Telegraph (Packet, 1891-1897)

Photographer

Barrette, Thornton

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sidewheel
• BOAT TYPE: Packet
• BUILT: 1891 at Harmar, Ohio at Knox Boat Yard
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Sunk near Charlestown, Indiana at Beigs Landing about 16 miles above Louisville, Kentucky in November 1897
• OWNERS: Cincinnati, Big Sandy and Pomeroy Packet Company
• OFFICERS & CREW: Captain William Kirker (master); D.R. Scatterday (1st clerk); Carl Crawford (2nd clerk); Ambrose Dennis (pilot); Aaron Williamson (pilot); George Damron (chief engineer); Clarence Hughes (2nd engineer); Henry Kirker (mate); Theo. Buckles (carpenter); Lloyd P. Gee (steward); Gus Simmons (barkeeper); Charles Williams (pilot, 1897); Charles Dufour (pilot, 1897)
• RIVERS: Ohio River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 5321; Her machinery came from the previous Telegraph. On December 9, 1891, Dave Scatterday registered Miss Lucretia Brewer, the first female passenger, at Proctorville, Ohio. The Telegraph made a "fast run" from Cincinnati to Syracuse, Ohio in April 1892. She arrived at Pomeroy, Ohio in 19 hours and 7 minutes and at Syracuse in 20 hours, 17 minutes. She made only one landing along the way, at Huntington, and didn't put out a line there but let a man hop off. In 1894 the City of Madison was wrecked and her roof bell, which was originally on the Telegraph No. 3, was transferred to the Telegraph. On the night of November 22, 1897 the Telegraph was upbound above 12-Mile Island when pilots Charles Williams and Charles Dufour changed watches. They weren't speaking to each other at the time for unknown reasons. When Williams relieved Dufour, Dufour immediately left the pilot house before Williams had his "night sight". The boat was headed into a rocky cliff on the Indiana shore but before Williams could see the situation, she had run into the rocks and was wrecked. Both pilots had their licenses revoked at a result. The roof bell went to the City of Cincinnati