Silas Wright

Meredith, J. W.
Hartford, John

picture

Silas Wright (Steamboat)
Steamboats
Booms (Log transportation)
River steamers

Mississippi River

Silas Wright. Raft boat on Upper Mississippi. The Silas Wright was built at Eau Claire, Wisconsin, during the winter of 1866-67. Her hull was 106 feet long, 20 feet beam and 3 feet depth of hold; 91.51 tons. She was owned by Ingram and Kennedy and operated during 1867 as a packet between Read's Landing, Minnesota, on the Mississippi River, and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, about 70 miles above the mouth of the Chippewa River. Captain William Lee was her master, A. Burdett, clerk and L. Fulton the pilot. In 1868 the Wright was sold to H. T. Ramsey of La Crosse, Wisconsin. Captain Lee continued as master but through 1868 and 1869 and into the low water season of July, 1870, during which period the trade was from La Crosse to Chippewa Falls, a city even further up the Chippewa than Eau Claire. In the mid-summer of 1870 the Silas Wright was purchased by the Northwestern Lumber Company and placed in the rafting trade. Originally the abbreviated cabin as shown in picture extended aft the full length of the boiler deck, being shortened after her withdrawl from the packet and passenger trade on the Chippewa River. On August 25, 1870, she encountered a tornado on Lake Pepin. She was sunk in 12 feet of water but no lives were lost. It was raised, repaired and then operated for many years as a raft tow boat. Captain J. M. Turner was her master and pilot until 1876. In 1883 she was owned by Davidson and Walker of Read's Landing; Captain John Walker, master. In 1890 the Wright was sold to Capt. Isaac H. Wasson and J. W. Rambo, both of Le Claire, Iowa, and after that used to help raft boats over the rapids between Le Claire and Rock Island. She was then commanded by Captain Daniel Davison. On September 8, 1892, while in service, she was struck amidships by the ring bolt on a raft and cut half in two, sinking on the upper rapids, proving a total loss. Later, the engines were recovered and installed on the raft boat R. J. KENDALL.

Items in the UMSL Digital Library are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated. The contents of the UMSL Digital Library are made publicly available for use in research, teaching, and private study. Although the nature of archival and manuscript materials sometimes makes it difficult to determine the copyright status of an item, it is the user's responsibility to use them according to all applicable terms. Please contact the contributing partner for additional information regarding copyright status of a particular digital image, text, data set, or sound or video recording.

p-29-ovr-2-000071

Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library