Topic starter
18/05/2010 3:02 am
Here are the first pictures, taken from a cellphone at dusk, of the Mississippi Queen resting in the Harvey Canal North of the Boomtown Casino complex.
Photo #1 is taken through the flood wall gate on Peters Road and is of the bow.
Photo #2 is the side ... notice the fading "Mississippi Queen" name and the gutted interior through the rear windows.
Photo #3 is taken from the Boomtown Casino complex looking North along the canal. To the right is the yellow Boomtown Belle II Casino Boat. The paddlewheel of the Mississippi Queen can be seen in the distance.
These pictures are not the best due to the cellphone and the lack of light. Better photos will be taken soon.
18/05/2010 11:45 am
Thanks
Thanks David for the visual confirmation...I wonder how long the process will take? I'll be back June 12th and I'm sure that will be one of my first destinations, if there is anything still left to see. With these images, I don't know how anyone could hold out any hope of her resurrection at this stage of the game.
18/05/2010 1:41 pm
You have to wonder.
It is strange, how people hold out hope for a last minute repreive. The fate of this boat is as good as sealed. The posts did offer food for thought. Like how cheap the boat was and how with some work she could be rebuilt, and run again. Possible that they bought it as scrap in order to get the best price, in order to do this. As stated before she is a major health hazard for anyone who will be working to cut her up or rebuild. I like to think she will be resurected and will live on in a new form. We will always have her memories through video and picture, the most important memories will be the people who have traveled on in both work and pleasure. These are the ones who will keep her alive the most. They will be her new voice and tell both of good thingss and bad things surounding her life. I will always be thankfull to all of you, I never got to see or experience her in person. Your stories made her come to life and with the aid of pictures and video, I felt I knew her well. I just want to say thank you.
Topic starter
18/05/2010 8:49 pm
The process
Judy Patsch;21627 wrote: Thanks David for the visual confirmation...I wonder how long the process will take? I'll be back June 12th and I'm sure that will be one of my first destinations, if there is anything still left to see. With these images, I don't know how anyone could hold out any hope of her resurrection at this stage of the game.
I think you have a very good chance of seeing her during your visit in June. As far as "the process" ... I intend to document in photographs the breaking of the Mississippi Queen if it's done in the Harvey Canal (or anywhere else in the New Orleans area). This may be difficult to do, however, since the new Corps of Engineers flood wall obscures much of the view of the Harvey Canal. If necessary, I may have to be on a towboat on the Canal to take good photos.
Judy ... will you be on the Natchez during your trip to New Orleans? If so, it would be an honor to meet you during one of the Natchez cruises.
18/05/2010 11:55 pm
NATCHEZ in June
I'll be in NOLA June 12-16, and I'll arrive in time for the 2:30 NATCHEZ trip on Saturday. I usually ride all 3 on Sunday, the last 2 on Monday and Tuesday (golfing during AM trip). Of course, now that I don't have the apartment and can't bake cookies.... The narrator always seems to get sick while I'm there and so I do a trip or two, usually the Sunday afternoon. I can email you my plans while I'm down there, and we can compare notes on the MQ situation.
19/05/2010 1:22 am
I live in Orlando and I am almost tempted to drive up for one last look
19/05/2010 4:59 pm
You'll regret it if you don't.
Topic starter
19/05/2010 6:33 pm
Hmmmmmmm......
I wonder if it would be feasible to organize a one or two day "get together" in New Orleans to pay "last respects" to the Mississippi Queen.
A group lunch or dinner . . . charter a van to take everyone to the Mississippi Queen for one last look or, possibly, arrange for a boat down the Harvey Canal for a very close last look . . . and a cruise on the Natchez to support the New Orleans Steamboat Company (with Judy narrating, of course).
Anyone's thoughts?
21/05/2010 1:31 am
A good-bye fit for a Queen.
If I have the ability to take time off to make this trip I will be involved. I hoped in the back of my mind that when me and my wife come to New Orleans in late August early September I could see her at least once (regardless of her condition). This boat grabed my heart strings and to this day has yet to let go. To tell you the truth I don't want her to let go. I know some think I am silly for caring so much for a boat that I have never seen, to be honest the DQ is the only one I know in any respect. I don't care the Mississippi Queen will always be my favorite for some odd reason I can't explain. I agree she is / was not the prettiest (in my minds eye she is) of the Queens, but she is more special to me than any of them. They say as long as a ships/ boats bell remains and continues to speak, the boat never dies. I am glad she will never die.
Topic starter
22/05/2010 1:36 am
I visited her late this afternoon
She is at rest.
Her soul has departed and she is no longer a living, breathing creature of the river.
But, she will never completely die. Her bell will forever ring and as she is dismantled and her structure is melted she will live again in other forms.
Long live the Mississippi Queen!