Valley Queen (Packet, 1889-1903)

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Packet
• BUILT: 1889 at Jeffersonville, Indiana by Howard Ship Yard
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Burned near Hardscrabble Landing (or possibly at Bruinsburg Landing, Tensas Parish, Louisiana) below St. Joseph, Louisiana in March 1903
• OWNERS: Captain George W. Rea and others
• OFFICERS & CREW: Captain Ben Rea (master, 1900); Walter Shinkle (pilot, 1900); Frank Cooper (pilot, 1900); Theodore Jobin (clerk, 1900); Will Carlton (clerk, 1900); H.W. Gribble (clerk, 1900); Dan O'Neill (mate, 1900); Al Brill (steward, 1900); Captain Isaac Brooks (1902); J.C. Bergeron (clerk, 1902)
• RIVERS: Missouri River; Mississippi River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 5536; Original price: $19,000. Home port or owner's residence circa 1889: New Orleans. This was a cotton-style packet and she ran New Orleans-Red River to Shreveport. On February 23, 1891 she was greatly damaged in a collision with the C.E. Satterlee. In January 1896 she brought 2,888 bales of cotton, 643 bundles of hides and other cargo into New Orleans in a single trip. By March 1900 she was operating in the Chalmette Packet Company. In 1902 she ran New Orleans-Vicksburg along with the Chalmette. When she burned in March 1903 she was carrying a large load of cotton and seed
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Loaded down with cotton. On shore are men, horses, carts and other cargo