Boats, Ships, And Ferries

That one looks like a combination sailboat and steamboat.

 

Yes, and I believe that is the "Great Eastern", the first ship to lay the Atlantic Cable.

Hal

 

In 1856, the Steamboat Arabia was frontier bound, loaded with supplies for 16 towns. With two hundred tons of precious cargo aboard, it left Kansas up the Missouri river on a routine trip, but waiting silently at the water’s surface, lost in the glare of the setting sun, was the thick trunk of a huge, fallen walnut tree lying directly in the path of the approaching steamboat.
The lethal impact came without warning, piercing the thick hull of the steamer. Water poured through the gaping hole and the Arabia sank to the bottom of the Missouri River within minutes. there were no fatalities as everyone on board miraculously swam to safety. Only one forgotten mule, tied to the deck drowned.

 

The Arabia before the sinking.

 

The worst Maritime disaster in US history was the explosion, burning, and sinking of the steamboat Sultana on the Mississippi River in April 1865, at the close of the Civil War.

The vessel was designed for a capacity of 376, but over 2000 were on board at the time, mostly Union prisoners from Confederate prison camps on heir way home to loved ones.

Deaths were estimated at about 1800, compared to Titanic's 1500.

See the whole tragic story on YouTube.

Hal

 

@Hal Pollner

 

The USS Essex
"... a 1000-ton ironclad river gunboat of the United States Army and later United States Navy during the American Civil War. The Essex had the reputation as one of the most active gunboats on the Mississippi River."

 

Went from Lisbon, Portugal to Rome on this beauty.




Sailed all around the TONGA chain of islands on this 90 ft Twin Masted Schooner

 

Cross Channel Hovercraft ferry departing the Port of Dover in Kent in route to Calais, France, 1977

 

@Lon Tanner when you get your stimulations your check you can get this one. It's only $12 Million.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/12-million-yacht-looks-spaceship-175220844.html

 

The A. J. Goddard

"... a Klondike Gold Rush era sternwheeler built for transport of men and supplies on the Upper Yukon River in Canada. She was assembled from pieces manufactured in San Francisco, shipped up to Skagway, Alaska, hauled over the Coast Mountains, and assembled at Lake Bennett, B.C. in 1898. She sank in a storm in 1901. "

 

Gold dredge working the Klondike River, May, 1915


Frank and Frances Carpenter collection - Public Domain