1854 — Aug 26, steamer Timour boilers explode, MO riv. 3m below Jefferson City, MO–15-20

–15-20 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

–30-40 Stevens. Centennial History of Missouri…1820-1921 (Vol. I). 1921, p. 343.
— 20 Daily Union, Wash., DC. “Steamboat Explosions. – Twenty Lives Lost.” 9-3-1854, p. 3.
— 20 Monongalia Mirror, Morgantown, WV. “Explosion of Steam Boilers.” 9-30-1854, p. 3.
— <20 NYT. “Frightful Steamboat Explosion-Upwards of Twenty…Killed.” 9-4-1854, p. 8. --18-20 Pittsburgh Gazette. “Explosion of…Timour No. 2…[18-20] Killed and Missing.” 9-4-1854, 1. --17-20 Claxton. “Time and Again: The Harrison Street Landing…” KRCH13, 2-28-2020. --15-20 Maquoketa Sentinel, IA. “Explosion of the Steamboat Timour.” 9-7-1854, p. 2, col. 6. --10 Named deckhands and firemen. (Not including Cpt., clerk, pilot Dix or the porter.) -- 19 U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. Report… Oct 10, 1854, p. 394. -- 19 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…[MS Riv. Sys.]…1999, 456. -- 17 Alton Weekly Courier, IL. “Terrible Disaster.” 9-7-1854, p. 1, col. 4. -- 17 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 291. -- 17 Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1852, p. 236. -- 15 Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, p. 265. -- 15 Springer. “Principal marine disasters since 1831,” in US House Hearings, 1935, p. 247. -- 15 Berger & Erwin. “The Timour.” Steamboat Disaster of the Lower [MO Riv.]. 2020, p52. -- 14 Blanchard listing of deaths noted by sources herein, not including unnamed drowned. * Blanchard estimated death toll. We have no qualms estimating at least fifteen deaths in that our own attempt to create a listing of fatalities (found at end of Newspapers section) totals to fourteen. This number does not include any deaths of people said to have been thrown overboard by the explosion and drowned. We are willing to accept that there was at least one such death, though our inability to locate newspaper accounts of the finding of drowning victims gives us pause. Additionally, several sources note fifteen deaths. We use twenty as the high end of our estimated death toll given the number of sources citing twenty or about twenty deaths. This is just one death more than the nineteen reported by the Steamboat Inspection Service (usually conservative source). If there were indeed more that just several unnamed drowning victims then there could well have been at least twenty deaths. Narrative Information Chappell: “1850-’54. Timour (No. 2)…She exploded just below Jefferson City, August 26, 1854, causing the loss of many lives…The writer, as a barefooted boy, was an eye-witness to the explosion of the Timour. It was on Saturday, about two P.M., that I was standing on the levee at Jefferson City, waiting to be crossed over the river to my home, which was on the opposite shore. My eyes were resting on the boat – watching her as she was ascending the river – when there came a loud report as of a tremendous blast, and the boat was enveloped in a great cloud of steam and smoke. In a moment the cloud had blown away, but, alas! The boat had disappeared. The ferryman and I at once realized what had occurred, and, jumping into a skiff, rowed as rapidly as possible to the wreck, which was about three miles distant. We were the first to arrive, and what a horrible scene met our gaze. All of the boilers of the boat – three in number – had exploded simultaneously, wrecking the entire forward part of the boat, and causing the hull to sink aft of the forecastle. The shrieks and groans of the dying, and their piteous appeals that they be put immediately out of existence, to end their sufferings, were heartrending, and resound in my ears to this day, although more than a half-century has passed. Many lives were lost – how many was never known, as many bodies were blown into the river and never recovered. Those still alive were so badly scalded as to have but little resemblance to human beings. Among the dead were Captain Dix and his brother Charles, and Charles Eckler, the clerk. The wounded were removed to Jefferson City, where many of them died.” (Chappell 1906, p. 312.) Lloyd: “The steamboat Timour No. 2 exploded, September 25th, 1854 [sic], while lying at Edwards’ wood-yard, on the Missouri river, three miles below Jefferson City. She was taking in wood at the time. All her boilers, three in number, exploded at the same moment, wrecking all the forward part as far as the wheel-houses, killing fifteen persons, and wounding five or six others. The boat sunk soon after the explosion. She had a valuable cargo, the greater part of which was lost. The names of the sufferers are not mentioned, with the exception of Mr. Charles Dix, the Captain’s brother, who was blown overboard and drowned.” (Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, p. 265.) Stevens: “…Timour. The boilers of this boat exploded a short distance below Jefferson City in August, 1854. The force was terrific. It carried the boat’s safe to the top of the bluff two hundred feet high over-looking the river. Between thirty and forty people were killed. For more than fifty years the decaying hull of the Timour could be seen on the shore during low water.” (Stevens 1921, p. 343.) Way: Timour. Sidewheel wood-hull packet built in St. Louis in 1849 at 232 tons. “….Exploded boilers at a wood yard three miles below Jefferson City, Mo., Aug 20, 1854 killing nineteen persons including the master [Capt. Dix], pilot, and clerk. The office safe landed atop of the bluff where man of the passengers were ashore picking wild flowers. Owned at the time by Capt. Edmund F. Dix, Charles F. Eckler, and others….” (Way. Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats of the Mississippi River System… (Revised). 1999, p. 456.) Newspaper Sep 1: “Cincinnati, Friday, Sept. 1. A few days since, just after the steamer Timour No. 2 had landed her passengers at Edward’s yard, near Jefferson City, Missouri, her boilers exploded, scattering death and destruction around, and leaving the boat a total wreck. “At the latest accounts six persons were lying on the shore dead, and it was supposed that 15 or 16 others were thrown overboard and drowned. “Owing to the confusion and excitement, the exact number of killed could not be ascertained. About 17 persons were scalded and otherwise injured. Mr. Dix, the pilot was in a dying state, not having spoken since the explosion. “Mr. Eckers, the Clerk of the boat, had his family on board, and two of his children were severely injured. The injured men are principally deck hands. “Two of the boilers were thrown on the Railroad track, and the other into the river. Many pieces of the wreck were found half a mile from the place where the explosion occurred. “The hull was breaking up and but few of the goods on board would be saved. The entire upper works are destroyed. “The engineers of the boat, Chas. W. McCord and John R. Scott, gave bonds in the sum of $4,000 to answer any charge of misconduct or negligence.” (New York Times. 9-4-1854, p. 8.) Sep 2: “Louisville, September 2. – Intelligence has just reached the city that the boiler of the steamer Timour exploded when opposite Jefferson city. It is reported that twenty persons were killed by the explosion, and many others severely scalded.” (Daily Union, Washington, DC. “Steamboat Explosions. – Twenty Lives Lost.” 9-3-1854, p. 3.) Sep 4: “The steamer Elvira arrived at the Levee yesterday, bringing further particulars of the terrible explosion of the Timour No. 2, by which many persons were killed, and many more wounded. Our readers will recollect that a dispatch was received here Saturday, from Jefferson City, stating that the Timour had exploded, killing two persons. The facts are much worse, and another page is added to the book of distressing accidents by which crowds of human beings are launched without a moment’s warning, into eternity. The Timour left our wharf last Thursday for Weston and St. Joseph….The number of killed and wounded was not correctly ascertained at the time the Elvira left, though some asserted that fifteen fell victims; while others represented the number of killed and missing as high as twenty….Many were blown into the river. Among the victims whose bodies were recovered, and whose names are ascertained, is that of the pilot, Mr. Dix, brother of the Captain. Mr. Dix’s body was brought down on the Elvira to St. Charles, whence it will be taken to Bridgeton for interment. “The bodies of five deck hands were recovered, no names mentioned. The second mate and a striker, both badly wounded, were brought down on the Elvira. Several others, brought down by the same boat more or less hurt – one deck hand severely. Mr. White, merchant of Roanoke, Mo., and passenger, was badly scalded. Three children of Mr. Charles Eckley, second clerk of the Timour, were scalded, one severely…..There were but few passengers aboard, either in cabin or on-deck. The boat is a complete wreck having been shattered to atoms by the explosion. She sank shortly after the accident in six feet water. Her cargo, also, is serious damaged. “….The boat had just made the landing, and the hands were carrying in the first wood when the explosion occurred. A number of them were on the forecastle, and near the boilers were killed or blown overboard to a man….. “Capt. Dix does not recollect the names of any of the victims, all killed and missing were believed to have been firemen and deck hands, who were shipped in this city, a majority of them but a few hours before the boat left port, and their names if taken down, are in the possession of Mr. McPherson, first clerk….” (Pittsburgh Gazette. “Explosion of the Timour No. 2 – Eighteen or Twenty Killed and Missing.” 9-4-1854, p. 1, col. 5.) Sep 7: “….the porter was thrown about sixty or seventy yards, dead….” (Alton Weekly Courier, IL. “Terrible Disaster.” 9-7-1854, p. 1, col. 4.) Sep 8: “….Deck Hands and Firemen Killed and Missing. – Ned Maley, James Flemming, Dennis Keller, Dan Conner, _____Thompson, Jo Ward, Pat McEntire, Daniel McGordon [not clear], Pat Keller, and Jno. McQuilly….” (Maquoketa Sentinel, IA. “Explosion of the Steamboat Timour.” 9-7-1854, p. 2, col. 6.) Oct 10: “On Friday last, the two engineers who were in charge of the engines of the Timour, No. 2, which recently blew up near Jefferson city, on the Missouri river, were on trial, and after a full and thorough examination, the defendants McCord and Scott, were discharged. It appearing to the court that they were guilty of no inattention, negligence or misconduct in the discharge of their duties.” (Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, PA. “St. Louis Correspondence.” 10-10-1854, p. 3, c. 1.) Listing of Timour Fatalities From Sources Noted Herein 1. Conner, Dan Deck hand or fireman 2. Dix, Charles Pilot 3. Dix, Edmund F. Captain 4. Eckler, Charles Clerk 5. Flemming, James Deck hand or fireman 6. Keller, Dennis Deck hand or fireman 7. Keller, Pat Deck hand or fireman 8. Maley, Ned Deck hand or fireman 9. McEntire, Pat Deck hand or fireman 10. McGordon (sp.), Daniel Deck hand or fireman 11. McQuilly, Jonathan Deck hand or fireman 12. Thompson, _____ Deck hand or fireman 13. Ward, Jo Deck hand or fireman 14. Unnamed male Porter on the Timour Sources Alton Weekly Courier, IL. “Terrible Disaster.” 9-7-1854, p. 1, col. 4. Accessed 11-2-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/alton-weekly-courier-sep-07-1854-p-1/ Berger, Vicki & James Erwin. Steamboat Disaster of the Lower Missouri River. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2020. Assessed 11-2-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Steamboat_Disasters_of_the_Lower_Missour/OcHDDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22timour%22+boiler+explosion+1854&pg=PA52&printsec=frontcover Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972. Chappell, Phil E. “Missouri River Steamboats.” Transactions of the Kansas State Historical Society, 1905-1906 (Vol. IX). Topeka: State Printing Office, 1906. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=2dw7AAAAIAAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s Claxton, Dan. “Time and Again: The Harrison Street Landing and the Great Steamboat Era.” KRCH 13, 2-28-2020. Accessed 11-2-2020 at: https://krcgtv.com/news/time-and-again/time-and-again-the-harrison-street-landing-and-the-great-steamboat-era Daily Union, Washington, DC. “Steamboat Explosions. – Twenty Lives Lost.” 9-3-1854, p. 3. Accessed 11-2-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-union-sep-3/ Lancaster Daily Intelligencer, PA. “St. Louis Correspondence.” 10-10-1854, p. 3, c. 1. Accessed 11-2-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lancaster-daily-intelligencer-oct-10-1854-p-3/ 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 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=8&size=125 Maquoketa Sentinel, IA. “Explosion of the Steamboat Timour.” 9-7-1854, p. 2, col. 6. Accessed 11-2-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/maquoketa-sentinel-sep-2/ Monongalia Mirror, Morgantown, WV. “Explosion of Steam Boilers.” 9-30-1854, p. 3. Accessed 11-2-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/morgantown-monongalia-mirror-sep-3/ New York Times. “Frightful Steamboat Explosion-Upwards of Twenty Persons Killed.” Sep 4, 1854, 8. At: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E0DE0D71538EE3BBC4C53DFBF66838F649FDE Pittsburgh Gazette. “Explosion of the Timour No. 2 – Eighteen or Twenty Killed and Missing.” 9-4-1854, p. 1, col. 5. Accessed 11-2-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pittsburgh-daily-pittsburgh-gazette-sep-04-1854-p-1/ United States Congress, House of Representatives. Hearings Before the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, United States Congress (74th Congress, 1st Session). “Safety of Life and Property at Sea.” Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1935. Accessed 8-9-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Safety_of_Life_and_Property_at_Sea/l9xH_9sUuVAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq Stevens, Walter B. Centennial History of Missouri (The Center State) One Hundred Years in the Union 1820-1921 (Vol. I). St. Louis: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1921. Digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=8wxZAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false United States Steamboat Inspection Service. “Report of Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats,” Oct 10, 1854, pp. 392-394. In: Index to Executive Documents Printed by Order of The Senate of the United States, Second Session, Thirty-Third Congress, 1854-’55 (in Twelve Volumes). Washington: Beverley Tucker, Senate Printer, 1855. Digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=sIcFAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false Way, Frederick Jr. (Author and Compiler), Joseph W. Rutter (contributor). Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats of the Mississippi River System Since the Advent of Photography in Mid-Continent America (Revised). Athens OH: Ohio University Press, 1999.