The Yazoo Mystery: A Novel

"The Yazoo Mystery: A Novel" by Irving Craddock is an early 20th-century fiction novel that focuses on the transformation of a young man named Hiram Strong, Jr. who starts working as a fireman aboard the steamship "Domus." The story begins at a bustling waterfront full of desperate workers and follows Strong as he is reluctantly recruited to join a crew of firemen, even though he seems unprepared for the demanding labor. As Strong adjusts to his harsh new life enduring heat and hardship, he encounters a mentor named Ben Taylor, who guides him as he works to overcome his initial challenges and prepares for bigger upcoming trials and the mystery that will test his resolve and character.