Photograph of the steamboat DELTA QUEEN near a railroad bridge north of Hannibal, Mo. "15 barge tow ran into this bridge knocking down center span. April 1981. Turn table swing section on left side of picture in open position. No loss of life or boat. Accident caused by swing section tender not opening section after train passed over. Fast currant and slow opening left no place to go for the tow.”
The second James Lee was built at Jeffersonville, Indiana in 1898. Her dimensions were 204 feet in length, 36 feet beam and 5 feet depth of hold. She ran in the Memphis and Friar's Point trade, Captain John H. Darragh commanding. She was eventually converted into an excursion boat at Memphis and renamed the DeSoto, about 1917. In January, 1918 she sank in the ice at Memphis along with the Georgia
The City Of Providence ws an Anchor Line boat built in 1880 . For the St. Louis and Natchez trade. She ws a side wheeler with a texas deck and was later made an excursion boat. Shown here from South St. Louis bluffs above the Iron Mountain railroad tracks as an excursion boat operated by Columbia Excursion Company, she finally sunk in a wreck at St. Louis January 20, 1910. A part of the City
Watching the lock walls rise beside them, the Delta Queen's passengers are all well aware that they are experiencing the final act in a chapter of American history. How sad to think that future generations may well be deprived of this unique mode of travel and escape from our society's breakneck pace.
The Delta Queen approaches Lock 26 at Alton, downbound on her last trip before being taken out of overnight passenger service. The Queen made a stately and forlorn appearance as she eased into the locks, heightened by the melancholy mood of a still early morning haze.
The James Lee (2nd) was built at Jeffersonville, Indiana, in 1898. Her dimensions were 204 x 36 x 5 feet. She ran in the Memphis and Friar's Point trade; Captain John H, Darragh, commanding. She was eventually converted into an excursion boat at Memphis and renamed the DeSoto about 1917. She sunk at Memphis after the 1918 ice gorge wrecked her along with the Georgia Lee.