Kate Adams

Way, Frederick, Jr., 1901-1992
Hartford, John

picture

Kate Adams (Steamboat)
Steamboats
Mail steamers

The first Kate Adams was built in 1872 at SewickleyPennsylvania and then completed at Pittsburgh. Her dimensions were:- 247 x 72.4 x 9.0 feet. Tonnage: gross, 1047; net, 927 tons. She had high pressure engines 24 inches in diameter and 9-foot stroke; also five boilers. Captain James Rees, who had much to do with the biuilding of the Kate Adams and the Will S. Hays, both in 1882, says they were among the first, if not the first, river boats to be completely wired for electric lights in all departments. She was a fast stepper and won several speed trials in trades out of Memphis. Her record time: Helena to Memphis in five hours and 18-1/2 minutes. Her cabin was panelled in natural ash, walnut, cherry, mahogany and birdseye maple. She was one of the early boats to have electric lights throughout. While ascending the Mississippi River, 40 miles below Memphis, at Commerce, Mississippi, she caught fire and burned, early Sunday morning, December 23, 1888. Twelve of her crew, one cabin boy and twenty passengers were reported lost. Captain Mark R. Cheek was her master.

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Herman T. Pott National Inland Waterways Library