Delta Queen Riverboat
Case File: Delta Queen Riverboat
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
Date: June 1985
Description: The Delta Queen is an American sternwheel riverboat measuring 285 feet long and weighs 1650 tons. She has a capacity for 176 passengers and her cross-compounded steam engines generate 2000 indicated steam power.
Case[]
History: One December night in New Orleans, the Delta Queen Riverboat was docked for repairs. First mate Mike Williams, the only person on board, was sleeping when he was awakened by someone making a sound in his ear. Although he heard a door slam from his cabin, all the doors were locked. When he arrived at Cabin 109, the door swung open in his hand. He looked in and found that nobody was there.
Mike and Myra Williams
Mike had heard stories about how the steamboat was haunted. However, he did not believe them until he experienced the hauntings himself. Mike learned that Mary Greene, who was in charge of the ship in the 1940s, had died in Cabin 109. In June of 1985, Delta Queen employee Myra Fruge was working late when she received a call from an elderly woman who claimed that she was cold and needed a blanket. She sent Mike to Cabin 109, where the woman was apparently staying. However, when he went into the room, he found that it was unoccupied.
At that same time, Myra saw a misty face looking at her from the decks. She believed that it was the elderly woman, but she was unable to find her, even though she searched extensively. When she returned to the purser's desk, Mike came and told her how nobody was in Cabin 109. She was so shook up about the experience, he took her back to her cabin. While they were walking back, she saw the portrait of Mary Green and realized that she was the woman she had seen on the deck. Mike believed that Mary may have been trying to match him up with Myra. They fell in love, got married, and had a daughter named Heather. They are certain that Mary's spirit played matchmaker and will continue to watch over them.
Mary Greene
Background: The Delta Queen Riverboat was built in the 1820s. During World War II, it transported wounded soldiers to hospitals. After that, it was refurbished to carry vacationers. Mary Greene was in charge of it in 1947 when she was seventy-nine. Sadly, she died only two years later in Cabin 109. The Delta Queen was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1970.
Investigations: None
Extra Notes:
- This case first on the April 9, 1999 episode.
- The Delta Queen was also featured on the TV series, Haunted History.
Results: Unsolved
Links: