1841 — Feb 13, sidewheel Lamplighter shaft breaks, sinks in storm, off Dog Island, FL– 19

Blanchard on location: While some sources place this loss at East Pass, FL, it is clear from the account of a survivor, Mr. Morton, that the Lamplighter made it through the East Pass, and going east, broke-down 12 miles outside of Dog Island – “outside” meaning on the Gulf side of this barrier island and not on the inside or Florida coast side.

— 35 Adams Sentinel, Gettysburg, PA. “A Dreadful Disaster,” March 8, 1841, p. 8.
— 19 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 129.
— 19 Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1952, p. 218.
— 19 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 680.
— 19 Singer. Shipwrecks of Florida. 1998, p. 25.
— 19 The Corrector, Sag Harbor, NY. “Wreck of the Steamboat Lamplighter.” 4-28-1841, p. 3.

Narrative Information

Berman: “Lamplighter. St. p. 186 [tons]. 1835 [built] Feb 13, 1841. Foundered. East Pass, Fla. 19 lives lost.” (Berman 1972, 129)

Lytle and Holdcamper: “Lamplighter…186 [tons]…foundered…2 13 1841…East Pass, Fla. …19 [lives lost].” (Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States 1807-1868. 1952, p. 218.)

Singer: “Lamplighter – Sidewheel steamer, 186 tons, built in 1835 at Louisville, Ky. Foundered at East Pass, Feb. 13, 1841. Nineteen lives lost.” (Singer. Shipwrecks of Florida. 1998, p. 25.)

Newspaper

Feb 21: “The Tallahassee Star of the 21st ult. Furnishes the following painful intelligence:

“Captain Coss, of the Revenue service, arrived here last week, and reported that he had left Apalachicola on the 13th ist. in the steamboat Lamplighter. Captain Wood, bound for Tampa Bay, via Port Leon and Cedar Keys. When near Dog Island, about 20 miles from Apalachicola, the Lamplighter broke her main shafts and was consequently compelled to cast anchor – a severe gale blowing at the time, and the sea running high. While in the condition, the Steamboat Caroline, Captain Pettis, from Port Leon to Apalachicola, was discovered passing at about five miles distance, hugging the land close. Captain Coss and his brother put off in a small boat, and paddled for the Caroline. The distressing condition of the Lamplighter was made known to Captain Pettis of the Caroline, who stated that he could not possibly go to her assistance, as his boat was too small to encounter a heavy sea, and besides that, he had a large number of passengers, among whom were several ladies, and that he was under contract to land at least part of his passengers…at Apalachicola during that day (Sunday). After this ineffectual attempt to procure assistance, Capt. Coss and his brother returned in search of the Lamplighter, but could not discover her. She had disappeared entirely from her anchorage, and has never been seen since. The probability is that she went to pieces and sunk.

“There were 35 souls on board the Lamplighter, all of whom must have perished. Captain Coss’s wife and family were on board, and his condition is truly deplorable, having lost his all – family, money, and clothing….” (Adams Sentinel, Gettysburg, PA. “A Dreadful Disaster,” 3-8-1841, p.8.)

April 28: “From the Apalachicolian.”
“Wreck of the Steamboat Lamplighter.”

“The following account of the loss of the Lamplighter, and of the providential escape of a part of her crew were derived principally from Mr. Morton, one of the few survivors.

“The Lamplighter, Capt. Wood, left the port of Apalachicola, for Tampa Bay, on 11th February, 1t 3 o’clock, P.M., having on board twenty-five souls, six of whom were passengers, viz: Lieut. Cost, U.S. Army, his wife and servant – Mr. Hudson and wife, and Mr. Morton.

“She arrived at the East Pass (one of the outlets of Apalachicola bay) too late in the evening to venture over the bar; she was therefore brought to anchor inside. – Next morning, at sunrise, she got under way, and entered the Gulf. About twelve miles outside of Dog Island, the starboard main shaft, fly-wheel, &c., broke, and they were obliged to come to anchor in six fathoms of water. Here she lay all of Friday and Saturday, the weather being fine.

“On Saturday morning the smoke from a steamboat being seen to the Eastward, a small gig, belonging to Lieut. Cost, was lowered, and this gentleman, accompanied by his brother and the carpenter, started for her, in hopes to procure assistance. About noon they came along side of the Caroline, a small steamer bound to Apalachicola, from St. Marks. Lieut. C. stated the situation of the Lamplighter, and requested the captain of the Caroline to go out and tow her in, or take off the passengers. He declined doing so, on account of the crowded state of his own boat. He, however, offered to carry them to the East pass, where the fleet of shipping awaiting freights, were moored, and they would doubtless be enabled to obtain a vessel. On arriving at this place they found a lighter discharging cotton, the captain of which offered to go out with them on the following morning.

“The wind blew violently all night from the Westward. Early on the following morning (Sunday) the lighter got under way and stood out into the gulf – the gale still raging. She passed by the spot where the Lamplighter had been anchored, but no traces were to be seen. They sailed up and down for some time, keeping a vigilant look out until toward evening, when despairing of finding the object of their search, and having suffered considerable damage in her sails from the violence of the wind, they steered for St. Marks. Here they ascertained that nothing had been seen or heard of her; so they concluded she must have gone down and all on board perished.

“The remaining account of what befell the Lamplighter and her crew, after the departure of Lieut. Cost and other passengers, is given by Mr. Morgan, one of the six that survived.

We lay at anchor all of Friday and Saturday, in hope that the wind would come out from the south, when by erecting a mast and setting sail, we might reach the land. Until 12 o’clock, meridian, of Saturday, the weather had been fine – there was little or no wind and the sea was quite smooth. In the afternoon the wind sprang up from the west, and gradually increased until sunset – it then began to blow violently, and soon amounted to a perfect gale. The sea had also risen, in the meantime, and a heavy swell setting in from the gulf threatened to break up the boat, or drag her anchors. To add to our distress and danger, the night had set in dark and cloudy. The passengers, who had retired to their berths, were soon aroused by the commotion, and were all summoned by the captain to dress, and hold themselves in readiness to leave the boat at a moment’s warning.

The sea at length began so to rack and strain the boat by striking under her guards, as to threaten to tear them up, in which even she would have filled and gone down at once. In order to prevent this calamity we cut them away, and at the same time threw overboard the chimneys, wood, &c. Also, in hopes to make her ride easier over the waves, we slipp0ed one anchor that she might drag the other, and thus diminish the impetus of the swell by yielding to it. This, however, proved of little advantage. She soon commenced doubling up, and the water rushed through the open seams in torrents. Some now took to bailing out at the hatches, but the water gained upon them so fast that they were soon compelled to desist. – Our only chance of safety now was in taking to the small boats, which had been launched from the deck and secured to the stern, one man being stationed in each to keep them free from water.

“As I was standing upon the steamer’s stern, with an oar to prevent the boats striking her and being stove, a heavy sea nearly carried my legs from under me, and on turning around I perceived that she was fast settling. Soon after another sea washed entirely over me, so that I was obliged to seize a stanchion to prevent myself being carried along with it. Immediately after it had passed I leaped overboard, and swam for the boat – luckily, in the darkness, I encountered one of the painters, which had been cast loose, and following it to the bows clambered in.

We endeavored to row up in order to rescue some of the rest of the crew, but the violence of the wind and waves, and the darkness of the night rendered all our efforts unavailing.

My companions in the little boat were the captain and mate of the steamer, the steward, and two deck hands. Our situation was wretched enough. Cast upon the open Gulf in a frail uncovered boat, in a raging tempest, without food, without a sail, we could expect nothing more than soon to share the fate of our unfortunate companions. Still we did not despair, and cheered by the captain’s assurances that we should be saved if we obeyed his orders, we took our stations in the boat as he directed – some to pull at the oars, and some to bail out the water. – The captain who throughout all the above distressing scene, had evinced the most admirable coolness and intrepidity, placed himself in the stern to guide her, and to direct the rowers, an office requiring the greatest care and precision, as the only safe position for the boat was to keep her bows to the sea. We kept her thus all night.

On the following morning at sunrise we descried land at a considerable distance, which we took to be what is called the Southwest Cape. We made towards it gradually, the heavy swell rendering it dangerous to advance directly toward it. The wind however soon hauled to the north, and blew very strong and cold. Yet we kept head to it in hopes of a change. The body of the steward, who had perished during the night, we now consigned to the waves. After about three hours, finding from cold and fatigue that it was impossible longer to contend with the wind and sea, we constructed a small sail of a piece of cotton which we found in the bottom of the boat, and stretched it upon a broken oar. We then went off before the wind at a rapid rate during the day.

Thus we passed a most uncomfortable night, vainly endeavoring to snatch a little repose, of which we stood so much in need, by lying down alternately in the bottom of the boat. Toward morning the wind lulled, and when the sun arose in a cloudy sky, it had become perfectly calm. Before long, however, the wind sprang up from the westward, and blew a steady breeze. All this day we went off before it, heading as nearly as we could judge toward land. We now began to feel the pangs of hunger. Fortunately we found in the boat a small jug of water, which we used as sparingly as possible. Toward night one of the deck hands died, and we cast the body into the sea. The night passed without any change in the weather. Tuesday morning the sun rose clear – the wind soon lulled, and manning our oars we thus continued on our course.

We had not proceeded far, when her perceived some object floating upon the waves, which, on nearer approach, was recognized as a part of the steamer’s stern. Soon after, we descried something else ahead, which, to our great joy, proved to be the other boat which had left the steamer with ourselves. There had entered this boat Captain Durgan, Mr. English, the chief engineer, and a negro, who had since died. On coming alongside we found them even more destitute than ourselves, not having had a drop of fresh water since they entered the boat. They had sat themselves down, one in the bow and the other in the stern, and despairing of succor, had resigned themselves to their fate.

We immediately took them into our boat and furnished them with a draught of water from our scanty supply, by which they were somewhat revived. At night the wind freshened again, and we went through the water at a smacking rate. On the following morning, when the light had become sufficient for us to discern objects, we found that we had entered a very shallow bay, and were aground at a considerable distance from the shore. This we conjectured (and as we afterward ascertained, correctly), was Dead Man’s Bay. We waded the shore and sought a long time for fresh water – our scanty stock having been exhausted – we could, however, find none. We returned to the boat about noon, and the tide having risen started to leave the bay. Judging from our observations what we were to the eastward of St. Marks, we followed along the shore to the westward. At sunset we made the northwest point of the bay, and landing, again sought for fresh water, but with as little success as before. We hauled our boat in shore, and exhausted with fatigue and thirst, threw ourselves down among the rushes to sleep – but the cold was so intense that we could obtain but little repose.

Early on the following morning (Thursday), four of our number started into the woods to made a farther search for water, leaving Captain Dorgan and myself upon the beach, our feet being so sore from chill-blains as almost to disable us from waling. On surveying the shore to the North-West, after the sun had risen, we descried on object near the shore, at some five or six miles distance, which we took to be a vessel aground. Telling Captain Dorgan that I would go and endeavor to ascertain what it was, I left him. As I pursued my way slowly along the muddy marsh, I frequently sunk into it to my knees. At length I arrived at an elevated spot which was bare and dry, constituting an island at high tide.

Having rested myself here a few minutes, I tied my handkerchief to a palmetto stock as a signal of distress, and started again, but had nigh perished in a boggy spot, in which I sunk almost to my neck. After having with great difficulty extricated myself, I observed a white flag raised on the vessel, but could see no human being. Being at too great a distance to render my shouts audible, almost in despair, I returned to the little island, and throwing myself upon the ground exhausted, fell asleep. I know not how long I slept, but when I awoke, I saw a small boat returning to the vessel. I then waved my flag until I had again attracted their attention. They immediately returned, and on arriving within hail, demanded who I was – when, on my replying, Captain Plummer, of the army, and Captain Chase, of the steamer, came on shore, and carrying me to the boat, conveyed me on board the steam vessel James Adams.

I then stated the condition of my companions, and directed to where I had left them. Some of the passengers and crew immediately left in the boat, and in a short time returned bringing all my companions with them. Here we received every attention that our situation required. The steamer was got under way that night for Cedar Keys, where she arrived on the following morning. Here some of my companions were obliged to enter the hospital, in consequence of the condition of their feet which were severely affected with chilblains.

To the officers and passengers of the steamboat, also to many others whom we met at Cedar Keys and Tampa Bay, I feel the most heartfelt gratitude for the many kind

(The Corrector, Sag Harbor, NY. “Wreck of the Steamboat Lamplighter.” 4-28-1841, p. 3.)

Sources

Adams Sentinel and General Advertiser, Gettysburg, PA. “A Dreadful Disaster” [Steamship Lamplighter loss], 3-8-1841, p.8. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=3091832

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

Lytle, William M., compiler, from Official Merchant Marine Documents of the United States and Other Sources; Holdcamper, Forrest H. (Editor, and Introduction by). Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States 1807-1868. “The Lytle List.” Mystic, CT: Steamship Historical Society of America (Publication No. 6), 1952. Accessed 8-16-2020 at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015018039084&view=1up&seq=7

Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours – A Narrative Encyclopedia of Worldwide Disasters from Ancient Times to the Present. New York: Pocket Books, Wallaby, 1977, 792 pages.

Singer, Steven D. Shipwrecks of Florida: A Comprehensive Listing (2nd Ed.). Sarasota, FL: Pineapple Press, Inc., 1998. Partially digitized by Google. Accessed2-16-2021 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=6j6kjZQReqkC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_navlinks_s#v=onepage&q=&f=false

The Corrector, Sag Harbor, NY. “Wreck of the Steamboat Lamplighter.” 4-28-1841, p. 3. Accessed 2-16-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sag-harbor-corrector-apr-28-1841-p-3/