Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-27

of which there is any account in the an
mails OF history.
steamboats, on the Mississippi river in that
day OF magnificent floating palaces" She
was owned by Captain Joseph 8. Manson:
Logan d. Cameron and Captain CaswelI
E. Mason, all well known steamboatmen
on the Missouri river as well as on the
Mississippi, and Captain Mason. an ex-
perienced and popular officer, was her COM
mander. The office was in charge OF Will
lam Gamble (who lived in Kansas City in
those yet living). assisted by William
Stratton-
Trip Down the River.
The suItana left st. Louis, bound for
New Orleans, on Thursday. April 13. 1859.
and on reaching Cairo OF the 18th, first
heard Of the assassination OF President
Lincoln, which had occurred the previous
night. The upper guards of the boat and
hurricane roof were draped with black
bunting. presenting q strange and somber
ceeded down steam. conveying the first
tidings Of the sad occurrence to the towns
leans. on her return voyage. Friday; April
p, and reached Vicksburg on Monday
morning following, where, 1t having been
discovered that she had burned a hole In
one Of her boilers. she laid by" all day for
The war had just closed with the sur
was full of discharged Union troops. all
anxious to return home, up the river. In
anticipation Of q rush Of passengers, cap
move all deck freight to the hold, leaving
the guards, main deck and boiler deck en-
sssly ,s clear m% 9f any .. ia 9se troops spp Iss for
transportation for as many OF the men
as could be safely cared for. Captain Ma,
not permit him to carry more than 1000
men, that being twice the number that
could be accommodated comfortably. ana
safety Of the boat bv causing her to ca
reen, It being thought impossible TO control
the men and prevent them croWding from
one guard to the other. Notwithstanding
this warning, when the time came to haul
in the stage planks, there was a general
rush; ,a the 81 men fha,r fa anIistv over te re sae ON b Ssaes.
No attention was paid to the commands
of the military officers. and the remon-
were unavailing. Every vacant spot on the
boat was soon occupied and when the lines
were cast loose and the boat was under
fhan 200 souls on board. Every part of
the boat. from the forecastle to the top
Of the wheel house. was black with people.
and SO densely were they packed that there
was not even room for them to lie down
TO sleep.
Bridal Couples Aboar
Besides the soldiers. there were about
fifty passengers on board, the most. OF
whom belonged to q pleasure party that
was making the round trip from st. Louis
to New Orleans. In this party were sey-
Ia young banker and his bride from Chi
cago-are well remembered. These passen-
ger who had q, become Eco hos Wel w asqua Warned WV bS
them before leaving, Vicksburg OF the I'm.
pending LANCER. and advised to go ashore
there and wait for another boat; They
declined to do so. however. and only took
the precaution OF supplying their state.
rooms with life-preservers,
against the strong current OF the river
which was unusually high and out OF its
Eng heavily in the water. under the pom.
6erous cargo of living freight; and every
revolution Of the wheels could be heard foi
heavily under the unusual head of steam
required. The boat reached Memphis or
loose abou. . o'clock and proceeded on hel
voyage. The night was dark and stormy
and only an occasional flash Of lightning
enabled the pilot to distinguish the black
outlines OF the forest on either side and
hold the boat in midstream. There. was
Pacb nt realized' tn. danger foreshadowed b.
The accident TO the boilers below vicks
burg-a danger which had been augmented
able crowd Of people on the boat. Ever
the owners Of the boat. who had come W
as far ira. as .sSa,s ss:r. se sna a.c the danger n r
morning. April y. Uses. the terrible catas
the Inflated sultana exploded her boilers
Suddenly and without a moments warning
the crash came. and more than 1.50o soul.
were hurried into eternity.
Eject Of tho Explosion.
The wreck caused by the explosion wa
absolute and complete. Every vestige o.
the boat forward OF the wheel house wal
swept away in an instant and not q spin