Later ADMIRAL photos

and even later ADMIRAL pix...

We've mentioned how much the ADMIRAL has changed from her cruising days, even pre-casino alterations. Here are some shots when she was being converted to a dockside playland for Six Flags, in 1984??? Jim, Annie??? That ugly mauve dock was a forerunner to the casino uglinesses perpetrated on us up and down the rivers now.

Annie Blum here. Thank you Keith for the reminder about the Susie Hazard. She was owned by Streckfus. I started in 1962 and for many years there was still a Susie Hazard checking account that we used to pay a few people on watch. I suspect that she hauled all the wooden hull boats down to Jefferson Barracks.

I agree with the Ladies' room and keeping it clean. The Admiral kept a woman on duty in each powder room during each trip. The beauty of having the Men's Room in less attractive surroundings on the first deck is that it could be hosed out each night! Even there they kept a man on duty. Anyone remember old Andy?

I have never heard that story about Captain Carroll going out on the Susie Hazard. Of course, there are many stories I do not know. I learn every time I read in this site. I did see an old newspaper article dated maybe 1941 or 1942 that had a picture of Betty Carroll steering the Admiral. The article said that she would sit for her pilot's license. That is all I know. I don't know if she ever did.

I am in the mind to believe that the diesel engines were out of the Admiral by the time she got to Paducah. I am not sure, I can only remember an article in the newspaper stating that John Connolly sold the Admiral back to St. Louis interests for a higher price than what he paid and that he kept the engines. She was moved to Paducah, I beleive, a few months before that group made their final decision to buy her. Remember, that after 1978, all I know is what I got from the newspaper. I have one note that came from the Globe dated March 11, 1982 that said that Six Flags ws considering the purchase of the Admiral. The Admiral came back home on July 27, 1984 after being gone for 4 years. Again, this is a note from the Globe Democrat. Ultimately Six Flags was the first group that did torture to her. I have often wondered if any of the funds, and we are talking about many millions, were used to correct the only real problem she had: the hull.

Admiral Photo Questions

Looking at Judy's photos of the Six Flags renovations, it looks like the only thing left of the "original" Admiral was the external skin? Is that a new superstructure rising inside the shell?

Wesley

Dear Judy, Ann, Keith & Wesley:
Catching up now on postings. Many thanks for the 'thread' on the ADMIRAL. Not too long for me and I appreciated seeing photos

Now my question. Who has information on the history of the old ANCHOR LINE?

Cheers,
R. Dale Flick

Annie, Judy, Jim, et al;
I think the photos from Paducah make it obvious that the diesel generators, the diesel engines, their M&T units, and also the steam engines had been removed by the time the photos were taken. I suspect that there is a possibility that Mr. Connolly may have had the whole ball of wax at one time.
Note the stanchions that have been cut out just behind the forward stairs. This hole was probably cut to remove the steam engines. The hole in the wheel well probably was used to remove the diesel gen sets. I suspect that the next hole aft was to yank out the diesel and M&T unit on each side (note the shape of the hole), and the cutout near the aft end was to remove the stern engine & M&T unit. Not sure on the hole for where I think the gen sets were since I really don't remember their placement on the interior but something in the back of my memory tells me that they were in the forward part of the wheel wells.
Dan Maguire

No, they were just adding a deck or two on top. When she became a casino, they added interior bulkheads on the original decks, but that's not happening in these shots.

There a lot of holes in my feeble memory, however I suspect that in the Paducah shots that only the M&T units and maybe the Cat Gensets have been removed. I suspect the steam engines were still on at that point.

Reason: The cats on the M&T units and Gensets had resale value while the Steam engines had little resale value except as scrap and cost lots to get ut and to a scrapyard. Only a theory at this point.

The missing "skin" on the portside I believe is from her time tied up at Avondale and damage done there.

I could not get mayself to go on for a walkabout after she returned to St. Louis due to the dreadful condition she was in. I just couldn't bear to see the vandalism done to her at NOLA. Word was that even the safe in the pursers offie had been broken into. Remember, at a shipyard there are cutting torches and long, long hoses.

I don't remember the specifics of her time at Avondale, but I remember it was longer than expected, and much vandalism was done. I remember going by her on the DQ and seeing the broken windows. Wasn't it something about the shipyard not getting paid and holding her 'hostage' and that the vandalism was coming from the shipyard workers themselves? And when was that?

Capt. Jim;
The holes aren't in your memory, I just got to thinking about the fact that both pitman rods are out at the Museum of Transport. It would be logical that the rods would have been taken out at the same time as the steam engines, and that would probably have placed them in St. Louis when they came out.

Dan Maguire

Judy;
Loved the photos from a historical viewpoint as much as the views hurt. If I can figure out how to post photos, I will try to post some from better days.
Dan

Capt. Bill Streckfus was director of the Museum of Transport for a time and I would imagine that's how the pitmans from the ADMIRAL and the pilotwheel from the CAPITOL came to be displayed there. Before the GOLDEN EAGLE RIVER MUSEUM closed two years ago, there were some ADMIRAL artifacts in the front yard, as well as the wonderful display in the museum of the large radio controlled model of the ADMIRAL and many souvenir items sold on the boat, from the collection of Monsignor Eichor.

Dale: The late Capt. Bill Tippitt, who was a pilot on the Str. Mississippi for years as well as other boats, did considerable research on the Anchor Line and Lee Line, all of which is on microfilm. Capt. Bill's collection is now at the Cincinnati Public Library in the Inland Rivers section, although I was told several years ago that the collection was still packed in boxes and had never been cataloged. Given the uncertain situation at the library now, I have my doubts that it ever will be.

Restored Pics of the Admiral at Paducah

Judy, I color corrected the old faded magenta pics you posted to start this thread. These are very interesting shots. I thought you and others might like to have better copies of them.

Ed Jones