New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-01-04
RIVER DISASTERS IN 49, q.

W e copy from the 81 LOUIS Ittp"O'tCWt
the most important in the list of steamboat
disasters reported by that journal, as occur
ring during the year 1871:
JANUARY.
|. A great steam boat contagTatiCn at the
levee in New Orleans, in which the Magenta,
Thompson Dean, Julia \. Rudolph. john
Howard and Grand Era were involved and
destroyed
The Magenta. a fine side-whecl packet, en-
gagged in the Louisville and New Orleans
trade, took fire from the explosion of a coal
oil lamp in her cabin and was totally de
stroved About half the cargo of this boat
was destroyed with her.
The Thompson Dean, magnificent
freight and passenger steamer, running be
tween st. Louis and New Orleans. took IRE
from the Magenta and was totally destroyed.
The Grand Era. a fine side wheel packet.
engaged in the Red river trade, was burned
by being too near the contlagration OF the
Thompson Dean and Magenta. Total loss.
The Julia A. Rudolph, another fine side
wheel steamer running in the Red river
trade, was destroyed by the same coniia-
grafton.
The John Howard, new stern-wheel
steamboat of large size, was destroyed at
the same time and place. Total loss by this
confagration Sl,000,O00.
L. The steamship De Soto. bound from
New Orleans to New York, with n valuable
cargo, burned in the Mississippi river, thirty
miles below the former port, this morning
Total loss-valued at $3.50. 900.
6. Steamboat Henry S. Turner, bound
down stream, struck snag and sunk at the
head of Island No. 10, III the Mississippi.
Value of cargo $4,000. She was subse-
quently raised and repaired.
Steamboat Shark, belonging to the Mis-
sissippi Valley Transportation Company,
abandoned at Liberty island. Mississippi
river. Boat proved to be a total wreck.
Valued at $4,000.
ii. Steamer I. L. McGill, bound down
the river, took fire at 9 2. NJ, when at,
Shoo-Fly bar Mississippi, river forty miles
below Memphis, and boat and part Of cargo
was totally destroyed. BY this disaster
seventy-two lives were lost. including Cap
tain William Tompkins and Chief Clerk ".
w. McFarlane.
20. The steamer w. Il. Arthur, bound
from New Orleans to ST. Louis, exploded
her boilers ON the Mississippi river when
about twenty miles above Memphis. The
boat was totally destroyed. By this acct
dent about sixty lives were lost.
FEBRUARY.
5. Towboat Simpson Horner sunk barge
forty miles above Memphis, on the Misss-
sippi river. Barge proved a total loss.
Il. Steamer Judge Wheeler exploded her
vi INC hlSsi>Sil'l iINEIs lilltS
above Memphis Boat a total loss. Cap
tain holland and eight other persons lost
their lives by this explosion.
%. The st. Louis and keokuk packet
Rob Roy met with serious accident when
leaving this port The starbOard head of
the steam drum blew out with great force.
Two state-rooms and the mess room were
demolished. West Robinson, a deckhand,
was killed. Mr.. Noah, elephant driver of
Van Amburgs menagelie, was very severely
scalueI.
g. Steamer Katie Morrison. Memphis and
L'Anguille river packet sunk at the wharf
at Helena, Arkansas Loss 5000.
s. Great storm at st. Louis. The st. Louis
and New Orleans packet Mollie Able. a fine
side-wheel steamer, lying at the East St
Louis wharf, was caught by the tornado
and almost totally destroyed Several
other boats were injured.
l.. Steamer Lightwood burned on Bayou
bartholomew, Louisiana. loss estimated
at $4,000.
Is. Bmuf river packet Rose Franks, de-
stroyed by ire at Trumbull's island, Old
river, Louisiana. Valued at $4,000. Val
liable cargo of cotton-all burned.
20. The steamer Minnie, st. Louis and
Ouachita river packet, bound down. run
foul OF an obstruction fifty miles below this
port, which knocked a large hole in her
hull BY great eXertion she was kept atioat
until her cargo was removed. then tempo
rarily bulked and brought To the marine
ways for repairs. Damage ; 1000 to boat
and cargo
q. Collision between the steamer City of
Cairo and the tugboat Pioneer at Com
merce, on the Mississippi. Two bargcs of
the Pioneers tow were sunk
IS. The steamboat Belle OF Alton. a hand
some side-wheel packet, running at the time
in tho Nav Orleans aud Pod riy +y.I Ia
was totally destroyed by fire while lying at
the whaIf at New Orleans Loss 5000 on
boat only.
s. Terrible explosion on the steamer Sam
J. Hale, near Golconda, Ohio river The
main steampipe blew out at the throttle
valve, and filled the engine room with scald-
ing steam. BY this catastrophe six lives
were lost and several persons wounded.
II. The steamer Stonewall exploded her
boilers on Buffalo bayou, Texas. Five lives
were lost, several were wounded, and the
steamer seriously damaged. Loss $4,000.
Is. Steamer j. S. Durham, Memphis and
Little Rock, snaggcd and sunk two miles
below the last named place. Loss So. 900.
II. Henry Tete and tug Ella Moore came
in collision in the harbor OF New Orleans
The latter boat was considerably damaged
One life lost.
10. J. K. Gilmore, lying at the wharf at
Caledonia, Ohio river, lost seven barges
loaded with coal, which were overwhelmed
by the waves, the wind blowing very hard
at the time.
90. Towboat William Cowan sunk two
coalboats at the head Of Presidents island, |
Mississippi river.
!. Tow boat Collier. descending the Ohio |
river, sunk four coalboats containing IS. 600 |
bushels on Mel1imen' 5 bar. Loss estimated
at $4,000.
9. During a storm on Bayou St John. |
Louisiana, the schooncrs Rosa and George
Eike came in collision. The shock was so |
severe that the Eike was sunk and the Rosa
considerably damaged. Loss $1,000.
On the evening Of the ninth the towboat !
Petrol sunk a barge freighted with POO
barrels of salt, five miles above Point
Pleasant. Mississippi river. Loss 5000
10. The steam canalboat Kankakee, bound |
from New Orleans to Bay st. Louis, was
wrccked during a storm two miles and
half from Southwest Keys. The crew was |
saved. Steamer a total loss. Valued at
5000
Towboat Simpson IIoruer sunk two Largcs
freigEted with coal at Bonnet Care, lower |
Mississippi.
j. La Belle, lower coast packet. broke her |
Shaft and bursted her cylinder heads oppo- |
site Bonnet Carrie, Louisiana
10. Line parted on steamer Natchez dur |
ing a gale at Cairo, which Knocked two men |
overheard, who were drowned.
II. Memphis dry docks sunk in 100 feet of |
water. They were subsequently, raised at a |
cost Of $4,000.
-. The steamer Red Cloud. a fine stern
wheel steam boat, nearly new, piving in the
New Orleans and Red river trade. burned
10 the waters edge in the Rcd river.