STEAMER GOES DOWN IN RIVER IN 1941

Riverboats played an important role in the history of Cape Girardeau long before the steamboat era, when the big boats were a means of making the city a warehouse distribution center for Southeast Missouri supplies.

There is something special about a river city, and Cape Girardeau has been special since its founding in 1792-93.

During the age of steamers, which burned coal to generate power that turned the large paddlewheels, the names of the steamers that docked at the port at the foot of Themis hill were familiar to residents, especially boats owned by the Leyhe family that Capt. William "Buck" Leyhe operated.

The Leyhe family were riverfolk who resided in St. Louis and owned the Eagle Packet Co., which continues in business today and is operated by the same family with restaurant interests on the water front.

Eagle Packet Co., started in 1862, when the father of Capt. "Buck," named William, and his brother, Henry, went into the boat business. They named their boats colorful names: Golden Eagle, Silver Eagle, Bald Eagle, and some after river cities. Three were named "Cape Girardeau."

The Golden Eagle began specializing in summer cruises in 1921. It was a beautiful river steamer that on June 15, 1941, was completing its 38th year and the fourth cruise of the season. The boat was well-appointed with a staff of 53, who endeavored to make the voyagers comfortable and to have an enjoyable time. On this particular day most of the passengers were form the Chicago area. They had come south on the river to visit the "Sunny Southland," which, until then, was an unknown part of the country to most of them.

The Eagle left Sheffield, Ala., on June 8, and was scheduled to dock Sunday morning, June 16, at St. Louis. At a point two miles north of Chester, Ill., the boat hit a dike projecting from the Illinois shore to divert the current and keep water from destroying the bank.

The river was high, and the wooden-fence dike was completely hidden. When the boat struck it, the impact tore a large hole in one side of the hull. The 55 passengers had retired for the night when the accident occurred.

The disaster whistle sounded as soon as the accident occurred, and passengers began pouring out of their state rooms. Although the lights went out immediately, there was no panic. The ship's hostess, Hortense Wilder, and the maids began distributing life preservers to the passengers and directed them to lifeboat stations.

Capt. Leyhe headed the boat from deep water of midstream, 50 feet from shore, towards the Illinois shore, and the gangplank was lowered with the first mate ready to jump unto shore and tie the boat to a tree as soon as shallow water was reached.

Everything progressed orderly, and when the last passenger was safely on shore the crew members disembarked. The only fatal accident occurred when the last of the crew was leaving: the hawser snapped and the backlash struck George Washington Weems, 18, a black cabin boy.

The steamer went down in 20 feet of water and remained at Chester until insurance adjusters arrived to examine the wreck.

The passengers were taken to the Illinois State Penitentiary at Chester for shelter the rest of the night. Transportation was arranged there the next day (Sunday) to St. Louis so they could continue to their homes.

At the time of the accident Capt. Leyhe said he did not think the steamer would be repaired and returned to service because the heyday of riverboats was over. Tourists found train travel and automobiles faster and more popular for trips and vacations.

The Golden Eagle had dropped anchor at Cape Girardeau on Friday on the way to Chester, as was customary because Capt. Leyhe had once resided in the city and was well known and popular with the residents. Passengers on his boats always alighted and visited the downtown area and went into the shops to purchase souvenirs just as tourist do today when the Delta Queen and the Mississippi Queen visit Cape Girardeau.

It would be interesting to know what became of the bell on the Golden Eagle. The eagle on the boat is on one of the pillars at Capaha Park, a gift form the Packet Co. Most of the furnishing were too badly damaged to be saved. The boat was beautifully appointed as were all the Leyhe steamers.

River travel on the coal-fired boats was dangerous and every year there were accidents, but people continued to use them regardless.