Topic starter
26/11/2011 6:15 am
Greetings From New Orleans !
Today I was assigned to a north bound Filipino ( yes that it is the correct spelling ) dry bulker , in ballast that was bound for the Zen Noah grain elevator , mile 163.5 AHP , LMR and as I was boarding I was fortunate to to see the Str. Natchez pass by on her way back up the river to her landing at the Toulouse St. Wharf .
After the Crescent Pilot got off , I eventually overtook the Natchez , just above Algiers Point and was able to get a few shots off before she was out of camera range .
After a brief discussion with the Str. Natchez , on the VHF radio , it was agreed that I would run slow so that she could make her crossing above Algiers Point and then overtake her on the two whistle side , so as to help her get into position to make her approach to her landing .
Just before I overtook her we exchanged whistle salutes and needless to say , her whistle by far had such an authentic and genuine sound to her than the ship that I was presently on !
To my pleasant surprise she was " Dressed For The Holidays " and what a pretty sight she was , is , and always will be ! What a great way to prepare for the Holidays !
My hat is off to whomever that is assigned the task of decorating the Natchez for the holidays and I am sure it is definitely a labor of love !
I have often wondered if the passengers and yes even the crew members that board her fully appreciate and and understand how fortunate they are to ride this beautiful steamer !
I have always considered myself so fortunate to see her almost on a daily basis and today was no exception !
Hope You Enjoy !
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
WA-4141
26/11/2011 2:07 pm
Ted: I was mesmerized by photos of the HUDSON when a teenager. I still am. Fred Way said of her: "She stood the severe test of being graceful from any photographic angle". Her lines live on in the steamer NATCHEZ...replicating in steel what Ellison wrought of wood. Thanks to Alan, the Dows and all others who had a hand in it. Here she is overtaking the BELLE OF LOUISVILLE on her way to Tall Stacks in '06...her rail bunting simple and similar to her current livery.
26/11/2011 2:24 pm
Here she is returning my whistle salute at Tall Stacks '06
27/11/2011 12:03 am
*RE: NATCHEZ in holiday garb*
Hi, Ted & Steamboating colleagues,
Thanks for the continuing great treads of lower Miss boats/ships/ events in your photos. The NATCHEZ looks spectacular! I felt somewhat guilty clicking on the twinkles, spot lights on the front of our house. You photos proved I was on the same plan.
Tom [AKA Cap'n Walnut] on the mark comparing the NATCHEZ with the sage HUDSON, sublime beyond comparison. Why, just the other day Capt. Ellis Mace, Ole' Commodore Laidley and I were talking 'bout the HUDSON when she first poked in at 'Ragtown.' No real competition between Laidley and Ellison of the P&C LINE, but things 'testy' at times. I'll have to work up another story 'bout that in time to post. Ellis and I got in it with Ole Laidley when he asked our "ideas" for one of his new L&C LINE boats. We'll see...yes...we'll see.
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.
27/11/2011 1:21 am
Dale: Din't Tony Meldahl go pilot for a while on the HUDSON? I seem to remember she ran to Coney Island from Ragtown when low water ran her out of her regular P&C trade. Cap'n Walnut
27/11/2011 3:38 am
*RE: HUDSON/Tony Meldahal*
Hi, Cap'n Walnut,
Yep, Tony Meldah was a real veteran with the P&C LINE during his long career. Cap'n Fred Way said, wrote a lot about Tony even before the S&D REFLECTOR was born. Tony also a great photographer like Jim Howard, Cap'n Jesse Hughes and a slew of others over the years. Low water plagued the P&C LINE for its entire existence on the upper Ohio until some of the new dams came in. When the QUEEN CITY was conceived by the company high honchos, the P&C was riding high doing big business, flush with capital with stock holders tickled pink. Cap'n Ellis Mace and I heard plenty around the Cincinnati landing 'bout Ole' Commodore Laidley's near jealousy with the P&C. Yet, Ellison and Henderson of the P&C few of the men I ever heard call the Commodore 'Fred.' Other old timers called him 'Captain' as that's what they knew him in the early years and never bowed to the term 'Commodore.' Dear little Mrs. Laidley the one who could bring the Commodore to his senses with, "Frederick, that is quite enough." Ellis Mace witnessed himself the big stock fight over the L&C LINE with the Commodore being voted down soundly the first time. Laidley won in the end. I sneaked a peek in the office files here and it is sumpthin' to read. But that's another story for another time.
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati.
27/11/2011 3:17 pm
Dale: I think it was Laidly who spread the story that Tony, as pilot on watch in the HUDSON pilot house on HOT nights, usta remove his trousers to keep cool. One such nite the Cap'n, or was it the mate, brought a gaggle of giggling young ladies up to see the pilot house and all was well in the blackness of the sky parlor until they came to a brightly lighted town...
Be just like Laidly to spread a story like that. You spose that's why they named a lock and dam after Meldahl?? He musta took some kinda prize! Cap'n Walnut...all ears and damp here on Gunpowder Road