Recently I have been entertained by another old book, “River Steamboats and Steamboat Men” by Capt Ellis C Mace. The book was published in 1944. The author, Capt Ellis C Mace, was born in Burlington, OH in 1862. Throughout the book, Capt Mace identified hundreds of the men who operated the steamboats. He provided detailed stories of many of the pilots, clerks, engineers, and mates that he had known.
In the narrow frame of reference and time for my research, Capt Mace named the engineers on what he described as the “palatial steamers” of the Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Packet Line: Alfred Hoof, J Henry Best, Hy Tyler. About Hy Tyler, Capt Mace wrote “His reputation as one of the first-class river engineers was heralded throughout the valley… Mr Tyler lost his health in South America…”. These brief biographies impart life into the steamboat men.
I believed that I had all the data available on these luxurious steamers based on the files of Capt Thomas S Calhoon housed at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh. Finding this book has provided a second and independent source.
As you are no doubt aware, I take special pleasure reading histories by authors who lived during the time. Maybe their styles do not rise to the level of literature, but their stories, filling each page, are eternal.
Tags: capt thomas s calhoon, georgetown, steamboat