Hudson River Steamboat Catastrophes: Contests and Collisions Contributor(s): Allison, J. Thomas (Author) |
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ISBN: 1540222071 ISBN-13: 9781540222077 Publisher: History Press Library Editions OUR PRICE: $28.79 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: September 2013 |
Additional Information |
BISAC Categories: - History | United States - State & Local - Middle Atlantic (dc, De, Md, Nj, Ny, Pa) - Transportation | Ships & Shipbuilding - History - History | United States - State & Local - General |
Dewey: 974.73 |
Physical Information: 0.38" H x 6" W x 9" (0.81 lbs) 146 pages |
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
Publisher Description: Beginning in the mid-1800s, steamboats carried people between New York City and the Albany area on the Hudson River. Romantic images lull us into believing it was a quiet means of travel, but a crowded river, faulty equipment and the bravado of the captains resulted in at least one major catastrophe every year. Night boats collided and sank, carelessness caused boiler explosions, races put passengers at risk and fires would quickly swallow the wooden vessels. The grand Empire of Troy "suffered many collisions. The "Swallow" broke in two on a rock, "Reindeer"'s explosion took forty lives at once and the "Oregon" and "C. Vanderbilt" entered into an epic and dangerous race. Collected from eyewitness accounts, these are some of the most exciting and frightening stories of peril aboard steamboats on the Hudson River." |