p. 1071 - on Upper Mississippi River, believed to be '1902-1910' Davenport, Iowa. First as sternwheel 'J.S' J.S. 'first ' J.S. excursion boat built at Jeffersonville, Indiana. 1901 - size 175'x33'x5.5'. engines 18"x7' stroke, built for Captain John Streckfus Sr. Originally placed in Davenport - Clinton, Iowa daily trade, offering "moonlight excursions". In this trade she was found to be too large and heavy to run the rapids every day. She was withdrawn and operated exclusively as an excursion boat, and made great success as such. She was lost by burning, on June 25, 1910 at "bad ax bend," near Victory Wisconsin. It is said that the fire which caused her destruction was touched off by a passenger who was confined in the jail located in hold.
I had this picture made from one taken by Art Colwell. Art was US Govt. inspector of boat engines on lower Missouri, and Miss. River from mouth of MO river to Keokuk dam about 1910-1920.
With the Reliance at St. Louis. The Alton, a beautiful side-wheeler was built in 1906 at Jeffersonville, Indiana. She was 241.1 feet in length, 38 feet beam and 7.3 feet depth of hold. She was of 800 tons, 1350 horse power, and owned and operated by the Eagle Packet Company of St. Louis. A feature of her construction was an octagonal shaped pilot house. In 1913 she was operating as an excursion boat out of St. Louis. In January, 1918 she was completely destroyed by the ice at Paducah, Kentucky.