Captain Perrin had been the skipper of the Moselle, and was reputed to have taken great pride in her speed. He was rumored to have resorted to a number of tricks to increase the power and speed of the boat, liberally feeding resin into boiler fires. Necessary landings were often made with great haste, and in most cases, Perrin would hold onto all of his steam instead of allowing the excess to escape at the safety valve. After the Moselle explosion, a Cincinnati editor courageously admitted the responsibility carried by news media for the disaster. The press must change its tone.
Safety is better than speed.
In April of 1974, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company bought out Overseas National Airways, consequently saving the refurbishment of the Mississippi Queen. The boat, which was under construction by the Delta Queen Steamboat Company, had enormously overrun budget estimates. In addition, parent company Overseas National Airways had suffered two catastrophic plane crashes. Coca-Cola's purchase of the company ensured plans for the Mississippi Queen would be carried out. In April of 1985, the Delta Queen Steamboat Company moved its headquarters from Cincinnati to near the mouth of the Mississippi River at New Orleans under the direction of company president Frank Fried.