Steamboat in a Cornfield
Grade 3 Up Country singer John Hartford's book tells of a true incident in the life of an Ohio River steamboat, c. 1910. The boat, the Virginia , was subject to the rather fickle nature of the river at that time and ended up beached in a cornfield. The story is told with some background about the river in the days before locks and dams existed to help regulate it. Readers, through Hartford's ballad-like poem, learn about the hard times faced by this particular steamboat company which pressured the captain to make an ill-advised venture. Through the use of old photos and maps, readers can see the steamboat both inside and out and trace its route. The accomplishment of what was seemingly an impossible taskto refloat the steamboatis documented and reveals a fair amount of suspense. At the end of the book there is a coda that fills in what happened to the principal players in the story. This unusual book will have appeal for those with a passion for steamboats, and, with its non-intimidating format and sparse text, it may win over other young history buffs. All in all, an interesting look at a heretofore unrecorded incident in the history of our country. Patricia Homer, Lowville School, N.Y.Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.