1855 — Jan 27, steamboat Pearl boiler explosion, Sacramento River, Sacramento, CA–67-80

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 9-18-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

Blanchard note: From the range of fatality numbers noted in sources below we choose to employ an estimated fatality range of 67-80. Sixty-seven is the number of bodies reported to have been recovered according to the Nevada State Journal of February 8, setting the low end of our range. Eighty is the number used by the Secretary of the Treasury in his report on the finances for fiscal year 1855 for the loss of life. We use this for the high end of our estimated range. It is quite possible that the loss of life was in the neighborhood of eighty, however, we choose a conservative approach which establishes a floor, to the extent our source is accurate.

— 80 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 220.[1]

— 80 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 683.

— 80 Secretary of the Treasury. Report…State of Finances, for Year Ending June 30, 1955. P. 440.

–53-~70 Alton Daily Telegraph, IL. “News from the Pacific.” Feb 28, 1855, p. 2.

— ~70 Weekly Wisconsin, Milwaukee. “Explosion of the Steamer Pearl!” Feb 28, 1855, p. 7.

–40-~70 New York Times. “Dreadful Steamboat Accident. Terrible Loss of Life.” 2-26-1855.

— 67 Bodies recovered. Nevada City Journal, CA. “Sacramento.” 2-9-1855, p. 2, col. 4.

— >62 Mountain Democrat, Placerville, CA. “Explosion of the Steamer Pearl.” 2-3-1855, 2.

— ~60 Georgetown News, CA. “Awful Explosion – Great Loss of Life.” 2-1-1855, p. 2.

— 60 Littell’s Living Age. “Daily Wonders. – California.” Vol. 45, No. 572, 5-22-1855, 331.

–50- 60 Nevada City Journal, CA. “Terrible Steamboat Accident! Explosion of the Pearl.” 2-2-1855, 1.

— 56 MacMullen. Paddle-Wheel Days in California. 1944, p. 27.

— 56 Twaintimes, p. 3

— 53 Secrest. California Disasters, 1812-1899. 2005, p. 64.

Narrative Information

MacMullen. Paddle-Wheel Days in California. 1944, p. 27: “….January 27, 1855…saw one of the worst of the river disasters. At one o’clock in the afternoon, the Pearl…was just nosing into her landing below the mouth of the American River, and most of her hundred or more passengers were crowded forward, each anxious to be the first to land. There was a rumble and a roar; a boiler, kicking loose from its foundations, ripped through the crowd, filling the air with steam, splinters, and mangled humanity, and plunged into the river some distance away. Fifty-six were killed, drowned, or fatally scalded….”

Secretary of the Treasury on the State of Finances, for the Year Ending June 30, 1855: “The boiler of the steamer Pearl exploded on the 27th day of January, 1855, at Marysville, on the Sacramento river.

“This accident was investigated most fully, and the decision was, that it was caused by the carelessness or recklessness of the engineer; the boat had been inspected in compliance with the law, but the engineer then in charge was not licensed, a change having been made in the engineer without the knowledge of the inspectors; the previous engineer had been licensed by them. The engineer in charge would have been prosecuted by the inspectors, but that he absconded immediately after the accident.” (Report… Secretary…Year Ending June 30, 1855. 1856, p. 435.)

Secretary of the Treasury on the State of Finances, for the Year Ending June 30, 1855:

“Statement of accidents to licensed steamers, involving loss of life, for the year ending September 30, 1855.

“….California…Jan. 27, 1855…Explosion…80 [passenger list]…Steamer Pearl exploded boiler: eighty lives lost, a part of which were of the crew.” (p. 440)

Newspapers

Jan 27: Sacramento, Jan. 27, 3 p.m. Never has it been our lot to record a more appalling calamity in the inland waters of this State than that detailed below. The high pressure steamer Pearl, Davis, master, left Marysville at 7 o’clock this morning with an unusual crowd of passengers, numbering, as nearly as can be ascertained, 143, of whom 35 were Chinamen. She had almost reached the city, and was just below the mouth of the American river, when an explosion occurred, which lifted the forward deck and threw it directly over the bows. The boilers exploded in the forward part, and the accident is said to have been occasioned by want of water in them. There are fifty or sixty lives lost by this dreadful disaster. Nearly a dozen were blown into the air, and one or two to the height of sixty or seventy feet, and nearly to the opposite shore of the Sacramento river. The wheel house was blown over board, and the pilot wheel was broken into five or six pieces, but strange to say, the pilot was not killed, although he is considerably injured. The upper deck was blown completely off, and the passengers clung in crowds to it, and to the guards of the boat as the composed mass floated down the river….Immediately after the explosion, skiffs were manned by strong arms and were hurried to the rescue of the wounded and struggling victims. Mr. C. L. Knowles was the first to reach the wreck, picking up as he passed, six Chinamen and then taking from the wreck three ladies who were transferred to a large boat and carried safe to shore.

“The explosion took place in the forward part of the boat, and those who were on that part of the vessel, were most seriously injured. It is supposed the Firemen were also lost, whilst the Engineers escaped with but little injury….

“Wm. A. Gilman, the Clerk was standing at the desk in his office at the time of the explosion. He says that one-third of the passengers were in the boiler deck – one-third in the cabin, and the rest below….

“Mr. McBride, the messenger of Wells Fargo & Co. …is undoubtedly lost.

“Col Anderson, of Nevada, passenger – killed.

“There is a body of a dead man on board the Camanche.

“The shock was terrific, and was heard as far as the Green Tree House, corner of M and the levee….” (Nevada City Journal, CA. “Terrible Steamboat Accident! Explosion of the Pearl.” 2-2-1855, p. 1.)

Feb 1, Georgetown News, CA: “From our Sacramento exchanges we learn that the steamer Pearl, belonging to the California Steam Navigation Company, exploded her boilers within about one hundred yards of her landing at Sacramento, at 1 o’clock, p.m., on Saturday last. She left Marysville at 7 o’clock, a.m., with as nearly as can be ascertained, 101 passengers, of which upwards of sixty were killed by this dreadful occurrence. The Journal of Monday, says that 52 dead bodies have been found, and they were continuing to drag the river, by which means many bodies had been found of the missing. Of the passengers, 36 were Chinamen, many of whom were killed. The extra Union, says:

The wheel house was blown overboard and the pilot wheel was broken into five or six pieces, but strange to say the pilot was not killed, although he is considerably injured. The upper deck was blown completely off, and the passengers clung in crowds to it and to the guards of the boat, as the confused mass floated down the river. A line was made fast to a tree opposite Cary’s mill, above the mouth of the slough, where the wreck now remains.

“The Union also states a fact, which in these days it would be well to remember:

Some of the passengers had the presence of mind to fall on the floor, and the steam passed over them without injury.

“It is said that some were blown to a height of sixty or seventy feet. The engineer it seems escaped uninjured, and has since been arrested and held to bail in $10,000 for his appearance. Much indignation is expressed, and a determination to bring the guilty to punishment. The coroner’s jury did not elicit many facts of importance. The Union says their verdict was that the deceased came to their deaths by the explosion of the steamer Pearl – but the Journal says, in addition, ‘caused by the culpable negligence and carelessness of the engineer.’ Those, interested represent as usual – ‘no body to blame.’ It is said that the boilers were new, and of very good material. It is also claimed by the company that the engineer was blameless. But there is a fault somewhere, which we sincerely hope may be brought to light, and justice done accordingly.” (Georgetown News, CA. “Awful Explosion – Great Loss of Life.” 2-1-1855, p. 2.)

Feb 3, Mountain Democrat, Placerville, CA: “The explosion of this ill-fated steamer with the facts of which our readers are already familiar, is by far the most heartrending and horrifying casualty that it has ever been our painful duty to chronicle, as having occurred on any of the waters of this State.

“The Pearl belonged to the Combination Line of Steamers, and was running between Sacramento and Marysville. She was on her downward trip, on Saturday last, and nearly opposite the mouth of the American river when the dreadful catastrophe occurred. She was commanded by Capt. Davis, who was among the unfortunate victims. There are known to be over one hundred persons on board, including the officers and crew. Over seventy persons were killed and wounded; but as there was no register of the names of the passengers on the boat, we presume the exact number of killed will never be ascertained—the Coroner, however, has already held inquests over the bodies of sixty-two of the killed, and it is not at all improbable that the fate of many others will yet be ascertained by their bodies being found floating in the river….” (Mountain Democrat, Placerville, CA. “Explosion of the Steamer Pearl.” 2-3-1855, 2.)

Feb 9, Nevada City Journal, CA: “Sacramento….The entire number of deaths caused by the explosion of the steamer Pearl is not yet ascertained. Sixty-seven bodies have been recovered in all.” (Nevada City Journal, CA. “Sacramento.” 2-9-1855, p. 2, col. 4.

Feb 26, NYT: “From the Placer Times. About 1 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, as the steamer Pearl, of the Combination line, which had been racing with the Enterprise of the Citizens line, from Marysville to Sacramento, was nearing the latter city, her boiler exploded, very nearly destroying the boat and hurrying a large number of human beings into eternity. From the many conflicting statements in regard to the disaster w gather the following: There were 93 passengers on board, of whom 35 were Chinamen. Of these the bodies of 22 who were killed have been recovered. There were 19 at the Hospital on Saturday, who were terribly wounded. Some of the sufferers have had their arms and legs blown entirely off. The pilot, who was thrown several feet in the air, escaped with but little injury, and also the cook and steward. These are the only officers on the boat who were saved….

“The mangled corpses of several Chinamen are lying on each side of the river – most of them at Yolo. The boat is a total wreck. A rope was procured, and the wreck has been hauled to the riverside, abreast of the Gas Works. The after-cabin and the hull is all that remains of her. Those passengers who were fortunate enough to be aft in the cabin providentially escaped uninjured.

“Capt. Davis was killed immediately….The appearance of the wounded (and scarcely any one escaped) was a soul-sickening sight. The Chinamen and women groaned and wailed in a most awful manner. The explosion was distinctly seen by many persons from the levee, and a moment after its occurrence innumerable boats, and also the ferry-boat, running between Sacramento and Washington, sped to the scene of the disaster. The bodies were picked up, and a party of men proceeded to clear away the wreck for the purpose of saving or recovering those remaining on board, if any. In the meantime many bodies (some of them mutilated in a shocking manner) were recovered from among the fragments floating in the river. The number of missing is about thirty, it is said.

“….Four persons jumped in the river and were undoubtedly drowned. The current was very strong….

“Judge Anderson of Nevada, and G. A. Shultz of Marysville, were killed. There were only four ladies on board of the Pearl, all of whom were saved without injury. The Messenger of Rhodes & Lusk’s Express was killed….All the firemen of the boat were killed. Mr. Randall was killed….

“A gentleman who was at the stern of the boat, at the time of the explosion, says that out of ninety-five on board, exclusive of the officers and crew, about twenty escaped injury. The remainder were either killed directly, scalded, or thrown into the river….

“Sunday, 12 o’clock M. – Persons have been dragging the river, and thirteen bodies have been recovered. Several of these are Chinamen….It is said that Coroner Smith will today hold an inquest over all the bodies….Among those recovered from the river, have been recognized the bodies of Jas. Cavanagh, Capt. Davis and a Slovenian, who kept a fruit store in San Francisco….

“….A story is current that the engineer of the boat escaped by swimming to the Yolo side, when he took to the woods, and has not since been seen or heard of.

“Sacramento, Sunday, Jan. 28 – 10 P.M. Twenty six bodies have been recovered from the river to-day, making forty in all…eighteen of these were Chinamen. Twenty or thirty more are supposed to be in the river yet….At this time there are thirty-one bodies in a room of the Station-house. Wadleigh, engineer, is under arrest.” (NYT. “Dreadful Steamboat Accident. Terrible Loss of Life.” 2-26-1855.)

Feb 28, Alton Daily Telegraph, IL: “We have information of the explosion of the steamer Pearl near Sacramento. About 70 lives were lost, including Col. Alexander Anderson, a distinguished lawyer of Nevada, a native of Virginia; and the Captain and Mate of the vessel; and about 20 Chinamen. Fifty-three dead bodies had been found and 20 men were missing. It was asserted that the Pearly was racing at the time with the Enterprise, but the agents deny this. Both boats were on their way from Sacramento to Marysville….” (Alton Daily Telegraph, IL. “News from the Pacific.” Feb 28, 1855, p. 2.)

May 22, Little’s Living Age: “A spirit of ‘keen competition’ has for some time actuated the various companies which ply on the interior waters of California. ‘Someone to sit on the safety-valve, and all hands to the pokers,’ has become the order of the day. – As a natural consequence, the steamer Pearl was blown to atoms but the other day by an explosion of her boiler between Marysville and Sacramento. There were 122 persons on board at the time; of these 60 were killed or drowned, and 30 have been severely wounded. It can’t be helped – the State must go ahead!” (Littell’s Living Age. “Daily Wonders. – California.” Vol. 45, No. 572, 5-22-1855, 331.)

Sources

Alton Daily Telegraph, IL. “News from the Pacific.” 2-28-1855, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=116101264

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

Georgetown News, CA. “Awful Explosion – Great Loss of Life.” 2-1-1855, p. 2, col. 4. Accessed 9-17-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/georgetown-weekly-news-feb-01-1855-p-2/

Littell’s Living Age. “Daily Wonders. – California.” Vol. 45, No, 572, 5-22-1855, 331. Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=v4IkAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

MacMullen, Jerry. Paddle-Wheel Days in California. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1944. Google preview at: http://books.google.com/books?id=E-ieAAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Mountain Democrat, Placerville, CA. “Explosion of the Steamer Pearl.” Feb 3, 1855, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=5048031

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.

Nevada City Journal, CA. “Sacramento.” 2-9-1855, p. 2, col. 4. Accessed 9-18-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/nevada-city-journal-feb-09-1855-p-2/

Nevada City Journal, CA. “Terrible Steamboat Accident! Explosion of the Pearl.” 2-2-1855, p. 1. Accessed 9-17-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/nevada-city-journal-feb-02-1855-p-1/

New York Times. “Dreadful Steamboat Accident. Terrible Loss of Life.” 2-26-1855. At: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0B12FD3959157493C4AB1789D85F418584F9

Secrest, William B. Jr. and William B. Secrest Sr. California Disasters, 1812-1899: Firsthand Accounts of Fires, Shipwrecks, Floods, Epidemics, Earthquakes and Other California Tragedies. Quill Driver Books, 2005, 368 pages. Partially digitized by Google. Accessible at: http://books.google.com/books?id=FiOrJ47gno8C&dq=Belle+explosion+1852&source=gbs_summary_s&cad=0

Secretary of the Treasury. Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the Finances, for the Year Ending June 30, 1955. U.S. Senate Executive Document No. 2, 34^th Congress, 1^st Session. Washington: Printed by Beverly Tucker, 1856. Accessed 9-17-2024 at: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/annual-report-secretary-treasury-state-finances-194/report-secretary-treasury-state-finances-year-ending-june-30-1855-5501

Twaintimes – A Time Line of Events in the Life of Samuel Langhorne Clemens – Mark Twain. Accessed 11-16-2008 at: http://twaintimes.net/page2.html

Weekly Wisconsin, Milwaukee. “Explosion of the Steamer Pearl!” Feb 28, 1855, p. 7. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=120025313

[1] Not used as high estimate in that it is out of keeping with the highest fatality estimates reported in the papers of the time, as well as other, later, sources.