Those Roaring Riverboat Years

A History of the Steamboat Era as Told by the Two Historical Men Who Lived It

By: Colonel Mason

Narrated by: Colonel Mason

In this history of the steamboat era, Mark Twain and Capt. Ed Heckmann, last of the great steamboat pilots, tell what it was like from their own experiences.

Here you will relive the discovery of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Then learn of a disaster when the Mississippi flowed backwards in 1811, one that could destroy St. Louis and Memphis if happened today. You’ll go to Natchez Under-the-Hill with bandits, outlaws, harlots, and thieves.

And here Capt. Heckmann tells of the gamblers, explains piloting side-wheelers vs. sternwheelers while Twain describes the excitement when steamboats came to town, and famous steamboat racing.

Get the view from the pilothouse. Learn how the Yazoo River saved Vicksburg. Ride the dangerous rivers with a wounded trooper from the Custer massacre when all river speed records were broken, even to this day.

Here you will find plantation families, learn how to read the water, vividly experience the most terrible wrecks, and ride the relief boat rescuing survivors when much of Louisiana was under ten feet of water from the great flood of 1882, all this and much more.

This account of those roaring riverboat years is educational and entertaining, suitable for all ages.

©2019 Robert F Mason (P)2019 Robert F Mason

Real barrel of fun

Put on you headphones and hang on for a great ride. Rather than just a reader reciting verse, this is a case where you hear not only words, but characters including old river pilots and the sounds of the river with all its fights, wild animals and Mother Nature. Great adventure awaits!

The roaring riverboat years ! A must audible

What a neat treat to listen. The entire audio experience made me feel like I was there and never lost interest at all. This is a must listen to with your kids or while driving just takes you away into a different era. Very entertaining and excellent sound effects. Turn up the volume to make the entire experience great !

Awful Audio

This cost me less than $5 but I’d still like my money back. The audio quality was bad at the beginning but got way, way worse when the background music and voices started playing as the narrator was speaking and I struggled to understand what he was saying. I’d love to read the hard copy of this book though.