The riverboat captain is a storyteller, and Captain Don Sanders shall be sharing the tales of his lengthy affiliation with the river — from discovery to a approach of affection and life. This is part of a protracted and persevering with story. This tribune first appeared a 12 months in the past.
By Captain Don Sanders
Particular to NKyTribune
Final week discovered me asking, “How a lot distinction does a 12 months, or so, make?” Now I’m asking, “How a lot distinction does every week make?” The reply was greater than I wished to know.
Madison Berry in uniform as a prestigious “Paducah Ambassador” after greeting the AMERICAN DUCHESS, background. (MB Self-Portrait.)
No sooner had I opened the pc for the morning, final Saturday, August 7, 2021, I stared dubiously in disbelief on the message popping from the web page: “The bravest individual I’ve ever recognized was my son, Madison Craig Berry. Sadly, right now he handed from this world.”
This may’t be taking place, I assumed, because the phrases of Beverly Craig, Madison’s mom, struck my coronary heart like a stake cast of chilly iron. But, regardless of the blow, I stored studying: “Throughout his 29 years, he confirmed me how one can overcome adversity, how one can be comfortable and content material with easy pleasures, how one can get pleasure from life, how one can be keen about hobbies and pursuits, how one can love, and how one can snigger….”
As I stored studying, a grieving mom’s feelings continued to spill from inside the glare of the digital monitor…. “Whereas his life was not abnormal, it was extraordinary! He was distinctive, humorous, persistent, dedicated to household and pals, and tenacious. My world is much less now that he has handed, however heaven is richer! I really like you, Madison!”
Madison Berry and I by no means met personally. Nowadays, nonetheless, relationships simply develop by way of the web with Fb, for instance, changing one-on-one contacts. Though I can’t recall the primary time Madison and I exchanged greetings, we’d positively been “Fb Pals” since earlier than the COVID Pandemic.
Solely final month, sharp-eyed Madison first alerted me that the AMERICAN JAZZ grounded herself on the underside of the Cumberland River. (Photograph by Madison Berry.)
Madison was a younger fellow who might be referred to as a “riverboat buff,” or fan of the river; particularly of these boats within the “two-legged commerce” hauling paying passengers in a single day. Solely specifically designed, inspected, and authorized vessels are licensed to hold folks whereas they sleep onboard; the very best examples are, amongst others, the DELTA QUEEN, the AMERICAN QUEEN, AMERICAN DUTCHESS, COUNTESS, and EMPRESS of the American Queen Steamboat Firm, and the QUEEN OF THE MISSISSIPPI and AMERICAN JAZZ of the American Cruise Strains.
Solely final month, sharp-eyed Madison first alerted me that the AMERICAN JAZZ grounded herself on the underside of the Cumberland River some 400-feet on the incorrect facet of the purple buoy line whereas on a visit to Nashville, Tennessee. As I reported in my July eleventh, 2021 column: “In line with Madison Berry, my riverboat supply in Paducah, Kentucky, the JAZZ has 122 passengers and 60 crewmen and ladies onboard.”
Earlier this 12 months, Madison was honored to be chosen as a prestigious “Paducah Ambassador.” The Ambassadors, additionally often called the “Pink Coats,” are native volunteers who give their time, power, and information in welcoming guests and greeting visitors at particular occasions, together with all of the landings of the passenger boats touchdown on the Paducah riverfront. When requested how he favored being an Ambassador for his hometown, Madison volunteered, “I’m so in love with my job. Being a Paducah Ambassador is a lot enjoyable. Generally we’re invited to have lunch aboard the boats when they’re visiting. It’s the very best job I ever had.”
Madison’s final submit on FaceBook had been two photographs he snapped on Tuesday, August third of the AMERICAN JAZZ at Paducah, and added, “AMERICAN JAZZ this morning docked at Paducah. They’re heading for Nashville – I hope they don’t get caught like final time. [There are] 141 souls on board. She is on the Ohio River, however will take Kentucky Lake to Lake Barkley (on the Cumberland)”
“The river won’t ever be the identical with out our buddy Madison Berry. He was the BIGGEST Steamboat fan I’ve ever met.” Chief Ricky Idlett. (R. Idlett Photograph)
Or, as I acknowledged earlier in my 14th of March 2021 version, “Madison Berry, a younger riverboat buff from Paducah, Kentucky, on the decrease finish of the Ohio River, all the time appears to have the newest scoop on what all of the riverboat operations are proposing. In addition to, he’s simpler to contact than the chief govt officer of a serious cruising enterprise.”
Apparently, I wasn’t the one buddy of Madison’s who was shocked and saddened when Beverly knowledgeable the world of her son’s tragic demise. In addition to the various private pals of the household, Madison’s river buddies expressed their emotions, too, on the loss they suffered.
Sean Koepke in St. Louis wrote: “Don, I noticed your conversations with Madison! What a shock, wasn’t it? Gonna miss listening to from him concerning the boats.”
Arlene Brridges, the previous assistant and confidant to the VP & GM of the unique Delta Queen Steamboat Firm: “I’ll miss Madison’s steamboat postings. He was informative and took image. Sincerest sympathy to his household.”
Chief Engineer Ricky Idlett of the AMERICAN QUEEN expressed his sentiments: “The river won’t ever be the identical with out our buddy Madison Berry. He was the BIGGEST Steamboat fan I’ve ever met. RIP, my buddy.”
Jo Ann Schoen, premier DELTA QUEEN advocate whereas aboard the CELEBRATION BELLE in Moline, IL, introduced: “My coronary heart is so heavy with the information of the passing of riverboat fanatic Madison Berry. He shall be missed vastly by his many river pals. At present’s lunch cruise on the BELLE shall be in his reminiscence.”
Jonathan E. Hartford Sanders added: “I didn’t know Madison, however I heard you discuss him so much. I assumed it was fascinating that regardless of being a layman within the riverboat trade, he was so linked that even profession river individuals had been coming to him for information and data. Madison was a real Riverlorian.”
Carrie Cloat Stier, proprietor and operator of the Riverboat TWILIGHT in Dubuque, Iowa: “The Riverboat TWILIGHT sends out a particular tribute to a real riverboat fan, Madison Berry, who handed away yesterday on the early age of 29. We are going to see you upriver ‘on the 2,’ Madison.”
Not lengthy after Madison and I grew to become riverboat buddies, I spotted that he was an artist by his images. He possessed an innate expertise for composition, mild, and kind. Little did I understand on the time, he had taken artwork classes and painted photos of, however, what else… steamboats. His favourite topic was, not surprisingly, the DELTA QUEEN. One art work he painted portrayed the QUEEN as she appeared whereas moored at Chattanooga on the Tennessee River.
One art work Madison painted portrayed the QUEEN as she appeared whereas moored at Chattanooga on the Tennessee River.
After a critic informed Berry he had a “good eye” for crafting pictures, Madison countered by saying, “Possibly, in the future, if I save up, I can do one other cruise on the AMERICAN QUEEN, however it might take me 5 years.” Whereas questioning how he may generate a money move to start saving for an costly steamboat journey, somebody suggested: “Begin your individual enterprise. Strive steamboat and river pictures, for starters… get your photographs collectively and put them in e-book kind. Then, begin earning money for a cruise by the sale of your books.”
Sure ones on the river, together with myself, had as a lot confidence in Madison’s means that we believed his inventive riverboat photographs had been marketable to a choose viewers.
Madison and I appeared to share a behavior of staying up late on the web, so I used to be by no means stunned at any time when a observe from him appeared in my message field at any time of evening. Normally, he was informing me concerning the subsequent time a riverboat was scheduled to reach in Paducah, or he is perhaps breaking down the bills of the fee for a visit taken on one boat or one other. So at 2:17 AM, Monday, the Second of August, long gone the time I ought to have turned in, Madison forwarded an web hyperlink to a spiritual-style tune featured on YouTube entitled “Everybody Will Be Joyful Over There” as recorded by a bunch referred to as “The Horizon Household.”
As I used to be drained and nonetheless ending up one thing else, I ignored the hyperlink, although my younger buddy connected these feedback: “Omg… I haven’t heard this in years. I take advantage of to have a tape of them. I might hearken to them 24/7, nearly. It’s my favourite…”
After Madison and I grew to become riverboat buddies, I spotted that he was an artist by his images. (Photograph by Madison Berry.)
For the remainder of the times following the preliminary shock of listening to that Madison died unexpectedly on Friday, August sixth, probably of coronary heart issues, I failed to provide the musical hyperlink one other thought till after he was laid to relaxation on Wednesday, the eleventh. By that night, nonetheless, whereas questioning how his funeral transpired, I placed on my headphones, opened the hyperlink to what Madison described as his “favourite” tune, and harkened attentively because the comfortable, hand-clapping religious started:
There’s a cheerful land of promise
Over within the nice past
The place the saved of earth shall quickly the glory share
The place the souls of males shall enter
And stay on forevermore
Everyone shall be comfortable over there…
As I listened, I imagined Madison enjoying his favourite tune again and again… and after I listened to the recording for the third time, I needed to confess… Madison’s “favourite tune” was precisely good for this second.
Everyone shall be comfortable, Will probably be comfortable, Over, over there
We are going to shout and sing His praises by the unending ages
We are going to shout and sing His reward
Everyone shall be comfortable over there…
(Creator: E. M. Bartlett, 1921)
No place Madison would slightly be than on the river aboard a positive boat, (Photograph by Beverly Craig.)
Captain Don Sanders is a river man. He has been a riverboat captain with the Delta Queen Steamboat Firm and with Rising Star On line casino. He discovered to fly an airplane earlier than he discovered to drive a “machine” and have become a captain within the USAF. He’s an adventurer, a historian, and a storyteller. Now, he’s a columnist for the NKyTribune and can share his tales of rising up in Covington and his tales of the river. Cling on for the experience — the river by no means appeared so good.
