Description

BOAT DESCRIPTION: SidewheelBOAT TYPE: PacketBUILT: New Albany, Indiana, Dowerman's Ship Yard, 1852FINAL DISPOSITION: Wrecked in a great storm at New Orleans, February 21, 1860, she was later dismantledOWNERS: 1852: Captain Edward T. Sturgeon; January, 1857: Captain Lewis W. Broadwell, New Orleans; November, 1857: James M. Broadwell, New Orleans; April 23, 1858: Robert Bell, New Orleans; unknown date: Captain Harry I. SpottsOFFICERS & CREW: Henry Christopher and Jeff Stewart (pilots); Crew was composed of as many as 121 persons at times; among them: 70 firemen and deckhands, 25 stewards and waiters, five cooks, three mates, 5 engineers, along with clerks, pilots, etc.RIVERS: Ohio River; Mississippi RiverOTHER INFORMATION: Ways - 1688; The Eclipse's hull was floated off a natural rise in the river and not launched making a considerable talking point in favor of the speed qualities she later developed. She was designed for the Louisville-New Orleans trade and was given large power. Captain Edward T. Sturgeon, master and principal owner, from Louisville, Kentucky, was 35 years old when he brought her out in 1852. Her famed speed trial left New Orleans at 10:12 a.m., Saturday, May 14, 1853. Four days, nine hours and thirty minutes later she landed at Portland, Kentucky, below the Louisville Canal. A day or so later the sidewheel A.L. Shotwell came up in almost equal time and for years there was bitter debate as to which boat was the faster. The populations of Louisville, Jeffersonville, and New Albany took these matters quite seriously. Extra editions of Louisville...

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