1850 — July 31, Steamer America Boiler Explosion, Lake Erie, near Barcelona, NY — 11

— 15 Putnam, G. P. (Ed.). The World’s Progress: A Dictionary of Dates. 1851, p. 706.
— 11 Blanchard tally of fatalities identified in sources below.*
— 11 Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, p. 241.
— 11 Mansfield. Great Lakes Maritime History. History of the Great Lakes. “1850.” 1899.
— 11 Ratigan, William. Great Lakes Shipwrecks & Survivals (Revised). 1969, p. 200.
— 11 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p.23.
— 10 Erie Weekly Observer, PA. “Awful Steamboat Disaster…Steamer America…” 8-3-1850, 2.
— 09 Adams Sentinel (Gettysburg). “Terrible Steamboat Explosion on Lake Erie!” Aug 5, 1850.

* Blanchard estimate of fatalities. Our count of fatalities identified by sources below comes to eleven, the same number of deaths noted by most sources cited. In that the newspaper report accounts we chronicle list quite a few injured survivors, some listed as seriously scalded, it is quite possible that one or more of these survivors, eventually succumbed to their injuries. However, we have not been able to locate accounts of their deaths, so we choose to report what is verified.

Narrative Information

Lloyd: “This afflictive event took place on Lake Erie,, July 31, 1850. The head of one of the starboard boilers blew off, turning the boiler deck upside down, raising the upper deck about four feet, and making all the central part of the boat a complete wreck. As soon as the re¬port was heard, several of the passengers jumped overboard and were not seen afterwards. Many persons were killed or wounded, of whose names an imperfect list will be found below. The names of many of the passengers were not registered.” [Lloyd lists names of 11 fatalities “and several passengers, names unknown.”] (Lloyd 1856, pp. 241-242.)

Swayze: “American. Wooden passenger/package freight steamer.

“Lake Erie This early steamer’s boiler exploded while she was underway and well offshore in July of 1850. She sand with the loss of 11 lives.” (Swayze. Shipwreck!… 1992, p. 23.)

Newspapers

July 31, Brooklyn Daily Eagle: “Buffalo, July 31, 1850. Another steamboat explosion has taken place. We learn by a dispatch from Erie, that the steamer America, from Sandusky, for this port, burst a steam pipe, or drum, about 2 o’clock, off Barcelona, and was towed into Erie by the Alabama. One of the engineers and two other persons were killed, and many others badly scalded, two of whom have since died. One persons was found dead under the crank. The decks of the boat are torn up and badly shattered. There were twenty-seven injured, or whom nine are dead, and six or eight badly, perhaps mortally wounded.” (Brooklyn Daily Eagle. “Explosion of the Steamboat America.” 8-1-1850, p. 4, col. 4.)

July 31, Daily Sanduskian: “One frightful disaster seems to follow another in quick succession this season, on Lake Erie.

“The telegraph reported this morning that one of the boilers of the steam-boat America exploded between Erie [PA] and Barcelona [NY], killing six persons and scalding 20. She had been towed into Erie, where she lies at the dock. She left Sandusky yesterday morning, with several persons on board from this place.

“Since then, a telegraphic dispatch has been received from Mr. Thorpe, the engineer, who states that there are but two deaths.

“Since the above was written, we learn that a telegraphic dispatch has been received from Captain Howe of the Alabama, who towed the America into Erie, that six persons were killed, and twenty scalded; of whom six or seven would die.” (Daily Sanduskian, OH. “Another Calamity.” 7-31-1850, p. 2, col. 2.)

July 31, Daily Sanduskian: “Cleveland, July 31. From the engineer of the Alabama who came in at 6 o’clock this evening, we learn that the Alabama fell in with the America about 2 o’clock A.M., an hour after the terrible accident had occurred.

“As the boats came together, he says the persons on board the America rushed to the other boat like a flock of sheep, some with baggage on their shoulders, and nearly all in a state of confusion and bewilderment.

“On board the America the scene was an awful one – several were dead, with their heads and legs torn off from their bodies, and many dreadfully scalded. Those who were able, ran about begging for relief from their sufferings. He and others poured oil over several, until the supply was exhausted, and molasses was used in its stead.

“Mr. Jos. Stancliff of Durham, Ct., who is named as fatally scalded, stated his residence to one of the passengers on the Alabama, and requested him to write to his wife that his last thought was of her.

“The explosion took place in the starboard boiler, the second from the outside, blowing the forward end of it entirely off, turning the boiler deck upside down, raising the upper deck some 4 feet, and making the center of the boat a perfect wreck. No doubt some of the passengers jumped overboard in the confusion, as they were seen in the water.

“It is wonderful that the boat did not burn after the explosion; in fact she is reported to have been on fire after being towed to Erie.

“H. B. Ely Esq., of this city was on board the America, but fortunately was unhurt save a slight injury to one of his hands.

“When the Alabama left, 8 of the scalded were dead, and probably as many more will not recover.

“We are indebted to the politeness of Mr. Nathan Deming, of South Bloomfield, O., for the following list of persons injured:

H. H. Burnet, N.Y., not badly scalded – hands slightly.
Jeremiah Conner, wife and 5 children, badly scalded.
McLaughlin, fireman, died in one hour.
H. Brown, colored waiter, torn to pieces by the pitman.
Wm. Livis, head cook, badly scalded.
Richard Retalic, Whitby, Canada, badly scalded.
Luther Kinney, Washington, Macomb Co., Mich., badly scalded.
Joseph Stancliff, Durham, Conn., mortally.
Jacob Chancellar, fireman, died in one hour.
Patrick Welch, fireman, will die.
One old French woman, shoe dealer in N.Y., badly.
Archibald Lindsey, steerage passenger, Mich., badly.
Dennis Warren, deck passenger, badly scalded.
James Murphy, Irish deck hand, badly scalded.
Thomas Purcel, fireman, badly scalded.
Colored cook, name unknown, slightly scalded.

“This report is from the extra of Cleveland Herald, dated July 31 – 9 P.M.” (Daily Sanduskian, OH. “Full Particulars. List of the Injured.” 8-1-1850, p. 3, col. 1 and 2.)

Aug 3, Erie Weekly Observer, PA: “We are called upon to record another appalling Lake disaster! The steamer America, captain Squires, one of the Sandusky line on her way down on Wednesday morning at about one o’clock, a few miles below Barcelona, was blown up by the explosion of one of her boilers. The Captain was not on board at the time, but the owner, Mr. Phillips, was. She was brought into this port by the Alabama about 10 o’clock. She had on board 80 or 90 passengers, and the crew amounted to 25 or 30. – The explosion must have been awful, as the deck above is literally riddled to pieces; and how there were so few lives lost, is rather a wonder than otherwise. The number lost cannot be correctly ascertained, but the killed and wounded, and those who jumped overboard, will not vary much from thirty!

“We had hoped when the awful disaster of the Griffith had been recorded, that our task in that line had ended for the season! But it was a vain hope. No warning, it appears, let it assume whatever shape it may, is terrific enough to deter some men from endangering the lives of the traveling public. It is useless to tell us that boilers explode without cause, and yet were we to believe the testimony elicited before the Coroner’s inquest on Wednesday…it would appear that the America blew up, and no one connected with the boat was at all to blame! – that, in fact, it was purely an accident, which could not be avoided! We say that such accidents do not occur! There is gross carelessness, or a premeditated trifling with human life somewhere, that is certain! Whether such fact can be arrived at judicially is another thing – men won’t criminate themselves, and until they do steamboats will continue to blow up and burn up, and the public will be none the wiser as to the cause.

“The following is a list of the dead, all hands on the boat: [We reorder alphabetically.]

William Brown, Waiter.
James Kinklin, Fireman.
Michael McCocklin [or McLaughlin ], Fireman.
Charles Potter, 3d Engineer.
One, name not known. [Probably James Chancellor, a fireman; died in one hour. ]

“The following is a list of the injured as fully as we are able to obtain it: [Reordered alphabetically]

Thomas Fusbee, Buffalo, severely. Since dead.
Michael Haggerty, Buffalo, severely. [Another account noted “must die.” ]
Patrick Hawley, Cleveland, severely.
Patrick Healy, Buffalo, severely.
Peter Hoaberry, since dead, residence not known.
Archibald Lindsey, Michigan, severely.
Timothy Luce, Ohio, severely.
James Murphy, Boston, severely. Since dead.
Jerry O’Connor, wife, five children, county Kerry, Ireland, wife and two children severely.
Michael O’Connor, Providence, R.I., severely. Since dead.
Richard Retallick, Columbus, C. W., severely.
D. Rumsey, Westfield, severely.
Joseph Stauchif [or Stancliff ], Durham, Conn., died on Wednesday and was buried…
Patrick Welch, Buffalo, severely. Since dead….”

(Erie Weekly Observer, PA. “Awful Steamboat Disaster!! The Steamer America blown up – Another sacrifice of Life.” 8-3-1850, p. 2, col. 5.)

Aug 5, Adams Sentinel, PA: “The splendid steamer America, from Sandusky, bound to Buffalo, burst her steam pipe on Wednesday morning last, about 60 miles from the latter city. Twenty-seven persons were scalded, of whom nine are dead, and six or eight others badly, perhaps mortally, wounded. She was a new boat and a regular packet.” (Adams Sentinel. Aug 5, 1850.)

Aug 5, Pittsburgh Daily Gazette: To the list of dead is added “Wm. Terry, missing – no doubt drowned.” (Pittsburgh Gazette. “Explosion on the Lake. Steamer America…” 8-5-1850, p. 2.)

Sources

Adams Sentinel and General Advertiser, Gettysburg, PA. “Terrible Steamboat Explosion on Lake Erie!” August 5, 1850. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=3108397&firstvisit=true&src=search&currentResult=6

Brooklyn Daily Eagle. “Explosion of the Steamboat America.” 8-1-1850, p. 4, col. 4. Accessed 11-11-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brooklyn-daily-eagle-aug-01-1850-p-4/

Daily Sanduskian, OH. “Another Calamity.” 7-31-1850, p. 2, col. 2. Accessed 11-11-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sandusky-daily-sanduskian-jul-31-1850-p-2/

Daily Sanduskian, OH. “Full Particulars. List of the Injured.” 8-1-1850, p. 3, col. 1 and 2. Accessed at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sandusky-daily-sanduskian-aug-1-1850-p-3/

Erie Weekly Observer, PA. “Awful Steamboat Disaster!! The Steamer America blown up – Another sacrifice of Life.” 8-3-1850, p. 2, col. 5. Accessed 11-11-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/erie-observer-aug-03-1850-p-2/

Lloyd, James T. Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. Cincinnati, Ohio: James T. Lloyd & Co., 1856. Digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JlYqAAAAYAAJ

Mansfield, John Brandts (Ed. And Compiler). Great Lakes Maritime History – History of the Great Lakes (Vol. 1). Chicago: J.H. Beers & Co., 1899. Accessed at: http://www.halinet.on.ca/greatlakes/documents/hgl/default.asp?ID=s010
Also accessed 11-11-2020 at: https://www.linkstothepast.com/marine/chapt36.php

Pittsburgh Daily Gazette, PA. “Explosion on the Lake. Steamer America…” 8-5-1850, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 11-11-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pittsburgh-daily-gazette-aug-05-1850-p-2/

Putnam, G. P. (Ed.). The World’s Progress: A Dictionary of Dates. NY: G. P. Putnam, 1851. Digitized by Google: http://books.google.com/books?id=qz9HAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Ratigan, William. Great Lakes Shipwrecks & Survivals (New Revised and Enlarged Edition). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1969.

Swayze, David D. Shipwreck! A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Boyne City, MI: Harbor House Publications, Inc., 1992.