plant us further down in the mud along the wharf; I would find out at departure time, might have to do some "mud washing" with the paddle wheel to get her away from the wharf...
The wonderful crew went about their routine tasks of seeing departing guests off, taking on supplies, cleanig and preparing the boat for the next cruise. This trip would take us along the beautiful but narrow and congested intercoastal waterway to the Port of New Iberia, along the southern Louisiana coast, then back up the Atchafalaya River, and finally back out into the Mississippi River through the Old River Lock, some 74 miles north of Baton Rouge. Because of the narrow channel and the high volume of towboat traffic, this was always a stressful trip for me. We will be meeting and passing literally hundreds of boats on this voyage along this narrow canal, passing most no more than 15 feet apart! There are several locks and swing bridges to negotiate as well, adding to the challenge. I take comfort that I have 2 very competent and experienced pilots aboard, and hope for light winds and fair weather.
About a half an hour before departure time, I went out on the wharf and walked down alongside the boat, checking her draft marks, navigation lights, and general appearance. Even at 76 years, the old steamboat is an impressive sight, laying there against the wharf, her decks softly glowing from the small overhead deck lamps. Her tall slender smokestack emits a shimmering haze, hinting at the fire in her boilers below. Our new passengers walk around the decks, exploring their home for the next 7 days. The long, braided mooring ropes stretch and reach up to the wharf, adding to the old boats' lines and texture, I pause for a few moments and realize what a special place and time I am in right now, this very special moment, standing on a wharf in New Orleans, looking at an old steamboat aglow and preparing for a river journey. It is a moment and a scene experienced undoubtedly by many people before and long ago along these historical old wharves, but this moment and vision are mine forever! ]]> Capt Mike http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/147-delta-queens-captains-log-friday-november-21-2003.html John Hartford http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/sheila-nichols/146-john-hartford.html Sat, 14 Jan 2012 14:23:36 GMT My name is Sheila Nichols and I am a co-producer of a documentary film on the life and music of John Hartford titled: JOHN HARTFORD "OH YEAH" I am looking for information on how to contact the current owner of the Julia Belle Swain. I am also looking to see if anyone has a copy of the tape that was created when John Hartford had his back to several steamboats and could name the boat by listening to the whistles.....
if you can help me on either of these issues...It would be most helpful. If you wish to know more about my project visit TwangCentral and please sign our guestbook with a story about JOHN...
thanks, Sheila nichols
mile marker 604 on the Scenic Ohio River ]]> sheila nichols http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/sheila-nichols/146-john-hartford.html <![CDATA[continued "The Captains Log"]]> http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/145-continued-captains-log.html Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:04:17 GMT ...due to the insane persistance of my next- younger brother Danny. He had relentlessly hounded social workers at the home, seeking information about... ...due to the insane persistance of my next- younger brother Danny. He had relentlessly hounded social workers at the home, seeking information about the where-abouts of his brothers, and finally one near retirement relented and told him where his older brothers were and who had adopted our youngest brother, Jimmy. It turned out that brother Jimmy had been adopted by the President of a large southern Missouri college, and was living in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Danny made an appointment to see the University President, only telling the secretary that he wanted to speak to the President about an investment he had made several years earlier...The day of the appointment arrived, and Danny drove to the University and waited in the office for his meeting. Soon he was ushered into the Presidents office, where he introduced himself as Daniel Howard, (his adopted name). The President sat behind his big desk and stared at Dan for a moment, then reached into a desk drawer, took out a framed photo, handed it to Dan and said, "Here's a picture of your little brother." Finally, the last lost brother found! The president saw the resemblence to his adopted son immediately, and told Dan that he had wondered if and when his brothers would come looking for him. He said that he would help reunite his son, (our little brother Jimmy) with us, his brothers, but asked if we could give him some time, as young Jimmy at age 16 was going through some difficult times as he grew, and his dad didn't want to put any more emotional strain on him until he felt he was ready. Dan agreed, and told the rest of us brothers about finding Jimmy, and we all waited patiently for our little brother to mature.
A year passed, and as the Delta Queen steamed the rivers we would occassionally stop at Cape Girardeau, each time torturing me knowing that I was so close to the last of my lost brothers; but I impatiently waited and hoped for a call from the President saying he felt that Jimmy was ready to be introduced to brothers that he did not remember. The call never came. Finally, after almost 2 years of waiting, I became upset and called the University and got through to the President. I explained to him who I was and that we appreciated his concern for his son, but that his brothers desperately wanted to see him again. I told him when the Delta Queen was going to be at Cape Girardeau again, and he agreed to bring my little brother Jimmy down to the boat to finally see me!
A couple of weeks later, the day had arrived, and we tied the Delta Queen off at the Cape city front. I was about to burst with anticipation, but told no one about my impending reunion. I was in the pilot house at 10 am, when the watchman called from the bow. "Mike, theres a couple of guys out on the landing to see you." This was it! I flew down the steps and onto the bow, and asked the watchman where they were, he pointed out to the end of the gangway. I composed myself and walked out to the 2 men, one obviously the President, a tall well dressed gentleman and a tall, thin, t shirt clad teenager with curly blond hair, who looked unmistakably like me! I introduced myself to the President and he extended a hand to shake but I never heard his words, I was staring with tears in my eyes at my little brother, whom I hadn't seen since that fall day 14 years ago! He said hello, and looked me in the eyes, seemed a little uncomfortable, but I didn't care, I grabbed him and wrapped him in a bear hug! I apologized to the President for ignoring him, but he was very gracious and understanding. We made our way aboard the Delta Queen and up to the Aft Cabin lounge, where we exchanged stories and I told him how we had never given up on finding him. Jimmy quickly became at ease, as we talked and shared stories about what had happened in our lives since we had been apart.
As the Delta Queens departure time neared, I hugged my little brother again and we agreed happily to get together again every time I came into Cape on the boat. This glorious day ended as the Delta Queen eased away from the landing with a rousing blast of the whistle and my little brother waving back from the shore! I can only imagine, somewhere deep in the spirit of the old boat, someone was smiling...
The Delta Queen cruised down the Mississippi River through the night, and turned up into the Ohio just after dark, upbound for Paducah. We arrived at Paducah city front before dawn, and the deck crew and I secured the old boat quickly. I had the deck hands hook up the water line to shore, then went to the pilothouse, I had a phone call to make. This was a couple of years before anyone had cell phones, so all calls from the boat were made via marine operators over the vessels marine radio. You simply called on certain channels for the local marine operator, give her the number, and she would dial it and connect you. It was about 5 am, and dawn was just beginning to show in the east when I called the Paducah Marine operator and asked her to dial my mothers number. A couple of minutes passed and then the pleasant sounding operator lady said, "Go ahead, Delta Queen, your party is on the line." "Hello, mom, are you there?" The radio crackled and then, my mothers voice..."Yes, I'm here son." "Mom, sorry to wake you so early, but I couldn't wait to give you some good news!" She replied "That's ok, what's the news?" I paused, the keyed the mic and said, "Well, I had a couple of visitors down to the boat yesterday in Cape Girardeau." Oh?" she replied. I paused a moment and then said, "Yesterday, for the first time in a long time, I put my arms around Jimmy." A long pause, and I already had tears streaming down my face when the radio crackled again, and my mother said, crying, "Oh thank you God, thank you, now we can begin to heal", she was sobbing. I told her that I loved her and would call her from shore soon to update her, and finished the very expensive marine call, thanking the listening marine operator and telling her I was done. The marine operator finally responded, "thank you, uh, Delta Queen, Thank you, over." She was crying. Almost immediately, there were other calls to me from others on towboats, (who often listened in on each others marine calls) saying god bless, and congratulating me on the good news; this was one time when I didn't mind others listening in!
So here I am, at Paducah Kentucky, in the present, sitting in the Forward Lounge of this wonderful old steamboat, sipping coffee, watching hearts be healed, while the spirit of the old boat just smiles and pats her foot... ]]> Capt Mike http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/145-continued-captains-log.html Delta Queens Captains Log Excerpts http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/144-delta-queens-captains-log-excerpts.html Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:00:05 GMT Sunday, August 17th, Paducah, Kentucky We arrived and tied off uneventfully at the Paducah City front about 2:30 am this morning, having locked... Sunday, August 17th, Paducah, Kentucky

We arrived and tied off uneventfully at the Paducah City front about 2:30 am this morning, having locked straight through Kentucky Lock without a delay. I was able to get the kind of rest a Captain can get when his vessel is tied securely in a safe port in fair weather and tended by a competent crew.
I arose at 7am, showered and dressed for the day, and after my usual rounds of the boat I made my way to the forward cabin lounge to have coffee and chat with our guests. The usual atmosphere of a steamboats lounge greeted me, folks sitting about at tables and on the sofas sipping coffee and tea, waiting for the morning shore tour busses to be boarded. As I sat at a table with friends, a young couple came up the forward stairs from the bow with a little girl about 10 years old; they stopped a porter and asked where they could go to locate their parents who were aboard for the trip. Before he could respond, the young couples' parents spotted them and embraced them and their grand daughter, whom they apparently hadn't seen in over a year. I smiled as I watched their happy reunion, and thought of how this wonderful old steamboat had hosted many happy family gatherings and was reminded of my own very special reunion on the Delta Queen...
I had come from a broken home, the middle child of 5 boys, with an alcoholic father who would come home only a couple time a week, usually drunk, and sometimes slap my poor mother around. She was a good, devoted mother who earned 2000 dollars a year as a waitress, a paltry amount even in the late 60s. My father finally abandoned us completely, leaving mom struggling to provide for 5 boys, ages 15 to 3. She did her best, often having to leave us to fend for ourselves all day while she worked long hours trying to support us. Finally, the strain and the burden was too much, the house was being foreclosed on and the state stepped in and took custody of my 4 brothers and I. A quick court hearing ensued and legal parent rights were signed over to the state, and all 5 of us were sent to the Missouri Baptist Childrens Home outside of St. Louis. My 2 older brothers were separated and soon shipped off to other homes far out in the country, I was sent to Kansas City to live with a family whose 12 year old red haired son had died the year before from cystic fibrosis; I was 12 years old with red hair...My 2 younger brothers Danny, 10, and Jimmy, 3, were soon adopted and sent away from the home, I still have the clear memory as the last of my brothers, 3 year old Jimmy, was led away up a tree lined path by a social worker holding his hand, as the colored leaves of fall gently fell around them. I felt so alone, abandoned, frightened and hurt. Little did I know that many years later, I would be led to to a place where joyous reunions were celebated and broken hearts were healed, a very special place called the Delta Queen.
Many tumultuous years passed, and the struggles of my youth had only tempered and strengthened me. I had found my way here to the Delta Queen and knew it was where I was meant to be, that it was sincerely my destiny. I had plunged into the world of steamboating and had worked my way up to the position of first mate, not knowing what the river of life had in store for me but certain that I would confidently steam onward aboard the Delta Queen. As the pieces of my life began to come together on this old steamboat, I was constantly aware of parts that were missing. Indeed, I had been blessed with the DQ and a career, and had been reunited with the 2 older brothers, Dave and Tom, and one of my younger brothers, Danny mostly due to the insane pesistance of ]]> Capt Mike http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/144-delta-queens-captains-log-excerpts.html The Delta Queens Captains Log http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/142-delta-queens-captains-log.html Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:03:40 GMT October 28....We departed Kentucky Lock at midnight, having finally locked through after a 3 and a half hour delay. We are ALWAYS delayed at Kentucky... October 28....We departed Kentucky Lock at midnight, having finally locked through after a 3 and a half hour delay. We are ALWAYS delayed at Kentucky lock, and even held out to allow tow boats to go through even when we have arrived first! So much for priority! It has gotten so bad that our office has written to the Lockmaster and the Corp to complain. It was a smooth lockage, we landed on the wall without a bump. I've been fortunate this whole month, not so much as a tiny bump as I've made many locks, and the wind has been mercifully light for every one!That makes it a lot easier. We cruised down the last 22 miles down the Tennessee River, arriving at Paducah at 2:30 am. Once again, an easy, smooth landing as the mate and crew quickly tied us off at the city front. I wish they were all that easy! Off I went to my tiny cabin for a few hours rest!
I arose early, made my rounds of the vessel chatting with the passengers and consulting with the Chief Engineer. As I move around the boat, I can instantly feel her slight port list, feel the deck slightly trembling from the big commercial wash machine spinning, off balance, down in the linen cage. This old boat talks to me...my sense of her this morning is that she is happy and content, like a grandmother with her house full of her family. All is well...
During my rounds I discovered 2 steel capstan wedges, used to engage the anchor windlass on the bow are missing from their mounts on the main mast. I queried the mates but neither knew where they are or how long they have been missing. Without the wedges, we can't pick up the anchor should we have to drop it! Why does it have to be the Captain to find this? Perhaps it's my 15 years as a mate coming out in me...
I took a walk up town strolling through the peaceful old neighborhoods of old Paducah.Worn old homes and sidewalks raised and cracked by roaming tree roots mark this place as a neighborhood long past its' prime, yet I can almost sense the happier times, when here children played on cool fall days blissfully unaware of a future filled with challenge. I love these old neighborhoods, whose quite streets gently hint of the past as if in a dream. I stopped to scratch a friendly cats head who meowed and came to meet me at the gate of an old home. I strolled on the the corner convienience store where I bought a few days hope in the form of 5 lottery tickets. As I headed back to the boat, I thought about what I would do with the millions if I won the lottery; I know one thing, I wouldn't quit the Delta Queen...
Noon arrived and we departed Paducah, and entered the Tennessee River, up bound for Kentucky Lock again. When we arrived below the lock a couple of hours later, the was of course a tow boat in the lock, so we eased into the shore just below the lock to wait for the tow to get out. While waiting, I listened to the pilot tell me why he should be Captain. There is a Captains job opening coming up next year, and several pilots are vying for the job. It has become at times a vicious campaign, with some candidates talking bad about the others. I listen quietly with little comment, trying not to take sides. Suffice it to say, it is an unpleasant situation...
We finally got through the lock about 5 pm, and departed out into the vast Kentucky Lake. It's almost like going to sea. The passengers lined the front decks as we pushed out of the lock, and stood in awe at the vista of the huge lake, stretching away to the horizon. The weather was clear, with 168 miles to our next stop at Savannah, Tennessee. As the sun set I spent an hour in the pilot house talking with the pilot. He is a good and decent man, who has helped make my job as Captain a lot easier. Not all pilots are like that. Still, I listened as he complained about our "incompetent office management" and how his friend, the other pilot, was going to get cheated out of the next Captains appointment, by another guy who is back-stabbing and incompetent. I could see the anger twist him, and each month he seemed to become a little more cynical and bitter, not realizing that he rails against things that he can't change, and aren't necessarily true. As I said, he is a decent fellow and a friend, and I wondered if I should tell him to relax and not allow himself to become embittered. Sometimes it helps when a friend tries to harken you back to reality, but I was reluctant, worried that I might anger him and loose his friendship which I valued a lot.
After an evening round of the boat I retired here to my cabin at 9 pm, as I write the Delta Queen pushes up through the huge dark lake all alone. I am looking forward to going home in 4 days to see my girls... ]]> Capt Mike http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/142-delta-queens-captains-log.html Excerpts from The Delta Queens Captains Log, 2003 http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/141-excerpts-delta-queens-captains-log-2003.html Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:21:22 GMT The following are a few random excerpts from the logs I kept while Captain of the Delta Queen. I just pulled a few from my book about my experiences... The following are a few random excerpts from the logs I kept while Captain of the Delta Queen. I just pulled a few from my book about my experiences aboard, which I hope to release this fall on board the Delta Queen...
November 18, Tuesday... It's 5 am, the phone rings and I sit up instantly awake. "It's the mate. "Capt. Mike, we have shut out rain". "I'll be right there" I reply. Outside my door I can hear the roaring wind and pounding rain. I fumble as I slip on my shoes and try to quickly slip into my rain suit. I finally zip the jacket up and slip my walkie talkie into a small plastic bag to protect it from the rain. I take a deep breath, open my cabin door and step out into the tempest.The wind buffets me and is driving the rain in raging torrents. I stumble up into the pilot house, where the mate and pilot are standing and staring at the radar screens intently.The heavy rain has obiliterated the picture, making it impossible to see the shore lines or any bouys or dikes. I carefully try to tweak the old radars to get a better image, but it's no use! God Dam those idiots in the office! I have been calling, writing letters, and begging, trying to get a modern radar that can cut through heavy rain, but they keep claiming that we can't afford it due to "budget constraints". I just wish they could be here right now, in zero visibility, and feel the tremendous stress and concern I have for my passengers, crew and vessel!
We can't slow down or stop now, if we do we'll be quickly blown into the shore by the now 80 mph plus winds! We can only hope to keep moving down the middle of the channel until the storm eases and visibility improves, please, just a radar picture of one shore line! We are starting to get several trouble alarms on our smoke detection panel in the back of the wheel house, which the watchman quickly silences, The alarms indicate that we are starting to get rain leaking into the walls and ceilings on the upper decks as it is being driven in through the window frames. Every once in a while the radar picks up a brief outline of the river banks, helping us to a least stay near the middle of the river. Our brand new GPS electronic chart system stays on, unaffected by the storm, bless its heart! Using it for reference with the occassion radar picture we are able to maintain course down the pitch black river.This extreme stress continues for an hour and a half until the rain begins to subside and the wind to ease just as daylight begins to show. The radars start showing a beautiful picture of the river, banks, bouys and all, gee, thanks alot, my fair weather friends! There are just a few miles down the river to Natchez, and we can see the lights on the landing below.
The wind had eased considerably and the rain had stopped suddenly, almost as if it figured we needed a break since we had made it to our destination. We turned the boat north bound about a quarter mile above the landing and let the current set us back down river until we were just above the boat ramp, where I took control and eased her very gently into the rockly shore. The mate swung the gangway out over the bank and the first deck hand jumped off onto the shore with the spring line in his hand. 8 am, right on time, in spite of the weather! We had the boat secured quickly with 4 tight lines and I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I thanked the pilot and mate, who were obviously also greatly relieved, and I headed for my cabin to decompress. What a night! Well, I wanted to be a steamboat captain! As I was about to step into my cabin, an elderly gentleman opened the door just down from mine, seeing me and the wet decks said, "Good Morning Captain, did it rain last night?"
Sunday June 22...At Natchez, Ms. alongside Mississippi Queen
The departure went smoothly, as I easily swung the Delta Queen away from the side of the big boat, and came ahaed full on the engines. Happy passengers on both boats waved and shouted goodbye back and forth as we widened away and fell out into the river, and down on the bow of the Delta Queen a deckhand feigned a dog howling and placed his hand over his heart as he said goodbye to his sweetheart, a cabin attendant on the Mississippi Queen, just one of the many intra boat romances amonst crewmembers...
The evening was very warm and humid, and I took a few minutes to stroll the decks and chat with passengers as a beautiful sunset flared over the western horizon. The sky this night was a painters canvas;the setting sun and weightless clouds were the masters brush and pallette.The faint scent of lavender and honeysuckle hung suspended over the river, their sweet fragrances blended and tempered with the muddy aroma of the glass smooth dark river.
So here I sit, in this tiny cabin, writing in my journal at a lamp lit desk, as this old steamboat up pushes up this remote and mysterious river. The boat gently trembles and creaks in reponse to the turning engines, the palpation of the paddlewheel against the river revealing that she's in deep water, and "patting her foot". Pray that the moment is not lost by me.... ]]> Capt Mike http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/capt-mike/141-excerpts-delta-queens-captains-log-2003.html <![CDATA[MARY POWELL- "Queen of the Hudson" , the build and history/ Rex Stewart]]> http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/rex-stewart/140-mary-powell-queen-hudson-build-history-rex-stewart.html Fri, 09 Dec 2011 10:08:35 GMT The United States had encountered two great wars. One from within, the Civil War; and, the other from its mother Nation across the Atlantic, the War... The United States had encountered two great wars. One from within, the Civil War; and, the other from its mother Nation across the Atlantic, the War of 1812.

Though two generations apart, both events connected a famous steamboat, fighting ship and two Irish-American families. Both vessels and both families endured the social and political biases of American culture to rise as God's children to a better calling. The steamboat that connected these families was known as the "Queen of the Hudson". She was the MARY POWELL.
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]]> Rex Stewart http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/rex-stewart/140-mary-powell-queen-hudson-build-history-rex-stewart.html Sternwheeler for sale http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/tom-adams/139-sternwheeler-sale.html Tue, 29 Nov 2011 05:03:39 GMT Tom, I have a sternwheeler and 2 passanger barges for sale. 149 pass. each. My name is Dave Ruble you can reach me 304 482 9700 or at... Tom,
I have a sternwheeler and 2 passanger barges for sale. 149 pass. each. My name is Dave Ruble you can reach me 304 482 9700 or at rublesnavy@yahoo.com. ]]> Tom Adams http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/tom-adams/139-sternwheeler-sale.html The great nightboat ST. JOHN c.1864 -The Model/ Rex Stewart http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/rex-stewart/138-great-nightboat-st-john-c-1864-model-rex-stewart.html Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:46:20 GMT The massive and beautiful ST. JOHN was the People's Line response to the Hudson River's ever-increasing traffic of the 1860s. The United States was at war with itself; but inspite of the country's civil unrest, citizens and foreign visitors continued to travel the picturesque river to enjoy those regions north of the capital city, Albany, New York.

To accommodate these visitors and get them to these northern points, re: Saratoga, Lake George, Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks, ST.JOHN set the course in both design and fashion for nightboats in 1863 -as the name "floating palace" became the new meaning for this legendary steamboat.

For further reading, visit Hudson River Model Steamboats.
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]]> Rex Stewart http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/rex-stewart/138-great-nightboat-st-john-c-1864-model-rex-stewart.html The Rare and Collectible Model Steamboat http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/rex-stewart/137-rare-collectible-model-steamboat.html Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:40:29 GMT One of the principle reasons I chose to build accurate steamboat models was, because the 156 mile stretch of New York's scenic Hudson River had them at practically every major port-of-call during the 19th and early 20th century, from New York City to the northern region of Albany-Troy, N.Y.

The river carried several hundred of these beautiful sidewheel and screw propellor types, from the modestly simple to the most complicated in beauty and design. Photos and paintings were accessible, but there existed nothing visibly by way of models to show their appearance of the period.

To this end, I embarked on a thirty-year journey/mission to produce some of the most accurate models ever seen in the Hudson River Valley...starting with the towboat and ending with the massive nightboat.

These models have become the central focus on steamboat-lore of the Northeast. By professional standards, there exist nothing like them and I'm honored to have serious collectors acquire both the Hudson River and New England steamboat while the opportunity still exist.

For further reading, visit Hudson River Model Steamboats.
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]]> Rex Stewart http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/rex-stewart/137-rare-collectible-model-steamboat.html HRL Steamboat ALBANY c.1880 - The research and build/ Rex Stewart http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/rex-stewart/136-hrl-steamboat-albany-c-1880-research-build-rex-stewart.html Sat, 26 Nov 2011 19:52:54 GMT ALBANY was built at the Harlan and Hollingsworth Yard at Wilmington, DE. and launched there on January 13, 1880. During the mid 1920s she became the... ALBANY was built at the Harlan and Hollingsworth Yard at Wilmington, DE. and launched there on January 13, 1880. During the mid 1920s she became the last coal-burning steamer of the Hudson River Day Line.

For several years she was altered extensively, having a 'new' appearance before leaving the famed river. After fifty years of service she closed her career with her final run from Albany to New York City on Labor Day 1930.

For further reading about this powerful steamboat, visit Hudson River Model Steamboats
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]]> Rex Stewart http://www.steamboats.org/forum/blogs/rex-stewart/136-hrl-steamboat-albany-c-1880-research-build-rex-stewart.html