Verne Swain (Packet, 1904-1929)

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Packet
• BUILT: 1904 at Stillwater, Minnesota
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Sank at Dismal Point, Arkansas in August, 1929
• OWNERS: D. M. Swain (1904); Captain George Prince and others of Natchez, Mississippi; Lyon Brothers, Greenville, Mississippi (circa 1916?); Valley Line Steamers, Memphis, Tennessee
• OFFICERS & CREW: Captain Will Cook (master, 1914-1915); John Ross (pilot, 1914); Mayo Watkins (engineer, 1914-1915); Louis Weber (chief engineer, 1915)
• RIVERS: Mississippi River; Illinois River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 5552; Built by D. M. Swain to handle excursions from Peoria to the St. Louis World's Fair. In July 1904 she made the 905 mile run from Stillwater, Minnesota to Peoria, Illinois in 70 hours, 30 minutes. Sold soon after that to Captain George Prince and other Natchez parties, she was then sold to Captain William and Frank Lyons of Greenville, Mississippi. On June 21, 1910 while en route between Luna Landing, Arkansas and Greenville, Mississippi, she was caught in a severe windstorm and damaged to the extent of $2000. Her next owners were Valley Line Steamers of Memphis, who ran her Memphis-Rosedale with a U. S. Mail contract. This terminated in August 1924 and was one of the last river mail contracts. She sank and was lost at Dismal Point, Arkansas in August, 1929