Steamboat Legends

Ooooh, that IS a good one! Maybe Capt. Blum and/or Dave Tschiggfrie will get on here and can help us out, too. I had a lot of trouble getting to this pic/page, but finally did it.

Does anyone know what the occasion was for all those pilots from different areas to get them together for a group photo? There's a lot of talent in that one picture!

DQ Legends

Sorry, but I can't do any better than coming up with the names that Shipyard already has identified. Yes, Capt. Doc Carr's last season on the DQ was 1968. I made a Cinci-Pbgh cruise in June that year, and I believe that was his last trip. Watchman Gabe did a short taped interview with Capt. Carr for me on that cruise. Wherever the boat is landed, her stage has not been swung around, so she could be at the wharfboat in Cinci, or landed at New Orleans. Don't know if H. Tate ever was aboard on the Ohio. Didn't he usually run up to Memphis or maybe St. Louis? But then, Albert Kelley only piloted on the Ohio, although he did ride to St. Paul in September 1968 with pilots Fehlig and Karnath, so that line of thinking might not hold water. Richard Stewart was no longer on the boat in '68, I believe. Capt. Jim Blum or Dale are probably the best chance at identifiying any others in the photo (at least until Doc gets on line.) My guess is that the person to Cap Wagner's left may not be a crew member because he's sporting a gift shop DQ cap, but again, that might not mean anything. I'll be watching the board for any further developments.

Dave,

Tate's license went up the Ohio to Louisville and up to St. Louis on the UMR, but he did not like the Ohio and only rarely went above Paducah on the DQ. I believe Harry Louden told me once that Albert Kelley used to ride the boat when she went to N.O. just to keep him working, even though his pilot license was only for the Ohio.

Didn't Kelly extend his Pilot's license to Memphis? I'm almost sure he did. Captain Louden, whose ticket did not originally go past Cairo Point, rode the DELTA QUEEN down to your hometown, so often, that he got all his required trips; so he went ashead, drew the river and got his extension.

Been thinking about the photo all day and don't have any solid answers. Could the person next to the Big E be Jim Swartwelder (sp), [striking the almost Bob McCann pose] and the young chap next to Bob Zang be someone off the Gateway Clipper Fleet? Could the gentleman to the left of Jesse Hughes be S. Durwood Hoag?

Problem with my theory is why the mixture of Lower and Ohio River folks.

H.M. Doc Carr did not complete the '68 season.

My feeble guess that the photo was taken in 65 to 66.

Jim,

I'm pretty sure that the person to the Big Cap's left isn't Jimmy Swartzwelder, because the guy in the photo is too old. Jimmy was only about Doc's age, I believe, or maybe even a year or two younger. But you're right: that sure is a classic Robert H. McCann pose! With the info from Shipyard and Bob regarding Capt. Kelley and Capt. Tate's licenses, the fact that they were licensed on additional stretches of river just makes it harder to identify where the photo was taken (Ohio River or Lower Mississippi) and why they were all gathered for this shot. I've never seen a photo of S. Durward Hoag, so haven't a clue whether that is him or not. So the mystery continues . . . Need some old Greene Line crew and passengers to help out here.

A telegram arrived at the shipyard office with confirmation, from the very highest of sources, that it is, indeed, Richard Steward in front kneeling next to Captain Bob Zang. The two fellows flanking Captain Jesse have a look of familiarity, but remember that when the photo was taken, I was still an entry-level Greene Line employee, in the ‘60’s, so I was afforded little smooze-time with the legendary characters from on-high. Years later, even after the ink was dry on my steamboat license, my affiliation with many of those same gentlemen was kept and maintained on a professional level-- especially with Captain Wagner. Several times, lately, though, I have shocked myself after realizing that I had just referred to him simply as "Wagner", like I heard Captain Harry Louden often do. This is not a lapse into disrespect for my steamboat mentor, but as I get older, I may be approaching the age that the Skipper seems more a peer than a professor.

Sam,

Kelley might have gotten an extension to Memphis. I do kn ow that Cappy Louden's license ran out at Cairo. During his DQ career he got an extension up the Tennessee to Star Lime Works Light, I believe (about mile 28) and upo the Mon a few miles so he could land the DQ at the wharf at Pittsburgh. I do remember he said once that he had "license on three rivers...that's enough."

What a picture....think of the years of steamboat experience gathered there. My guess as to date would be 1964/65. Is the fellow standing between Jesse Hughes and Doc Carr Bo Allen?????????? He looks familiar but its been 40 years ago. Is the man next to Capt. Wagner Capt. Blankenship who ran mate for a while?????
Wish Doc Hawley had a computer or some .orger from NOLA could get this picture to Doc, he would know and have a story about each and every one of them.
If memory serves me correct, Albert Kelly had license from Huntington to Memphis. I know on the first Reelfoot Lake trip he stood watches on the Lower Miss. and on the first Pittsburgh trip he piloted as far as Huntington where Fred Way got on.

Somebody going to Marietta next week should copy it and show it to Doc there.

Dear steamboating colleagues:
Judy is right Re: taking the photo to Marietta next week for closer identification. Shipyard is correct seeing Richard Stewart in the front row. Some of the other faces and names are very familiar but other names won't come to mind here now in the year 2006. Not sure, but 'think' the Bob McCann looking guy in the back may have been watchman. The ones who could clinch all of this would be Capt. Doc Hawley, Virginia Bennett and Jane Greene.

*Humble opinion: Could...possibly...maybe...this photo have been taken when the DELTA QUEEN was bound for Pittsburgh and her periodic docking for hull inspection? May have been autumn as the boat did head for the marine ways at that time. Late November? Many river 'worthies' would 'post the river' as guests and working officers on those docking trips. Just one of those one way hull inspection trips would make an interesting story in itself. There were no passengers and the officers, crew, 'guests' ate the food that was to be cleaned out of the boat's freezers and storage lockers. Towels/face cloths, lavatory paper, soap etc. would be put in a central area for use.

*Another 'possibility' may have been one of the Lousiville steamboat race events but I can't recall Capt. Jesse Hughes being on any of the ones I attended from 1963 on. Capt. Wagner's vintage sweater is also familiar. At one of the early Louisville race trips [1965?] the DQ and BELLE were making their landings after the race when some wild kids started hurling rocks at the DQ. A window was broken on the boat and a male passenger got bonked on the head standing on the deck with disastrous results. Capt. Wagner, wearing that sweater, roared down the steps like a bear and over the stage to the landing along with the local police. Like Shipyard I graduated from U.C. here in 1966 and headed for the military until 1968; thus away from the river for a number of years. Heck, I don't know.

Cheer,
R. Dale Flick

Jimmy,

Right you are! The person between Jesse Hughes and Doc Carr is indeed Capt. Lawrence "Bo" Allen, pilot. Check out the photo on page 73 in Doc and Alan's book "Moonlight at 8:30" for verification. As to whether or not the person standing to Capt. Wagner's left is Capt. W. D. Blankenship, I don't know. Only saw him once, and that was in 1967 when he ran mate on the DQ on her St. Paul trip when Doc was Master on the upbound trip and Cap returned at St. Paul to take the boat back to Cincinnati. I do know he was a heavy-set individual, but can't recall a face. The mystery continues . . .

Here's a long shot that a photo of the DQ entering Lock 10 at Guttenberg, IA on Sept. 15, 1967, may provide some help with identifying that person to Capt. Wagner's left. On the DQ's wing bridge is Capt. W. D. Blankenship, mate on the St. Paul cruise. Pilot on watch is Charlie Fehlig in the red sweater. If you enlarge the picture enough and zoom in on the figure on the wing bridge MAYBE your eyes are sharp enough to tell whether or not that's the mystery man in the DQ Legends photo. Unfortunately, my eyes aren't good enough. Maybe someone younger with 20-20 vision can do the trick. Good luck . . .

Sorry, if you've been looking for that DQ picture, but I can't get my photo to upload. I'll have to wait for Jonathan to give me some help. Can't teach an old horse new tricks . . .

Well I've waited long enough. Even though the photograph belongs to me I can not identify everyone. I agree with Judy...ask Doc. In retrospect I wonder why Doc is not in the photo. Knowing Doc's humility he is probably snapping the picture.

The photo was taken in 1966 on the Mississippi around Carruthersville, MO I believe. Shipyard Sam came the closest to being correct.

Here's what I know:

Front Row. L-R: Albert Kelley, Harry Hamilton, Howard Tate, Richard Stewart, Bob Zang.

Standing. L-R; Unknown, Jesse P. Hughes, (the stumper) C. Sewell Smith, Howard Madison 'Doc' Carr, Capt. Blankenship, Ernie Wagner.

If someone speaks to Doc Hawley ask if he can remember the extent of Capt. Sewell Smith's license. I know it included completely tp the Gulf of Mexico. I towboated with him on the DISPATCHER and TRIPLE POWER in the winter of '61-62.

Thanks to everyone for their contributions...it's been fun!

If it was taken in 1966, the answer to Where's Doc? would be he was back in the Cincy office... that was the year he was off the boat as company VP, correct?

Sewell Smith and Big Momma

Capt. Sewell Smith, eh? Sure didn't recognize him, although I worked alongside him on the DELTA QUEEN in '70 when he seemed to be much more frail then what this robust portrait of him reveals. Big Cap Wagner always kept Captain Harry Louden, who was beyond his piloting territory and just "riding the boat", with Sewell Smith whenever the old gentleman was on watch at the wheel.

Some years later, while gathered 'round John and Marie Hartford's dining room table, I mentioned to a certain "expert" that I once worked with Captain Sewell Smith who had piloted the legendary steamer SPRAGUE. After a moments pause, as though sifting though his own collection of "dusty boxes", he immediately informed me that I was mistaken, "No," he insisted. "Sewell Smith never worked on the SPRAGUE." But that is not what Captain Harry Hamilton, who also pilot the Big Momma told me in vivid detail. "Handsome Harry" revealed that Captain Sewell was piloting the SPRAGUE when it was owned by Standard Oil. So there are at least two Pilots from the SPRAGUE among the Legends.

Shipyard Sam;1195 wrote: This pic is a doozy! There are truly many "steamboat legends" in that grouping.

First of all, is that Richard, second from the right, front row? (It's been a long time, and I'm guessing that it has been 1965 since I last saw Mr. Steward.) If so, then I worked with seven out of eleven of the legends; if not give me a six.

Front Row. L-R: Albert Kelly, Harry Hamilton, Howard Tate, Richard?, and Bob Zang.

Back Row. R-L: Ernie Wagner, ??, Doc Carr, ??, Jesse Hughes, and ??.

The two fellows framing Captain Jesse really look familiar, and I'll probably feel silly when I find out who they are. Dale, now that you are back, give us some enlightenment.

The photograph dates from about 1963 to 1968 is my take. Wasn't '68 the last year Captain Carr was on the DELTA QUEEN? In 1965, I left the QUEEN for four years in the Air Force, and when I returned in '70, much to my disappointment, Captain Carr was gone.

I may be wrong, but I haven't seen an ID on the gtentleman on the left in the back row. I think it is Capt. Fred Way.

Steamboat legends (still stumped)

Greg, that was one of my first thoughts, too! But since I never really knew Capt. Way I was reluctant to say so.

We are just back from S&D at Marietta. Showed the picture to Capt. Hawley and he identified the fellow to Capt. Hughes' left as Capt. Sewell Smith. Capt. Doc also ID'ed the fellow on the far left of the picture as Joe Goold. It so happened Woody had another picture of an S&D meeting from 1964 with Joe Goold in it. He was not easily seen in that photo, but Woody also said the "mystery man" in our Steamboat Legends pic was NOT Joe Goold....Woody said the guy in our pic is much too tall to be Joe Goold. So, the mystry continues!

The S&D meeting was wonderful, by the way. All who usually come but had to be absent were missed greatly, but a good time was had by those there. Capt. Hawley's program was wonderful and kept us in stiches for an hour and a half. Capt.Don Sanders graced us with his presence, the first meeting he'd been to in over 20 years. The weather cooperated beautifully. Miss Helen Prater, Capt. Hawley and Travis entertained us on the grand piano in the Lafayette lobby, and Joan Spear escaped from the hospital to join us for a few hours. Lucy Stollmade it and was looking good Friday, though she was a little under the weather Saturday evening and felt it would be best to rest. What a fine weekend. I'm hoping Lil will get on here and fill in the blanks when she has a chance.

Where is the photo?

I am looking for any pictures of my grandfather, Albert Kelley. I know he was a pilot for the Delta Queen. I came across this discussion of a picture. His name was listed in your discussion. Is there a way I could see the picture you are discussing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The Picture

I spent many hours working in the pilothouse of the DELTA QUEEN with your grandfather, Captain Albert Kelley, and he remains one of my favorite steamboatmen of all times, as I am sure others would agree that he was a DELTA QUEEN favorite with everyone who knew him.

Actually, he also piloted the AVALON when I was a youngster, and I recall the times when he, Captain E. E. Wagner, and other old-timers could be found in the original Kingfish, on Louisville downtown (4th Street?) enjoying a Falls City brew, or two, after the AVALON tied up for the night.

Please go to:
http://groups.msn.com/WillieandBustersWhirlwindTouroftheWorld/greenelinesteamers.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=4810

Thank you!

I cannot thank you enough. My father will enjoy seeing this picture as well. If you have any more links about my grandfather, pictures or stories, please let me know.

Gina, my grandfather is Capt. Jesse Hughes, also pictured in this photograph, a gentleman who was with Greene Line Steamers from 1896 or 1897 until his retirement in the late 1950's, I believe, although he was still riding on the DELTA QUEEN, his last boat, and standing watches with friends for fun, after that. One of his very favorite people to work with, over the course of many years, was your grandfather, Albert Kelley, for whom he had great fondness and professional respect. I heard many stories from Grandpa about your grandfather when I was younger. I just wish I had been smart enough at the time to write them down so I could remember them, because I do remember that they were all good.

Fishing At Kelley's Landing

Captain Albert Kelley grew up on the family farm at Kelley's Landing on the Ohio River, above Louisville, or so he once told me. When as a young fellow, his mother often sent him down to the river with a large wicker basket that he placed carefully on a selected spot upon the riverbank and waited for the CITY OF LOUISVILLE, to pass by. As the mighty steamboat approached "it sucked the water off the banks and stranded all sorts of fish," he swore. Young Albert then ran down amongst the flopping catfish and flung the choice ones into the basket before the water returned, and then carried them home where his mom cleaned and fried 'em up for a big Kelley catfish dinner.

Eventually, Kelley became a Pilot on that very same boat that was lost in the great Cincinnati ice gorge in January 1918.