Topic starter
19/04/2012 8:13 pm
How many boats were named the City of St. Louis? I am gathering there were 2 one from mid to late 1800's and another from 1907'ish that was the Mark Twain that Sam Clemons rode. From what I have found both were sidewheelers with the first one being over 300'.
If anyone could enlighten me I on this. I have only been able to find bits and peices mostly here and almost no photos.
Thanks,
Ed
19/04/2012 9:01 pm
Steamboats named CITY of ST./SAINT LOUIS
Ed: Probably the most famous boat of that name was built here at the Howard Shipyard in 1883 for the Anchor Line. She was 300 feet long and 49 feet wide. Before she burned in 1903, her roof bell was sold to Capt. J. Frank Ellison, who installed it on the packet QUEEN CITY. This bell later saw service on the towboat MILDRED, the packet OUACHITA and the towboat JOHN W. HUBBARD (today's MIKE FINK restaurant boat at Covington, KY) before being placed on the DELTA QUEEN in 1947.
Another CITY OF SAINT LOUIS, was originally the ELON G. SMITH, built at Madison, Indiana in 1873 and operated by the city harbormaster at St. Louis. Later she was renamed MARK TWAIN and a famous passenger was the real life Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) during a visit to the city.
The sidewheel harbor boat ERASTUS WELLS, built at Grafton, Illinois in 1907, was later renamed CITY OF ST. LOUIS and ran until 1935. Her roof bell, pilotwheel, running lights, steering levers and other artifacts are in various collections.
ALL of the above were sidewheelers. For photos, go to the Murphy Library Digital Steamboat Photo Collection site.
Hope this helps!
Keith
Topic starter
20/04/2012 12:41 am
Thanks
That answered my question, making more than I thought.