Civil war etc

[Randal R Largent]

Hi Paul.
I finally got an inter loaned copy of the book you suggested 'Railway
Steamships of Ontario and when I got to page 81 what jumps out at me but
a photo of a side wheeler that was built in England in 1864 intended to
be a blockade runner in our war.
Her original name was the 'Letter B' .
She was renamed 'Chicora' and was still alive in 1877.

I also noticed once again while looking at the many clear photos that the
paddle boxes on the outboard sides have nice (usually) decorative
cutouts. Were these intended to relieve air pressure buildup inside the
boxes?

As for the car ferry info. Great. There are a number of, new to me,
photos that confirm some of my deductions and that with the descriptions
and source documentation give me more places to check out.
However, I still have yet to read what the colors painted on Transfer,
Transport and the Michigan Central were.
Another thing that has been in the back of my mind has been, are these
vessels known as ships or boats?
That question has been answered to my satisfaction by one Capt. L. R.
Boynton who apparently was THE car ferry authority in his day (circa
1900). The following statement is shown on a sign affixed at the loading
apron for a Mackinaw ferry site,
"All persons are warned to keep off the table until the BOAT is made fast
to the dock. Capt. L. R. Boynton". Emphasis mine. I guess we just
can't give up can we.
Randy Largent

[Alistair Deayton]

> Hi Paul.
> I finally got an inter loaned copy of the book you suggested 'Railway
> Steamships of Ontario and when I got to page 81 what jumps out at me but
> a photo of a side wheeler that was built in England in 1864 intended to
> be a blockade runner in our war.
> Her original name was the 'Letter B' .
> She was renamed 'Chicora' and was still alive in 1877.

I have come across this ship before, but I think the name is also quoted as
LET HER BE, which Wi9se states is the correct name, She was renamed on
arrival in the Confederacy.


>
> I also noticed once again while looking at the many clear photos that the
> paddle boxes on the outboard sides have nice (usually) decorative
> cutouts. Were these intended to relieve air pressure buildup inside the
> boxes?

That type of vent was standard on British coastal paddle steamers until the
Clyde Steamers CALEDONIA and MERCURY of 1935.

[Randal R Largent]

Alistair.
Thanks for the input.
I would tend to believe the name you supply instead of Letter B.
Ashdown states she spent 3 seasons in the West Indies trade and was
brought to the Great Lakes in 1868.