Urania (Packet, 1896-1901)

Date

• ca. 1900-ca. 1905

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Packet
• BUILT: 1896 at Harmar, Ohio at Knox Yard
• BECAME: Helen Blair
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Burned on September 5, 1901 at Muscatine, Iowa, rebuilt at Kahlke's Yard at Rock Island, Illinois and renamed
• OWNERS: Bay Line; Captain Walter Blair (1901)
• OFFICERS & CREW: Captain Howard Donnally (1896-1899); George Hunter (clerk); Captain Dave Scatterday (master, 1899); George Hamilton (pilot, 1899); Captain T.T. Johnson (1901); L.E. McLaughlin (clerk, 1901); Spencer Burtnell (chief engineer, 1901)
• RIVERS: Ohio River; Mississippi River; Muskingum River; Kanawha River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 5526; She ran Pittsburgh-Charleston to start, then in 1899 ran Cincinnati-Gallipolis. She and the Queen City were on the same upbound schedule out of Cincinnati and so they staged various races. The first one was run on April 12, 1899 from Proctorville to Gallipolis and was won by the Urania. In the spring of 1901, the Urania was in the Cincinnati-Ironton trade, making three trips a week. In summer 1901 Captain Blair bought her at Cincinnati and took her to Burlington, Iowa. She then entered the upper Mississippi trade. On September 5, 1901 she caught fire and burned off the cabin, texas, and pilothouse at Muscatine, Iowa. She was rebuilt and renamed
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: On the ways at the Kahlke boatyard at Rock Island, Illinois