|
Car of Commerce Steamboat Explosion
May 13, 1828
(This picture is more than likely not the original boat which blew up in 1828.
There were at least 4 steamboats by the name of Car of Commerce and is probably one of those.
There was another boiler explosion on another boat by this name in 1830.)
These news stories contributed by Nancy Piper
SHOCKING DISASTER
A gentleman who reached here last week, from the Mississippi river, has communicated to us some of the particulars
of a most distressing accident which happened to the steam-boat Car of Commerce, Capt. Cocks, on the morning of
the 14th in. She was on her way up the river, and when opposite Island No. 25, about 4 miles below Barfield's ware-house,
Crittenden County, in this Territory, her middle boiler burst, with a terrible explosion, causing the instant death
of nine persons, and scalding a great number of others in a most shocking manner. At the last accounts from her,
24 persons were dead, and several others not expected to live. All the crew of the boat were killed, except the
Captain, and 3 or 4 others. Among the killed were both of the engineers. The cabin passengers escaped unhurt. The
cargo below deck, and the hull of the boat, has sustained but little injury.
No censure, we understand, is attributable to the Captain, for this disaster. The machinery had been stopped only
a few minutes before it occurred, for the purpose of clearing out some obstruction in one of the pumps which supplied
the boiler; and the wheels on starting again, had made only 3 or 4 revolutions when the boiler burst. Every attention
which humanity could dictate, was rendered by the Captain, to the wounded and survivors of his crew and passengers;
and every means within his power used by him to make their situation as comfortable as possible.
[Arkansas Gazette, May 28, 1828]
Terrible Occurrence
The Wheeling Gazette of the 24th ult, contains the annexed paragraph: Steam
Boat Disaster At the Canadian Reach, about six hundred miles below Louisville,
sometime last week, the boiler of the steamboat Car of Commerce bursted and fify-seven persons were killed and
wounded. [Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, June 4, 1828]
Considerable anxiety exists in this city relative to persons injured by the accident on board the steam boat Car-of-Commerce,
on the Mississippi. As yet we have not learned the names of the sufferers. We are indebted to a mercantile house,
in this city, for the following extract dated,
Cincinnati, May 20
Dear Sir
It is with painful feelings I have to advise you of the most distressing accident that has ever occurred in the
annals of western steam boating. About 13th inst. the Car of Commerce, on her way from New Orleans to Louisville,
burst her boilers, in putting out from a wood yard near the new Cut of (140 miles from the mouth of the Ohio, on
the Mississippi.) The explosion was tremendous and produced the most awful effect. Out of 70 deck passengers, but
3 or 4 escaped injuries and only the captain and clerk, out of the whole of the crew were saved. But one cabin
passenger was scalded the rest 6 in number, escaped unhurt. 18 men were buried at once; 15 missing entirely and
about half the number remaining could not survive being scaled and mangled in the most shocking manner. The boat
remains ashore, a complete wreck. The La Grange arrived here yesterday with some of the sufferers on board. The
Car of Commerce was owned at Louisville and is said to be an inferior boat, an engine patched up from old machinery
and an old set of boilers about fourth rate in size and appearance.
The Cincinnati Gazette give the following list of the names of persons who have died from the effects of the explosion
on board the steam boat Car of Commerce.
N. Green, engineer, James Platt, do; Charles Ivers, do; Asa Warren, steward; cabin boy; Peter (black) cooks mate;
one fireman. Passengers David Saunders, Isaac Smith, D. C. Smith, __ Smith, A. Jessup, J. Jessap, John Collins,
James A. Picker, William Harris, W. Bradley, __ Huntsman, __ Coleman, __ Edmunds, John Bartlett. [Republican Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, June 11 1828]
List of the Dead
The following is said to be a correct list of the names of those of the passengers, officers and crew of the Car
of Commerce who were killed by the fatal explosion of her boiler.
Charles Ives, first engineer
Jas. Platt, second engineer
Mr. Collins, carpenter
Mr. Bradley, a white fireman
Peter ___ , a white French boy, second cook
Mr. Huntsman, sailor
Mr. Ferrall, sailor
Five negroes, four of them firemen and the other the steward
Passengers
Nicholas Green, a pilot from Florence
Mr. Sanders, an engineer from New Albany
Two brothers named Smith from Indiana
Two brothers named Jessup from the vicinity of Coryden, Indiana
Mr. Bartlett from Boston
A French gentleman, whose name is not known
Two passengers who died in the Hospital
The mate of the boat, 2d pilot, a black fireman, remained on board and were considered out of danger, except the
latter for whose recovery no hopes were entertained. [Republican
Compiler, Gettysburg, PA, June 18 1828]
The late disaster to the Car of Commerce steamboat is ascertained to have caused the death of twenty-four persons.
Another person lies dangerously ill and one is missing. This fatal accident is ascribed by a western paper to no
fault of the captain but to the imperfection of the boiler head. It appears however that the weakness of the boiler
heads was known to the officers of the boat. To use them with that knowledge seems as blameworthy as to have caused
the accident by any immediate negligence. Some legal defenses are manifestly wanting against this wanton carelessness
of human life. Baltimore American. [Republican Compiler, Gettysburg,
PA, July 2, 1828]
|