Topic starter
22/04/2007 2:06 pm
Here is a picture of the first ISLAND QUEEN's roof collapse on April 22, 1922. I don't know the circumstances. Could someone please enlighten us?
22/04/2007 5:39 pm
Ist. Island Queen
Judy: The boat was in a parade from Cincinnati to Pt. Pleasant, Ohio for the big celebration of U.S. Grant's 100th. birthday. President Harding was to have ridden on the Queen but chose instead to ride with Capt. Tony Meldahl on the Str. Cuyahoga. The presidential area reserved on the Queen was exactly where her deck collapsed. It happened as the parade of vessels was passing New Richmond, Ohio. The Island Queen landed at New Richmond to discharge the injured for transfer back to Cincinnati area hospitals. Your photo is taken at the New Richmond landing.
25/04/2007 9:35 pm
Steamboating colleagues:
Judy's interesting photo of the collapsed deck on the 1st ISLAND QUEEN, and Cap'n Bill's follow, brought memories back to me here. The IQ's upper deck collapsed due to passenger crowding on April 22, 1922. [See WAY'S PACKET DIRECTORY No. 2799.] Fred mentions that 28 boys were injured, "one of them permanently." It was some event around here and received big coverage.
Capt. Ben I. Pattison was aboard in the pilot house. His daughter, the late Sue Pattison-Hoebel and husband Phil, lived across the street from me here in Cincinnati until their late 90s. We talked often and Sue described the event as she was in the pilot house with her father when the deck collapsed with, "Loud cracks, scrambling, falling and screams." I recall this story being featured by Capt. Fred Way in the S&D REFLECTOR, with photos, but am too lazy now to run and pull it out. I often wondered what the following Steamboat Inspection Service investigation revealed. Ben Pattison was associated with the CONEY ISLAND CO. for years along with the old GREENE LINE STEAMERS. He, too, entered the Steamboat Inspection Service and, I 'think' even did a stint with the Coast Guard in World War II. Sorry for being so vague after all these years. Sue, now Mrs. Phil Hoebel, and husband traveled much on the TACOMA, CHRIS & TOM GREENE, among others. Her mother was still living when I was in college and could she tell the old steamboat stories. Phil was one of the last surviving stock brokers to weather the big 1929 crash to be interviewed just before his death. The Hoebel's were married some 70 years. Helen Huges Prater recalled both Sue and Capt. Ben well. Another great 'window on the past.'
Cheers,
R. Dale Flick
25/04/2007 9:37 pm
Steamboating collegues:
1,000 pardons. A 'typo' on the date of the ISLAND QUEEN deck incident. It should have been typed April 27, 1922.
Cheers,
Dale Flick