Topic starter
12/11/2006 9:51 pm
In January 1918, the Ohio Ice Gorge destroyed the City of Cincinnati, the City of Louisville, and the Loucinda of Cpatain Frederick Laidley's White Collar Line. Were there other boats of his detroyed by the ice?
12/11/2006 10:43 pm
Hi, Paul:
You're KERREECK on 'Commodore' Fred Laidley and his big L&C LINE [Called the 'Boss boats'] being destroyed by the 1917/1918 ice gorge. His big INDIANA, used as a spare boat, had been rebuilt as the AMERICA by the Howard Yards, Jeffersonville, 1916 and thus missed the big mess here.
The LOUCINDA [Way's PACKET DIRECTORY Entry No. 3573 and other sources] relate she had been built for the L&C LINE for Cincinnati-Madison; then in 1914 chartered to LOUISVILLE & EVANSVILLE PACKET CO. Wrecked by the ice here Jan. 30, 1918, she was later rebuilt as the ANDES. If 'Commodore' Fred Laidley had ownership or interest in any other boats lost on the river here at that time I have no knowledge. Laidley was a real steamboat baron as you know in addition to railroads, meat packing and salt works. I have a break-down of his companies and holdings over the years but can't lay my hands on that file now. It included: U.S. MAIL LINE, WHITE COLLAR LINE, L.& C. LINE, CINCINNATI, BIG SANDY & POMEROY PACKET CO. *If you can lay your hands on a vintage copy of Capt. Ellis Mace's book he give a summation of these company maneuverings as he stood pretty much at Laidley's right hand.
I've received some dandy photos here of the big 1917/1918 ice and, when I master posting photos directly, would like to share with Steamboats.org. Some are views never seen before to my knowledge. Laidley pretty much had it after that and then entered the personality of John W. Hubbard in the ownership/management of the L&C LINE. Frank Prudent did a fine study for university studies some years back and may have more information. It's only November and Brrrrr! I'm shivering already.
Cheers,
R. Dale Flick
13/11/2006 1:17 am
Hi Paul: I have a copy of Ellis Mace's book that Dale speaks of and you are welcome to borrow it. Your ex-neighbor...Tom Schiffer.
13/11/2006 1:37 pm
The wrecked Indiana rode out the ice of 1917-18 in the Louisville and Portland Canal. Her cabin had burned on May 1, 1916. The boat was not rebuilt immediately. It was rebuilt during 1918 at Howard's to become the America. An interesting note is that the drawings for this project were named Indiana.
Topic starter
14/11/2006 4:38 pm
Thanks Dale, Alan, and Tom. Tom, what is the title of the book by Ellis Mace?I'll try to find it at a library, but if I'm not successful, I'd like to take you up on your offer to borrow it.
Paul
14/11/2006 5:54 pm
Paul: the title of the book is River Steamboats and Steamboat Men,
A History,
with articles and pictures from my scrapbook.
by Captain Ellis C. Mace.
The Hobson Book Press, Cynthiana, Kentucky, 1944. The copy that I have is minus the boards (cover) and contains lots of interesting and (mostly) poorly reproduced pictures of boats. Let me know if you need it. I seem to remember that you have moved back to Kenton County.