Tuesday 8 May 2012

Oh, Steamboat Bill, Steamin' Down The Mississippi

I wanted to do a series of unusual pictures of late 19th. early 20th. century working boats, rather than fancy passenger liners. In my research I came across photographs of  'Mississippi Paddle Steamers."

Steamboat Bill was the pilot of the Whipporwill. He was under orders from the vessel's owners to try to beat the record of the Robert E. Lee.

Now I had images in mind of the Paddle Steamers as floating Casinos ...the film, 'Showboat,' comes to mind But that's all Hollywood. It seems that those types of craft were simply barges with flat roofed houses on them - pulled by a 'tow-boat.'

Oh, Steamboat Bill, steamin' down the Mississippi
Steamboat Bill, a mighty man was he 
Oh, Steamboat Bill, steamin' down the Mississippi
Gonna beat the record of the Robert E. Lee.

The REAL paddle steamers were, what we in the aviation world called, PCF: Passenger Cum Freighter. Whilst the passengers occupied the upper deck(s) the freight travelled below. Also, directly below the passengers, were the massive steam boilers that drove the paddles.

Up then stepped a gambling man from Louisville 
Who tried to get a bet against the Whippoorwill
 Billy clasped the roll and surely was some bear 
The boiler it exploded, blew them up in the air. 
 The gambler said to Billy as they left the wreck 
"I don't know where we're going but we're neck and neck."
 Said Billy to the gambler, "Tell you what I'll do; 
I'll bet another thousand I'll go higher than you!" 

Exploding boilers killed many thousands on the rivers. In the first 40 years over 4000 people died and 500 vessel sunk. The worst was the Sultana, which in 1865 was ferrying  home Union Troops, recently freed from Confederate prisons. The boilers blew! 1700 died - still the largest loss of life on the rivers.

There were/are two kinds of Paddle Steamer: Side Paddle and Stern Paddle.

Here's my impression of the Side Paddle Steamer, Arabia, probably about 1885.


Paddle Steamer, Arabia (c1885),                  John Simlett, Shipwright  (2012)
Pen & Ink   15" x 12"




23 comments:

  1. Good post John. I always like my history with wonderful drawings and yours are. While I've driven across the Mississippi River many times, I've never gone down the Mississippi. Might be fun?

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    1. Thanks Lynn. I've never been on the river either, been to New Orleans a few times and that's the closest.

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  2. well, I learnt something I didn't know-steamboats always make me think of Huckleberry Finn and I had no idea so many people were killed by exploding boilers. Fantastic illustration. do you sketch in pencil first or go straight in with pen?

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    1. I'll be getting to Huckleberry Finn on my next post, Nicola.

      I do the important/tricky bits in pencil first, but I'm far too impatient to do the drawing twice. As I'm getting back into drawing (still not there yet) I use the pencil less and less.

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  3. Wonderful post, John..this paddle steamer is OUTSTANDING...amazing work with your pen and ink...I can't wait to see your next piece.

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    1. Thanks Hilda. I did enjoy it - unfortunately it comes out a little wispy when reduced i size

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  4. Wow.. this is wonderful. How long does it take you to do one of these drawings? Thanks for the History lesson to go along with it. I never knew they were so dangerous.

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    1. Thanks Cris. This one took 15 - 20 hours I guess. My biggest problem is drawing time: I'm always so busy that I have to grab an hour here and another there.
      They're not dangerous nowadays - they're mostly diesel engines

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  5. I have been incognito for a while and today had a chance to catch up on your AMAZINGLY interesting blog!OH my gosh, is there anything that you cannot do? I am so impressed by your wood working skills, your story telling and writing skills and, of course, your divine pen and ink drawing skills! So glad I had a chance to stop by!

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  6. Susan, I was getting worried about you - all you had on my sidebar was a big exclamation mark (point)

    Thank you for your kind comments ... I do have a lot of toys to play with don't I? :0)

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  7. I was going to ask how long it took but I see that Cris already asked and you have answered. It is wonderful John! So detailed and such a wonderful subject! I was looking at Susans comment what more is there to say than that? Amazing!:0)

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  8. Thank you, Sandra ...it is an interesting subject. I have two under way: another paddle steamer ... and a dirty old tramp-steamer up in Newcastle-upon-Tyne ... I'm running between them!

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  9. John, your sketch is marvellous! And I love to read your bits of history about the sketch. I had no idea steamboats were that prone to explosions. It certainly is a far cry from the Hollywood interpretation.

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    1. Thank you for your kind comments, Kathryn.

      I knew none of this either, it's surprising what you find out when you research the subject matter isn't it?

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  10. Ciao John. thank you very much for the informations and for your beatiful drawn!
    it is really interesting to know how were these riverboats and
    to see from your drawn the 2 floors like a mini village!
    Also to remember the people who lost his life.
    Thank you again and ciao, ciao, Floriana

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    1. Thank you Floriana - I like the idea of a mini village.
      Ciao.

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  11. Ciao, I see now that the comment I posted last week did'nt appeared...never mind, may be something wrong...
    I don't remember very well but I wrote that I hope for you more success and money, but I think you are a nice person who like to drawn also for your pleasure and this is the best!
    Ciao, ciao, Floriana

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    1. The one you posted last week is in the post below :0)

      But thank you again for your kind thoughts.

      Ciao, ciao, John

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  12. Hi John, sorry I'm late! Lovely and interesting post as always! Makes me think of Huckleberry Finn also, so looking forward to your next post, I'm sure I won't be disappointed!

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  13. Hello Judy. Thanks for the kind comments. I think Huckleberry Finn is synonymous with both the river and the steamers.

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  14. Hey, you're teaching this American some history this morning. I confess, I had never heard of the Sultana. (What a tragedy!) I do remember reading about the Whipporwill (... a great name). It is fun to have a blogging friend who is so well versed in beautiful architecture, aircraft, ships and boats AND in all sorts of different eras! I love your drawing of the "Arabia". (Funny that some of those names are so incongruent for the Mississippi River). Thanks for making me remember the movie Showboat. Great visuals in that movie and Kathryn Grayson sang like an angel! :)

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  15. It's amazing the information one can pick up when researching a picture isn't it?

    It's fun having a blogging friend who puts on shows etc. and leaves interesting photographic history of the event.

    Yes some very unusual names for some steamboats, wonder what the logic was.

    Thanks for dropping in and your kind comments, Celeste.

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  16. Again, a great history lesson...and amazing art!
    My parents took a paddle wheel boat cruise somewhere in the south years and years ago now; and I ate lunch on one in Stillwater, Minnesota! (docked and turned into a restaurant.)
    Food wasn't bad either.

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