1951                         

Homestead

 Versus

 William Larimer Jones

 

Comparative Statistical Information of the                                    Homestead and William Larimer Jones
Homestead	William Larimer Jones
Built in 1922	Built in 1930
Built by American Bridge Company, Ambridge Pa	Built by Howard Shipyard and Dock Co, Jeffersonville , Indiana
Over all length                           175’	Over all length                     163’8 ½ “
Beam Overall                              34’	Beam overall                         34’ 8 ½ “
Draft                                           5 ½’	Draft Forward                       5  ½’
Engine HP                                  900	Engine HP                            700
Engine built by Federal Shipbuilding	Engine built by Frisbie Engine and Machine Works. Cincinnati , Ohio
Diameter of Wheel                   21’	Diameter                               20’  6”
Master                              Benjamin F. Crawford, Jr	Master                          William   D  McConnell
Chief Engineer                 Everett E. Moats	Chief Engineer                   Baylor H  Spratt
Crew of the Homestead
Pilot                                Robert R Hanna	Deckhand                      William Hiles
Mate                              George P. Ray	Deckhand                     Calving Franks
Watchman                   Edward  Lewellen	Deckhand                     Edward Molotoris
Second Eng                   Clarence                                           Bentez	Deckhand                     William Ross
Striker Engineer           Raymond                                          Teagarden	Boiler Deckhand           James Boggs
Striker Engineer           Clayton                                         Keyser	Stewardess                   Lucy Bowen
Firemen                          Edward Berry	Chambermaid               Rhoda Day
Fireman                          Oscar Davie	Chambermaid               Alice Grimp

The Homestead and the William Larimer Jones            

 The chart on the left provides information about each boat for the 1951 race between U. S. Steel’s Sternwheeler Homestead and the William Larimer Jones representing Jones and & Laughlin Steel.  In the first race between the two boats in 1949, the Homestead won by a foot.  

The course was 3.1 miles starting at the railroad bridge on Brunot’s island in the Ohio River to the Smithfield Street Bridge of the Monongahela River .   The race was started when Mr. James H. Young, Jr., chairman of the steamboat race committee signaled the start of the race by firing the Duquesne University ’s 105 howitzer.  This was followed by immediately cutting of the rope that held the boats together to assure an even start. 

After racing for 3.1 miles, the race ended in a tie. The trophy was shared with each company holding the trophy for six months.

As one of the Clairton Works boats the Homestead had towed almost 21 million tons of coal in its 29year-life to that point.  

To read newspaper articles about the 1951 race, click here