Inland (Towboat, 1927-1938)

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Towboat
• BUILT: 1927, Paducah, Kentucky
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Charge of dynamite exploded in the cabin on January 13, 1938 resulting in fire which consumed cabin and pilothouse
• OWNERS: 1927: Inland Waterways Company ; later American Barge Line Company; Captain R.J. (Dick) Hiernaux
• OFFICERS & CREW: 1937: Captain Charles H. Ellsworth (master), Lewis B. Reade (pilot), Fred Wills and Denver Huggins (engineers), Clare Carpenter (cub pilot)
• RIVERS: Ohio River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - T1181; In April, 1936, she sideswiped the B. and O. bridge at Bellaire, Ohio while going under the bridge. She lost her wheel, bent a piston rod and broke a pitman. On December 22, 1937 she sank on top of the wreck of the old Voyager while going in to take coal at the Costanzo Mine, Warwood, West Virginia. Captain R. J. Hiernaux successfully raised her, when on January 13, 1938 a charge of dynamite exploded in the cabin. This resulted in a fire which consumed the cabin and pilothouse. At first the Captain figured he would rebuild her, but later changed his mind. In 1940 the hull was obtained by Jim Bonnelli and he built a showboat named Cotton Blossom on it
• PHOTO DESCRIPTION: Crane loading cargo onto tow of the Inland