Steamer Kingston

[JPK Huson 1863]

I suppose this kind of thing doesn't count as Naval WAR, I just love the activity in this one, with the wagons, planks, sacks of whatever on deck, some military types standing in the bow area, just a lot going on. The photographer must have set up shop here-there's a distinctive balding pattern on the trees on the hill above the far shore which is the background of a ton of photos.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Oh, ps what is that tall, long thing right where the 'gangplank' enters the ship? Like a wierdly placed mast, of course wouldn't be, looks like something which is meant to be unfurled ( bad word ) for use? Is that something in the water, the ship is tied up to? I just can't tell.

 

[Carronade]

I think it's a crane, although that may not be the period term for it. Note the block near the top, with a rope going down and the other end off at an angle. Something looks like a pivot just above head level of the man standing next to it. My guess is it bends and swings to lift cargo aboard; I don't think you'd carry anything too heavy over the gangplank.

 

[Mark F. Jenkins]

I think they were generally called "booms," and the 'gangplanks' usually suspended from them were referred to as "landing stages." (Because most landings along the rivers were simply muddy banks, the riverboats carried their own loading/unloading platforms along with them.) I can't make out in the photo if the boom is connected to the 'gangplank' or not.

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Ah! Thank you, makes sense, it does look as if something is kind of wrapped around it, like a flagpole when not in use. It would of course make more sense, too, perhaps lift a tied load of those sacks on board than carry them one by one depending on what's in them. In my experience, sacks are ALWAYS insidiously, horribly heavy and dead weight, too. From coal to horse feed, I have the discs to prove it. Going to bring up this crane thing at the next meeting.

 

[redriver6]

this is also the Kingston....the question is...before or after?

i'm going with 'before' since the first picture seems to show protection added to the pilot house...

 

[JPK Huson 1863]

Ok, two blond questions. What WAS that they added up there? Is it just extra, built-on space or would they have done something like out sandbags or whatever in that space to protect the people in there? The second would be how the heck anyone could be in there and see anything? Would that have been some space with a small ladder or stair in it, the pilot climbed up and finally peered out of what looks to be an awfully small slit, navigates the whole ship from there? If so, whew. That's talented.

Gosh yes, look how pristine this second Kingston is, all tidy, kind of shiny with newness, the other after being literally laden down with war. The war must have made everything around it kind of like dirty snow, just affected simply everything it touched.

 

[NeilL]

Here is another of the Kingston, a bit more warlike:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/381820874628658069/