@ Steamboats.org Blogs - Entries from March 2005

Tuesday, March 1. 2005

Steamboat Pictures of the Week: March/April 2005

Thanks to Dale Flick for the picture!
This dramatic shot of the CITY OF LOUISVILLE presents a mystery. She's landed at the Howard Yards in Jeffersonville, Indiana. What is going on? Some festive event for sure by the people on the LOUISVILLE; ashore at the yards. The LOUISVILLE was launched in 1894 and photo 'forensics' here reveals the famous brag sign on the pilothouse reading: '9-42' for the record speed up river. The 'down' time can't be read in this shot clearly. Capt. Alan Bates drew my attention to the log rafts to the left. He informs us that these old rafts were tethered together with saplings called 'wythes'--ends inserted in holes and driven in with a wedge or 'glut.' Later chains were used with 'spikes.'

Thanks to Dale Flick for the picture!
We see the Str. HELPER undated or located--possibly on the Kanawha River--with a load of barges (note the white washed trees on the bank near either a home or approach to a lock). Fred Way had lots to say about her in his TOWBOAT DIRECTORY Entry No: T1084 and Jake Heib scribbled a short story repeating all on the reverse for me as a kid. Built 1920, Dana, W. Va., and completed at Cincinnati by Capt. E.A. Burnside for CAMPBELL CREEK COAL CO., 99 X 18 X 4.3 ft., Barnes engines with 'Frisbie balanced valves,' California cutoff. On March 16, 1922, during high water under Burnside's command at Cincinnati, she turned over with a number killed due to the removal of one of her outboard rudders. Jake Heib the younger had served aboard her. Burnside, A.J. Schletker engineer), his wife were drowned. Capt. Joe Goold drew the plans for the HELPER at the direction of his uncle, Capt. E. A. Burnside. 'E.A' according to Fred Way and Goold, ordered her dimensions altered for coal storage--which may have contributed to the accident. Joe Goold and daughter Betty attended an S&D meeting years ago before he died in 1975 at age 80. He was a good friend of the late S&D member Delly Robertson's. The boat was raised, restored and continued as the ED MOORE, SOUTHPORT and finally the CAPT. BREAUX ending in 1931.
Comment from Alan Bates: "Arthur J. 'Red' Schletker did not die in the Helper disaster. His wife was a victim. Red lived until the 1960's, or maybe later, and was master of the Greenbrier for many years."

Thanks to Dale Flick for the picture!
The Fleetwood. Fred Way's PACKET DIRECTORY lists her under Entry No: 2055. We see her lying adjacent to present Eastern Avenue roughly above and across from Dayton Bar. There's more going on here than meets the eye. Final painting is being done and the name FLEETWOOD on the outside stern is yet to be lettered in totally. Two figures are standing on the stairs leading to the top deck and a painter in a bosun chair is hanging from the mast applying finishing touches. She measured 302.2 X 43.4 X 6.4 ft. with engines 25 - 8 1/2 ft. stroke, 58 staterooms. Ran Cincinnati-Huntington and Cincinnati-Pomeroy. Later Cincinnati-Louisville until replaced by the new CITY OF LOUISVILLE. The earlier FLEETWOOD of 1866 produced an on-board newspaper titled 'REFLECTOR,' later adopted by Sons & Daughters of Pioneer Rivermen as the name of its official publication. This FLEETWOOD was also known as a 'church boat' with strict observances on Sundays and outstanding singing by her roustabouts and crew.

It's Capt. Cooley's AMERICA (# 0240), in it's earlier days where the smoke stack feathers were still in place.
Thanks to all of you for identifying the boat so quickly

Another unknown boat, inside of a huge lock. Most interesting in this picture is the close look at the paddlewheel cover, usually only seen on boats on the Columbia River, Sacramento River, etc.

Thanks Keith for sending the picture! -- I know this is your favourite boat, the Str. Mississippi III, now the Becky Thatcher at Marietta, OH. This picture was taken at St. Louis, 1963.