Fire destroys Lt. Robert E. Lee in Saint Louis

I just got the news...it is a sad start to spring when we lose another historic vessel!

Fire destroys Robert E. Lee riverboat | ksdk.com | St. Louis, MO

Royal Robe of Flames

And so it came to pass:

"The Grand Republic was beautiful

As well as valuable and practical--

It was even more spectacular

In a Royal Robe of Flames..."

John Hartford

LT. ROBERT E. LEE Burned

That luxury restaurant boat LT. ROBERT E. LEE burned to the hull today. I kept hearing the St. Louis Fire Dept. dispatching equipment to the foot of Market St., which is where the St. Louis Public Barge Terminal is located. All the dispatcher said was a "boat fire". At any rate, the fire was in no man's land. With the river at flood stage the fire trucks could not go outside the flood wall but had to get as close to the wall as possible then raise their aerial ladders and shoot water OVER the top of the floodwall. Channel 2, KTVI, is the only TV station to have it on the 5 p.m. news and they had to film from a long distance away across the river. The fire dept. says the fire is suspicious because the boat had been in hard times that past decade or so and there were no electrical lines connected to the boat.
I ate on it quite a few times. There used to be a guy come to St. Louis three or four times a year. Every time he came, he wanted to go down on the ROBERT E. LEE and eat lunch. He was always paying the tab and I just loved their $7 hamburgers.
The superstructure was made of wood and the entire superstructure is gone.
As I was preparing this message, the fire dept. dispatched three more pumpers for hot spots at the boat.

Dan Owen

LT. ROBERT E. LEE

I didn't know this news had already been posted under "steamboats"... So I've edited this posting down to just the news link, as I don't see a way to delete this thread entirely...
Fire destroys Robert E. Lee boat - STLtoday.com

Lt. Robert E. Lee

Here she was as seen from the SPIRIT OF PEORIA last August as we headed downriver into St. Louis. The smokestacks were lying on the roof, and it didn't appear that any work was being done to her at that point. Later that day Jim Blum and I drove up to the area to try to find her, but a hysterical bicyclist waylaid those plans. We could see her upriver a few blocks from where we were, but couldn't get any farther. A fire on a Sunday afternoon - probably no workers at adjacent sites to report the fire, or suspicious activity - how convenient. At least it didn't collapse under the weight of snow, or drift out into the dangerous channel when a sternline broke loose. Oops, those have been used already...

LEE posting

Hey, we've got the waterfront covered, Steve. Nothing faster than a sternline telegraph! Thanks Dan for the blow by blow on the scanner. Suspicious? Whatever would give them that idea??????????

more pictures from KMOX

Robert E. Lee Boat Is Destroyed By Fire - KMOX.com

What a year for BAD boat news! Although the superstructure of the LEE was relatively "new", having been constructed at Greenville, Mississippi in 1969 on the hull (including the original sternwheel shaft) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers snagboat CHAS. H. WEST, she still qualifies as a vintage vessel. First operated by the late Fred H. Leyhe, son of the famous Capt. W.H. "Buck" Leyhe of Eagle Packet Company / Eagle Boat Store fame, the LEE was long a fixture on the St. Louis levee. opening in early 1970, and was a wonderful place to dine. Another one gone!

The first day of spring brought a huge, dark cloud of sadness for me, as I had to have my beloved cat, Casey, put down at age 14. We battled his diabetes for 8 years with many ups and downs, but he was a brave little trouper to the end, never once protesting the twice daily insulin injections and other meds. In recent weeks he had gone into a decline that just couldn't be reversed and I had to make the hardest decision I've ever faced, to let him go. He was much more than "just a cat" and had a tremendous fan club, especially his "Aunt Judy" and the staff at the Ridgeview Animal Clinic. He was a true comedian and brought great joy and companionship to the lives of my parents and me. We have spent the weekend wrung out with grief, weeping enough tears to float the Delta Queen! Many of you have met Casey and know what he meant to us. Those who are "owned" by cats truly know how these cute little rascals come into our lives and leave forever pawprints on our hearts.

Keith: I never met Casey but we well know the agony of having to put down a beloved pet...having done just that for Goldie, our pet canine for over 18 years. She was able to regulate this household for all of that time...a stray Golden Deceiver, she was the only one in captivity. You all have our sympathy. Cap'n Walnut.

My condolences Keith, you've lost a family member and it hurts. When my girls, 18 and 21, were 2 and 5 I got them a kitten. He was Black and White and born without a tail and I figured that would give him a better chance. Jerry became DJ's kitty, my oldest. last July she had to put him down at the age of 17. I'm not ashamed to say that when she told me tears rolled down my face and the other day she said you know dad its still weird not seeing Jerry around. Nope he wasnt "just a cat" he was a unique individual. He'll be sadly missed and fondly remembered.

Yellow Bundles

Yellow Cats are the best cats of all. Several unrelated generations of them have, of their own accord, become members of our family. When Sun Cat, the first of the line, died in '78, I was on the river aboard the DELTA QUEEN, and when I returned home and was told the sad news I fell into spasms of unmanageable grief. To this day, that adverse reaction to the loss of a stray yellow cat that wandered into my life announced remains a milestone on my path of life.

Johnny Dew, "The King of Cats" appeared on my front door in the middle of a cold winter's night, and he stayed for many years and changed, not only my life, but all others who came in touch with that marvelous character. Dew was smarter than most people, many agreed.

Buster-the-Cat was an answer to a little boy's greatest wish that he could have a kitten, and after being told that "a little yellow cat will soon come to the door and ask to be let in", Buster appeared and has been Jon Hartford’s (my son) constant companion ever since- some fourteen years later.

Our latest yellow-furred addition to the family is a young female, Princess Peach, who, at this writing, is in the vet's clinic waiting being spayed, though she doesn't know it… yet. She arrived at the door within days of the passing of Princess Zelda, our only Siamese cat.

All these feline critters became entwined into our lives like your Casey... so I feel your pain. Cats, somehow, have a way of knowing when a vacancy opens, and I wouldn't be surprised if another little yellow bundle of love appears at your door, soon, and begs to be let in to fill the hole in your heart.

From one cat adorer to another, you have my deepest, heart-felt sympathy.

As another of those possesed by cats (herds of them) I know your grief. Been through that too many times. Popcorn, Ponder, Flashbang and Monorail would snd you their consolations if they weren't so self absorbed with being cats.

The last "yalller" cat we had was a scarred, rag eared, one eyed old pirate who wandered into our lives, made life miserable for the rest of the herd for a number of years and then, just as mystereously disappeared. We miss him.

Maybe you can teach the next one to file..... (Right!)

I am so very grateful for the many kind messages of sympathy here and via personal e-mails, cards and phone calls. The support of good friends who truly understand is greatly helping me to deal with my grief. As always, "river people" are the best -- unfailingly happy to give, sharing joys and sorrows --and just being there for each other. THANKS!

Casey wearing Mardi Gras beads - from the DELTA QUEEN - 1998 (2 years old)

A late news report, courtesy of Capt. Jim Blum, mentions that there is interest in utilizing the former restaurant boat BELLE ANGELINE, built on a barge and for some years moored above the Eads Bridge, to replace the destroyed LT. ROBERT E. LEE at St. Charles, where the LEE was to open in April at the landing formerly occupied by the GOLDENROD SHOWBOAT, currently deteriorating along the Illinois River at Kampsville.

I was aboard the BELLE ANGELINE for a meal only once, and although the food was fine, the ambience was just not the same as that aboard the LEE -- especially when ragtime pianist Jeannie Kittrell and her band were performing. I do recall that the best experience of the lunch on the BELLE ANGELINE was the make-it-yourself sundae bar, which featured all kinds of ice creams, toppings, etc. It was especially a BIG hit with my dining companions, Miss Ruth Ferris and Capt. Lexie Palmore!

They settle into your heart ...

My deepest sympathies, Keith. My yellow guy, Dave, supervises all wooden boat work in my driveway and for 15 years has walked down to the river every morning with me, just to be sure it's still there (upper Delaware). Here he is, in better times, making sure that bulker stays in the channel.

These days he's so stiff he only gets about halfway, sits down and waits for me to come back to get him breakfast.

The do break your heart and we wouldn't trade for anything, would we?

Best, best wishes.

Another News Video/Story of the Fire

Here is a different news video of the fire: Local Weather Forecast Radar, World News, Sports for St. Louis | Channel 2 - FOX2now.com | KTVI-TV -- KTVI

Thanks so much Roger. I pray that Dave can continue to brighten your life for as long as possible. I am thankful for the 14 years I was blessed with Casey, but those years flew by too, too, quickly.

Sounds like a great time was had by all. Too bad one of us is gone and the other one of us can't remember a formed thing about it. You sure it was me? Did you take a pictcha?

Sho' nuf I took a pictcha! It was taken out on deck and, come to think of it, Sue Eastman, who was curator of the River Room at the Alton Museum of History and Art was with us too. Remember (oops, guess I shouldn't use THAT word!) this was 32 years ago!

No excuse for not remembering things, except that there aren't as many little gray cells up there in the cranium as there used to be. Aside from that, I'm fine. As we used to say about the old timers, "they've forgotten more than we know." If you can find it, post the pictcha.

Lex: Well, I did some "dredging" and the photo of you, Ruth Ferris and Sue Eastman turned up in a DQ album. This was taken on the bow of the BELLE ANGELINE, October 31, 1978, after all of us had enjoyed the "make it yourself sundae bar" to top off a nice lunch on the Mississippi. For those not familiar with the scenery, in the background are the Eads Bridge (opened in 1874) and the former Str. ADMIRAL with the M/V HUCK FINN alongside.

Thanks for dredging. I'm pretty sure I didn't get a print of that picture, hence, no memory of it. In photos like that, I feel that the interesting background is upstaging the foreground. After a while, it becomes history. I do remember visiting Ruth's home.

Hey all

The City * The Arch * The River

Just found this website and its accopmanying articles. Seems there is some interest in re-tying the Gateway Arch, the City, and the Mississippi River together to celebrate the (in 2015) 50th anniversary of the Eero Saarinen designed Gateway Arch. Wonder how someone could incorporate the glory of all of the former the riverfront attractions into this? Perhaps here is the saviour for the GOLDENROD, ADMIRAL, the Excursion Boats BECKY THATCHER and TOM SAWYER, and a couple of floating restaurants? After all, they thrived off the business the Arch created for them at one time. There has to be a way to integrate the same thing back into their new plan.

Another thing that came to mind is a mini Tall stacks festival in conjunction with the opening of such an attraction....perfect way to get people back to the river...and the river back to the people!

Just a thought for some of you native St. Louisians to work on...and maybe some of us river fans, too!

Travis