Island Queen
1896-1922
Submitted by Sharon Piccirillo 17 June 2021
The first Island Queen was a side wheel excursion wooden hull steamboat built in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1896. She was owned by Coney Island Company and used to ferry passengers between Cincinnati and Coney Island amusement park. She was christened May 16, 1896 by the daughter of Lee H Brooks, Coney Island Company's chairman.
In off-seasons when the park was closed she operated as a tramp steamer on the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, going as far downstream as New Orleans. On April 27, 1922 her forward hurricane deck collapsed, injuring 27 children and paralyzing one. That same year on November 4, Island Queen was severely burned and decommissioned after a fire engulfed several steamboats in Cincinnati harbor.
The following newspaper items are only a few examples of stories about the Island Queen. It was listed daily in the papers.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 3 July 1896, page 8
If you want a real pleasant cool 4th of July, go to Coney Island tomorrow. The wide decks of Coney's steamers, swept with river air, are pleasant, inviting and comfortable. The Island Queen alone will carry 3000 people each trip.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 4 July 1896, page 6
Saturday and Sunday all of the Coney Island steamers, led by the big favorite, the Island Queen, are literally covered with the Stars and Stripes. At night the course of the boats will be shown by calcium light effects, thrown against the sky and on the hills on both sides of the Ohio River.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 15 July 1896, page 8
A new rudder has been placed on the Island Queen. This will greatly aid the pilot in handling her.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 16 July 1896, page 3
The wind was the heaviest along the river front. It parted four line to the Island Queen, which was just landing when the storm broke. The steamer began floating upstream, stern first. She struck Hunsch's coal fleet, but did no damage. For a time there was a panic.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 1 August 1896, page 6
Ohio's flood is at the foot of the gates at Coney Island. The streamers now land within 20 feet of the entrance to the resort. Seen from the level of Second Street, both the Island Queen and the steamer Hudson appear to be as high as the street.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 8 August 1896, page 8
The district of the German Methodist Church, which comprises Covington, Newport and Cincinnati is pledge to raise money to defray the expenses of the National Convention of the Epworth League of the German Methodist Churches, which convenes in Cincinnati next July. Covington and Newport Methodist Churches are arranging for an outing on the Island Queen early in September to raise $1000.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 12 August 1896, page 5
The BPOE of Newport Lodge No 273, will give a moonlight excursion on the Island Queen Monday evening, Aug 24.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 24 August 1896, page 6
Newport Lodge No 273 BPOE will give a moonlight excursion on the Island Queen Monday evening. Thomas F O'Neill is chairman and Ed G Lohmeyer secretary of the arrangement committee.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 27 August 1896, page 5
The outing given at Coney Island Wednesday by Rialto Senate, Newport was a decided success and netted a neat sum for the Newport Senate. The Island Queen touched at the foot of York street, where hundreds of Newport people got on board.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 2 September 1896, page 8
Working men are talking about the big celebration at Coney next Monday of Labor Day. The reduction of prices for grown people to 15 cents and for children to 5 cents on the Island Queen seem to have struck a popular chord.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 9 September 1896, page 5
The children's outing at Coney Island on Friday will be one of the greatest events in history and a grand time for the youngsters can be anticipated. It is expected that thousands of school children in Covington, Newport, Bellevue, Dayton and Ludlow will take advantage of this days outing. The will be well cared for from the time the Island Queen leaves the landing til it returns.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 18 September 1896, page 3
John Mattan and Theodore Mattan brought suit in the United States Court Thursday against the Coney Island steamer, Island Queen. The plaintiffs are owners of the Queen City Coal Harbor. They claim that the Island Queen has broken the lines of their barges and damaged them to the extent of $5000.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 10 October 1896, page 1
The speed of the Coney Island steamer Island Queen will be tested Sunday during her excursion runs to Lawrenceburg and Aurora.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 24 October 1896, page 5
The last river excursion of the season will be run by the Island Queen on Sunday to Aurora and Lawrenceburg. The prospects are that the weather will be fair.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 4 July 1899, page 2
Ill luck seems to have pursued the Doherty family. 500 East Eighth street. The son John, 17, was drowned while boat riding in the Ohio. The Island Queen waves capsized the boat and he was drowned. Two other boys were rescued by fishermen.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 6 July 1899, page 3
The committee for the Masonic Moonlight Excursion to be given July 21, on the Island Queen by Newport Masons.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 2 September 1899, page 5
Captain James Dupy, of the Island Queen, a GAR veteran will leave Monday for Philadelphia with his wife, to attend the encampment to that city.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 19 October 1899, page 3
Tom Henry, chief engineer of the Island Queen had his leg broken Wednesday night by a flange of the wheel, which fell on it.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 1 April 1903, page 5
The Island Queen will make her first excursion runs of the season next Sunday to Aurora. Round trip only 25 cents.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 21 April 1903, page 8
Bert Brooks, of the Highlands, who is with Commodore Lee Brooks on the Island Queen, will arrive home the latter part of the week.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 5 June 1903, page 2
Eddy Berrliner, one of the Coney Island orchestra leaders, in trying to jump from the Island Queen to the dock Thursday night, fell into the Ohio River. A policeman extended a broom, with which Berrliner connected and was towed to shore.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 3 July 1903, page 4
At the point of death, Addison James Resseguie, 41, lies at his home, 119 Taylor Avenue, Bellevue, Ky. almost within the sound of the calliope which for five years he played on the steamer Island Queen. But because typhoid fever has stricken "John" Resseguie, the calliope no longer sounds as the craft passes the back of his home. Full Obituary
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 18 August 1903, page 2
The scalp of John Bitzer, former jailor of Newport Ky. was almost entirely torn off by a peculiar accident, while with members of the Licking Rowing Association Monday, on a launch. Near California the launch was tossed roughly by the rollers from the Island Queen. Bitzer was thrown from a camp stool and his head struck the rapidly revolving flywheel in the boat. He was rendered unconscious and was taken to his mother's home in Covington.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 29 December 1903, page 1
The Island Queen and the Coney Island wharf boat was protected from the brunt of the ice floe by a gorge that had formed from the bank.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 11 January 1904, page 2
Threats to kill her are alleged by Mrs. Emma Harshman Higgins in a divorce suit against her husband, Wesley Higgins, watchman on the steamer Island Queen.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 26 March 1904, page 5
Lafayette Council YMI of Newport, has chartered the steamer Island Queen for a moonlight excursion to be given in the early part of summer.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 23 April 1904, page 8
The Island Queen is home for the summer. Sunday the big steamer begins in earnest the work of river excursions, which will last until fall. She goes to Richmond for three trips. During her Southern trip just closed, it was developed the South is as badly invaded by cold weather habit as the North. Memphis was shivering when the Queen took out 3000 excursionists on the day that the report spread in this city she had been foundered.
The Queen will stay in service beginning Sunday, for a series of Sunday excursions to a number of points, the Coney Island season and then the set of fall excursions. There will be music for dancers and all the matters that the Coney Island patron expects in these between season jaunts.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 28 April 1904, page 2
When the Island Queen goes to Aurora Sunday, people along the river bank will be serenade by Gasford, who has taken the seat of the late Prof. Resseguie.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 14 May 1904, page 7
Under the auspices of the Phoenix Hunting and Fishing Club, the Island Queen will Sunday make three trips to Glen Park, where the first river picnic will be held.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 4 August 1904, page 7
Harry Charlton, engineer on the Island Queen, was suspended Wednesday and his license revoked for 90 days because it is said he threatened to shoot Detective Cal Crim. He was arrested and pleaded guilty to charges against him.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 2 March 1905, page 1
The Island Queen, hit by a barge, was damaged about the hull to the extent of about $150.
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Kentucky Post, Friday, 23 March 1906, page 5
The Soldiers Social Club of the Fourth Infantry will give its weekly ball in the gymnasium this evening. The music will be furnished by Homer Denny, pianist on the Island Queen and Sergeant Anderson, trap drummer of the Fourth Infantry Band.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 9 April 1907, page 6
Roy Bradley, 18 year old brother of Anna Bradley was arrested Sunday evening on the Island Queen steamer, charged with picking the pockets of Fred Muersch, 1514 Moore st.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 11 May 1910, page 5
The Newport Masonic fraternity will give its annual moonlight excursion tomorrow night on the steamer Island Queen. The famous Shrine Band has been engaged for the occasion.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 1 August 1911, page 3
While out in his launch Sunday evening, Claude S Orr of Newport, saw a skiff, swamped as it was taking the rollers of the steamer Island Queen, opposite Washington av. Newport. He seized the girl by the hair and dragged her into the launch. The man was cut on the leg by the propeller of the launch as Orr lifted him out of the water.
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Kentucky Post, Monday, 13 May 1912, page 5
The Masonic Ft Thomas Lodge No 808 boat ride Tuesday promises to be a gala event. The Island Queen will make an afternoon trip and one in the evening.
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Kentucky Post, Saturday, 14 February 1914, page 3
At a meeting of the Robert Burns and Newport Lodge of Masons last night, were completing arrangements for the annual moonlight excursion aboard the steamer Island Queen on the evening of May 19.
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Kentucky Post, Tuesday, 18 May 1920, page 4
The Themis and Orpheus Clubs of the Newport High School are giving their annual boat ride on the Island Queen Tuesday evening.
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Kentucky Post, Thursday, 27 May 1920, page 4
The orphans of the Campbell County Protestant Orphanage and children of the Day Nursery will be guests Friday of the Newport Masonic club at their annual outing on the Island Queen.
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Kentucky Post, Wednesday, 20 April 1921, page 3
The intermediate classes of the Newport schools will enjoy the high school boat ride Friday afternoon on the steamer Island Queen.
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Cincinnati
Post, Saturday, 4 November
1922, page 1
On the morning of Saturday, November 4, 1922, the first Island Queen burned and sank at the Cincinnati Wharf after an overheated tar bucket spilled over and ignited on another boat docked nearby. The accident, which occurred on the Morning Star, spread quickly, igniting fires on the Island Queen, the Chris Greene and the Tacoma.
The Chris Greene was damaged, but salvageable; however, the other three boats were destroyed. All of Cincinnati mourned the loss, and a new Island Queen was immediately built to replace her. The calliope from the first Queen, which was the only thing above the water after it sunk, was salvaged, rebuilt and sold to the new Island Queen.
Page 10-Of the four boats destroyed by the fire,
the Island Queen was the best known. It was built 25 years ago by the Coney
Island Co. There is scarcely a citizen who has not had a ride on it. The folk
who first danced waltzes in the cabin now are in middle age and their sons and
daughters have been fox trotting. The crew of the Island Queen on deck at the
time of the fire consisted of Captain Ben Pattison, Fred Dickflow, chief
engineer; S Flesher, carpenter and P Quigley, mate. The Island Queen was
preparing to go to Paducah Ky. for the winter and to be overhauled.