4th & 6th District
Includeds : Parts of Ports and Waterways in our region , St. Francis River , White River , Mississippi River and Arkansas River where the steamboats carried their cargo's from port to port up and down the rivers . Some of our ancestors worked on these steamboats from port to port . Some losing their lives to the rivers or accidents on the river boats from fire , explosions ,etc..
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Source - Annual Report of Inspector Supervisor of Steamboat Inspection - 1904
FOURTH DISTRICT.
Steamboat-inspection Service,
Office Of U. S. Supervising Inspector,
St. Louis, Mo., January 5, 1904.
Sir: In compliance with the provisions of section 4410, Revised Statutes, I submit the following report of the general business transacted in the fourth supervising district during the year ended December 31, 1903:
Casualties.
Local
District Of St. Louis, Mo.
1903.
January 22.—While steamer Fawn was lying in winter quarters, severe cold weather caused seams to leak, ice forming in hold so thick that leaks could not be reached. Watchman being alone could not get assistance at night, at which time the accident occurred. Steamer sunk, total loss, value unknown.
March 4.—Steamer Commodore, lying in winter quarters, was sunk by the breaking up of the ice. Owners notified this board that the steamer would be raised and again placed in service. Amount of damage unknown.
March 13.—A man about 60 years of age, name unknown, jumped from the ferryboat Andrew Christy, attempting suicide. Lifeboat was promptly lowered and the man rescued and turned over to East St. Louis, Ill., police authorities.
March 24.—Gustav Luethy, engineer of the steamer Export, was discovered in the water, cause unknown, no one seeing the accident, it being presumed he fell off the fantail while oiling the bearings of the wheel. Steamer, being near the shore, was run to the bank. Lifeboat was lowered and search made, but the man had disappeared, no one knowing how long he had been in the water before being discovered.
April 17.—The steamer Jacob Richtman while descending the Mississippi River, coming through the bridge at Alton, Ill., with two loaded barges and log raft in tow, on account of strong stern wind and current, became unmanageable, struck the bridge span, and damaged vessel to the amount of $25. No lives lost.
April 23.—Colored woman, Mrs. Ada Pares, of St. Louis, Mo., attempted to jump from wharf boat to steamer Andrew Christy after steamer had left her dock, fell into the river and was drowned. The lifeboat was lowered immediately, but strong current washed her to shore. Body was taken to undertaking establishment in East St. Louis, Ill.
April 21.—When the steamer Chester was backing away from landing at Red Rock, Mo., during the excitement of deck passengers looking out on shore, the crowd pushed a boy, Willie Theeson, overboard, bull rail gate having been taken out by one of the deck passengers. Every effort was made to save the boy, but failed.
May 31.—The steamer Mike Bauer broke loose from mooring, caused by rapid rise in river, and was driven by strong current against bridge piers in the Kaw River at Kansas City, Kans., and sunk. Reported total loss; amount unknown. No lives lost.
June 3.—A colored man by name of Charles Price deliberately jumped overboard from the steamer W. H. Grapevine, near Harris Island, Missouri, and refused all effors to rescue him.
June 3.—The steamer Flying Eagle and barge Little Gate, while passing through the bridge at Hannibal, Mo., steamer's wheel and stern struck the protection of the upper end of draw, causing vessel to become unmanageable, swinging around to starboard against the bridge, the high water and cross current causing the accident. One of the crew and three passengers supposed to be missing. Names unknown.
June 13.—The steamer Ariel, while hauled out on bank for repairs at Lexington, Mo., owing to sudden rise of the river from flood, was overwhelmed and sunk. Total loss, about $2,500.
July 27.—A colored man, John Kirk, roustabout on the steamer Kennedy, while trying to get out of the way of a wild cow, jumped overboard at Haasey's Landing, Mo., was sucked under the boat and never rose to the surface, it therefore being impossible to rescue him.
September 7.—The steamer J. P. Gage, while making a landing at St. Charles, Mo., struck some hidden obstruction and sunk. All efforts (same being assisted by the steamer Kennedy] to save the vessel failed. Supposed to be total loss, $5,000. No lives lost.
September 25.—While steamer Samuel B. Wiggins was in mid-river between St. Louis, Mo., and East St. Louis, Ill., a man deliberately jumped overboard and was drowned, the body never coming to the surface. No effort to rescue could be made.
October 33.—While steamer Cheater was descending the Mississippi River near Bushberg, Mo., a man, Nichola Lirdberg, deliberately jumped overboard. Presumed to be a case of suicide, as he was heard to remark '' Good-bye, this is my last night." Steamer was stopped and search made, but the body never came to the surface.
October 30.—Steamer City of St. Louis, while lying at St. Louis, Mo., was destroyed by fire originating under boiler deck aft of port wheelhouse. Cause unknown. Total loss; $35,000. James Parnell, bartender, missing and supposed to have been lost.
October 29.—While the steamer Lotus Sims was lying at St. Louis, Mo., fire was discovered about 6 a. m., originating on stern of vessel. Cause unknown. Was totally destroyed. Amount of loss, $25,000.
October 36.—Steamer Pinta, while lying at the bank, about 6 miles north of Louisiana, Mo., was damaged by fire, the cabin being burned off. Damage, about $250. Origin of fire, unknown. No lives lost.
December 9.—While passing through a narrow channel during a snowstorm, at Little Rock Island, 2 miles above Thebes, Ill., on the Mississippi River, the steamer Fordyce struck rocks and was sunk. Supposed to be total loss, amount unknown. No lives lost.
December 30.—The steamer Peerlexs, at St. Charles, Mo., was struck by an ice forge, breaking side of hull under water line, and sunk in about six feet of water, teamer to be raised. Damage unknown. No lives lost.
LOCAL DISTRICT OF MEMPHIS, TENN.
1903.
January 8.— While en route from Memphis, Tenn., to Pine Bluff, Ark., the steamer Lucille Nowland struck a hidden obstruction in the Arkansas River and sunk. Damage to vessel and cargo, $6,700. No lives lost.
February 6.—John Hawkins, colored deck hand on steamer Peters Lee, fell overboard while said steamer was en route from Cairo, Ill., to Memphis, Tenn., and was drowned.
March 9.—Steamer Delta, while en route from Memphis, Tenn., to Vicksburg, Miss., when near Mayersville, Miss., struck a snag and sunk. No lives lost. Steamer was subsequently raised and repaired. Damage, $10,000.
March 9.—John German, mate of the steamer Jack Rabbit, fell overboard and was drowned while steamer was en route from Rosedale, Miss., to Clarendon, Ark.
March 28.—Steamer Hazel Rice, en route from Helena to Wittsburg, Ark., struck the railroad bridge at Madison, Ark. Damage to boat, $250. No lives lost.
April 3.—Steamer James Lee was charged with navigating without a full complement of officers, in violation of section 4463, Revised Statutes. Case investigated and reported to the United States district attorney and surveyor of customs.
April 3.—Steamer Robert E. Lee was charged with navigating without a full complement of officers, in violation of section 4463, Revised Statutes. Case investigated and reported to the United States district attorney and surveyor of customs.
April 3.—Steamer Georgia Lee was charged with navigating without a full complement of officers, in violation of section 4463, Revised Statutes. Case investigated and reported to the United States district attorney and surveyor of customs.
April 10.—Steamer Bayou Meto violated section 4426, Revised Statutes, in that said steamer was navigated without inspection and licensed officers. Case was reported to United States district attorney and surveyor of customs.
April 28.—Steamer Maud Kilgore, from some unknown cause, foundered and sunk at the mouth of La Anguille River. Damage, $1,000. No lives lost.
May 30.—Josie Jackson, a passenger on steamer Conveyor, was supposed to have been thrown overboard by another passenger and drowned while steamer was en route from Cairo, Ill., to Hickman, Ky.
May 30.—Henry Kennedy, passenger, fell overboard off the steamer City of Idaho near Augusta, Ark., and was drowned.
May 30.—Steamer Jack Rabbit, en route from Rosedale, Miss., to Clarendon, Ark., struck a snag near the head of Sibleys Island, on White River, and sunk. Damage to boat and cargo, $2,000. No lives lost.
June 25.—Steamer Vicksburg, while moored to the bank near this harbor, was caught on a submerged piling by a rapidly falling river and sunk. No lives lost. Damage, $12,000.
July 8.—Steamer Lucille Nowland, en route from Memphis, Tenn.. to Pine Bluff, Ark., struck a hidden obstruction near Fites Landing, on the Arkansas River, and sunk. Damage to vessel and cargo, $13,000. Tom Mount, deckhand, was drowned.
July 16.—John McCullem, deck hand on the steamer Joseph B. Williams, fell overboard from one of the barges in tow, and was drowned near Helena, Ark.
August 12.—W. F. Starnes, master and owner of steamer Bernice, was charged with violation of section 4438 of the Revised Statutes of the United States in navigating said steamer without a licensed pilot. Case investigated and reported to the United States district attorney and surveyor of customs.
September 19.—Thomas Bibb, a colored deck-hand on steamer Kate Adeems, engaged in an altercation with another deck-hand, and was killed while steamer was coming into port.
October 15. — Alonzo Reed, chief engineer, was charged with obstructing the safety valves on steamer Avalon, in violation of section 4437 of the Revised Statutes of the United States. Case investigated, and for reason of charges not being sustained the accused was dismissed.