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The Mississippi River circa 1906. "Steamboat landing at Vicksburg. Sternwheeler Belle of Calhoun and sidewheeler Belle of the Bends." Our second look at these river packets. Detroit Publishing Company glass negative. View full size.
Is that far left ship beached or swamped? It's deck looks too steep to still be afloat.
The Vicksburg levee today, anchored to the south by a casino "boat."
The Belle of Calhoun was a 181-foot sternwheeler built at Carondelet, Illinois, in 1895. Named for Miss Anna Wood, who was crowned the Belle of Calhoun County, Illinois. Sank three times in her career, finally burned at Alton in the winter of 1930-1931.
Belle of the Bends was a 210-foot sidewheeler. Built in 1898 at the Howard Yard in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Converted to an excursion boat at Cairo and renamed Liberty circa 1918. Dismantled in October 1919.
It's amazing how close to the shore these boats came to the shore. How deep could the water be? 10 feet? Then the boats further down the shore look like they are landed right up on the beach. Great photo of the old American industrial machine working.
I live in Louisiana and my mom used to paint oils of these old paddle wheelers. Her friends used to call her "Delta Queen" for her love of these old vessels. Thanks for the memories! Her paintings were right on!
Really brings home the feeling of,
"Tote dat barge, Lift dat bale!"
... a thousand words, but this one is worth at least a dozen pictures. An amazing photo from which can be extracted a multitude of wonderful stand-alone shots.
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