Licking River Caper

Jim: Many thanks for posting the picture of MISSIE from October 21 departure of the DQ. It was a fine afternoon and we had a good yet sad time that day. John Fryant and earlier, Bob Swartz and I had the best seats in the house to see the departure and suffered the mixed blessing of not being able to hear any of the speeches...hearing them would have made it all the sadder for me. As it was, MISSIE was so moved by the sad occasion of the DQ's parting whistle that her pilot light went out as the DQ dropped her stack and skinned under the Suspension Bridge! Her perfessor doing a right sprightly job on the steam organ as she splashed out of sight. Does anybody know who the perfessor was and the captain and pilot/s on duty that day? They were good enough to answer MISSIE's whistle salute.

The Perfessor on leaving Cincinnati was none other than Captain Gabe Chengery. The Captain was Captain Dugger. The pilots for that trip was Captain Mike Sweigert and Captain Finley Frazer. They both knew what to do with that whistle and we heard it's lovely voice many times on that 10 day trip!

The speeches were nice at the "Tribute". However, the playing and singing of the DELTA QUEEN Waltz composed by John Hartford never left a dry eye within hearing distance. You're lucky you and MISSIE weren't within earshot or you might not have been able to find your way back to the landing for the tears!

Jim: I note that I still had my derby on...it blew off as we steamed out from behind the DQ. Bob was good enough to get it back for me. Where can I get a copy of your video??
Cap'n Walnut.

Jo Ann: Many thanks for your input. I never met those fine gentlemen...only exchanged whistle salutes with them, but they certainly knew how to quill the DQ's whistle! I never heard it done that well before and I've heard it for over fifty years here in Greater Cincinnati. And, Jo Ann, I did not need any additional stimuli to cloud my vision that day.
Cap'n Walnut

Tom-
I will see if I can put together a sequence for you. I hesitate to post it on you tube since it includes a rather "dampening" experience for your passenger. I wouldn't want Missie to be embarrassed. LOL.
-Jim

Ah, Bill, your suggestion for an expedition in the spring/summer of '09 is excellent. However there are some details to be worked out. Usually MISSIE "comes out" some time between the first of April and late May depending upon the weather and the exertions of her master. She needs an outside-in "squeeze" put on her boiler and, passing that get recommissioned for the season. You mention doing an expedition into Kentucky and having to recruit a crew from questionable territory...me vouching for them. Well, there was one feller from up near you who came down-river here and planked his family down on Greenup Street in Covington. He then took his son Freddy and created all sorts of mischief down in Tennessee and thereabout. Lessee, Fort Donelson is one and Shiloh Church where he near got his ashes hauled is another! Local folks ain't much over it yet! Bill, since he came from up there just beyond you, I'll hafta study on this here vouchin' business. But, once we get all that straightened out, passports arranged etc, mebbe we can plan something. A friend, Harry Sparks lives in Ryland and he sez that he's told that you cannot get that far from the Ohio unless there is a pretty good run-out or back-water out of the Ohio. Cap'n Walnut PS: I'm told that any perfessor who applies for crew status MUST be able to play Dixie! w...