Helen Blair (Packet, 1896-1920)

Summary

• BOAT DESCRIPTION: Sternwheel
• BOAT TYPE: Packet
• BUILT: 1896 at Harmar, Ohio
• FORMERLY: Urania
• FINAL DISPOSITION: Dismantled at Memphis in June 1920
• OWNERS: Captain Walter Blair (1901); White Collar Line; Carnival City Packet Company (1919)
• OFFICERS & CREW: Captain Joseph Buisson (pilot, 1915); Captain George W. Bay (1915); Spencer Burtnett (chief engineer, 1911 or 12); Captain Roy Wethern (pilot, circa 1915); Captain Cyprian Buisson (1911; master, 1913); Captain Tom Parker (pilot, circa 1916); Dayton Randolph (pilot); Walter English (pilot); Captain William J. Keith (clerk, 1915; purser, 1916); Captain Joseph H. Young (master); Captain Harry Young (master, 1914); Captain Parm? Lancaster (master, circa 1911); Captain John Hattell (pilot, circa 1915); George Hild (chief engineer, 1913)
• RIVERS: Mississippi River; Ohio River; White River; Cumberland River
• OTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 2568; Other sources state that this boat was built at Rock Island, Illinois in 1900. Captain Blair bought the Urania in 1901 and used her at Burlington, Iowa to run local trades. On September 5, 1901 she burned her texas and pilothouse off at Muscatine, Iowa. When rebuilt that winter, she was renamed to honor the daughter of Captain Blair. On July 13, 1910 while proceeding downstream about 3 1/3 miles below Davenport, Iowa, she hit an obstruction in the channel and was sunk in seven feet of water. She was raised and repaired; amount of damage $2500. On April 27, 1913, the Helen Blair was the first steamboat to go to Galena, Illinois in years, and it turned out she was the last steamboat to go there. In 1915 she ran a special cruise from Davenport to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In November 1915, she went to Clarendon, Arkansas on the White River with a load of potatoes and brought back pearl shells to Muscatine. In October 1916 she made a trip from Davenport to New Orleans with 60 passengers. She was sold to Memphis in September 1919 and dismantled in 1920