The Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Mid South Memories section of the September 6 2011 edition reported that 100 years ago on this day the following:\u00a0 Rebuilding of the Lee Line steamer Eleonore badly damaged by fire this week while moored at the Memphis wharf, will begin at once.\u00a0 The fire, which caused damage of about $5000, was discovered by the watchman who immediately sounded\u00a0 the distress call on the whistle.\u00a0 The call was answered by the steamer General Pierson and the Memphis Fire Department.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Way’s Packet Directory<\/p>\n
ELEONORE: Boat 1752 Way\u2019s Packet Directory page 144. Stern Wheel, Packet, wood hull, built Beardstown Ill 1902, 126.8 x 23 x 3.8. Owned in her later years by the Lee Line. Burned at Memphis September 1911 and rebuilt. Turned turtle (in a tornado \u2013 see New York Times article below) 20 miles above Memphis drowning several passengers and her purser while she was in the Memphis \u2013 Ashport trade. This happened in June 1916 resulting in lawsuits which found the Lee Line not liable since the court ruled the capsizing an \u201cAct of God.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0New York Times June 6, 1916<\/p>\n
Four persons are known to have been drowned and twenty five or thirty others, mostly negro deck hands, are missing and are believed to have gone down when the Lee Line steamer Eleonore capsized last night in the Mississippi River\u00a0 twenty miles north of Memphis.\u00a0 An officier of the boat walked to Memphis today with the news.<\/p>\n
The Eleonore tied up last night in a remote spot to escape the tornado that swept the Central Mississippi Valley.\u00a0 A heavy gust of wind drove the craft into the bank and it overturned.\u00a0 Many of those aboard were in the cabins and between decks at the time.\u00a0 A relief vessel left tonight for the place of the accident.\u00a0 The Eleonore was a small vessel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Memphis Commercial Appeal’s Mid South Memories section of the September 6 2011 edition reported that 100 years ago on this day the following:\u00a0 Rebuilding of the Lee Line steamer Eleonore badly damaged by fire this week while moored at … Continue reading