1857 — Nov 18, Steamboat Cataract mud drum explosion, Missouri Riv., Lisbon, MO-12-15

Blanchard on date of loss.*

–12-15 Blanchard estimated death toll range.**

— 15 Chappell. “Missouri River Steamboats.” Transactions…KS Hist. Soc. 1906. p. 299.
— 15 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994, p. 75
–~14 Glasgow Weekly Times, Glasgow, MO. “Dead.” 11-26-1857, p. 3.
— 12 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 274.
–~12 Glasgow Weekly Times, MO. “Terrible Steam boat Accident…” 11-19-1857, p. 3.
— 1 — 2nd engineer missing
— 3 died soon after the explosion
–Christian Brown, boat hand
–two cabin passengers, males, names not yet known
— 3 died onboard the Low Water before she reached Glasgow
–~3 notation that the Emma had passed by and reported “several others dead.”
— 1 Express Messenger on the Cataract died of his injuries (apparently at Glasgow)
— 1 Joseph Brown, deck hand, died of his injuries (apparently at Glasgow)
— 12 Gould. Fifty Years on the Mississippi…Gould’s History of River Navigation. 1889, p.437.
— 12 NYT. “Explosion of Steamer Cataract—Twelve Persons Killed…,” 11-26-1857.
— 12 US SIS. Appendix 12, US Treasury Dept. Report on the Finances, Oct 25, 1858, p. 270.
— 5 Monroe Sentinel, WI. 11-25-1857, p. 2.

*Blanchard on date of loss: There is conflicting reporting – some noting the loss on the 17th and some on the 18th. We have highlighted in yellow these notations on date of explosion. Unfortunately, we cannot locate a newspaper report on the Cataract explosion dated either Nov 17 or 18 – such a report would seem to settle the matter. The only report we see published on the 19th is from the nearby Glasgow Weekly Times, which seems to note the explosion occurred on the 18th. We choose to rely on the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service report which dates the explosion November 18.

**Blanchard on fatalities. We feel fairly confident of a minimum of twelve deaths, as reported by several sources, including the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. In that two sources note fifteen deaths, and the Glasgow Weekly, in our reading of their two reports, seemed to us to report fourteen deaths, not including the reported death of Representative Stark Mauzey after leaving Glasgow on the Low Water. If we are correct on their reporting and on the death from injuries of Representative Mauzey, then this would total fifteen.

Narrative Information

Chappell: “1851-’57. Cataract. Marshall, master. Built in 1851. Large side-wheel passenger steamer in the Lightning line…blew up in 1857 and killed fifteen people.” (Chappell 1906, p.299.)

U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service: “On the 18th November last the steamer Cataract exploded her mud receiver or cross water connection underneath the boilers, whereby twelve lives were lost, seven of the passengers and five of the crew. The explosion was of a terrific character and was entirely novel in the history of steam navigation. Upon examination by the inspectors they were satisfied that it was beyond the control of the engineer, and further that it was their duty to condemn the boilers from further use, which was done.” (US SIS. Appendix 12, US Treasury Dept. Report on the Finances, Oct 25, 1858, p. 270.)

Way on the Cataract: “Built for Capt. E.W. Gould and C.S. Rodgers, both of St. Louis, for Illinois River. She ran in the Pacific Railroad Packet Line (‘Lightning Line’) St. Louis-Jefferson City-Kansas City in 1856 along with F.X. Aubry and Australia….Exploded a mud Drum in 1857, killing five passengers and ten in the crew, injuring 25 others. Dismantled in 1859.” (Way 1994, 75.)

Newspapers

Nov 19, Glasgow Weekly Times: “A terrible accident occurred to the steamer Cataract, yesterday morning [18th?] just before day, a few miles above Arrow Rock. She had wooded at Shippingsport, and as she was starting, her Mud Receiver exploded with such force as to break through the main deck, into the hold, below, and through the cabin floor and the hurricane deck, above. The boat was thus filled with scalding steam, above and below, and the passengers, becoming alarmed at the explosion, rushed into the cabin, in their night clothes, and suffered from scalding and inhaling the hot steam.

“In all, 39 were scalded, 21 of them badly, the 2d engineer missing. Three died soon after the explosion. The steamer Low Water came along in a short time, and took on board ten of the sufferers. Before she reached this place [Glasgow], three of them died. She left six living persons and the three dead ones here, taking one, Judge Stark Mauzey, Representative of Chariton county, on to Brunswick. He was badly scalded in the face and hands, and was suffering from the effects of inhaling hot steam.

“The following is a list of the names of living sufferers left here: —

“J. B. Loring and James Mugridge, of Portland, Maine, bound for Leavenworth, Kansas Territory. Both badly scalded, but neither dangerous.

“Joseph and George Brown, Germans, hands on the boat, dangerously injured.

“David Sulby and Fred Walker, boat hands. Not dangerous.

“Only one of the dead, Christian Brown, boat hand, was known. The other dead, were cabin passengers. One a full faced man, large, light hair and sandy beard. – supposed to be about 40 years old. The other, medium size, black hair and sandy moustache. Supposed to be about 30 years old.

“The dead were buried, and the sick are being comfortably cared for at the Glasgow House.

“The Emma passed up at a later hour, having on board many of the passengers of the Cataract. She reported several others dead. None of the lady passengers were injured by the explosion. One young lady was badly cut by the glass in her state-room door, in trying to get out of her room. Both of the Clerks of the boat were badly scalded, and the Express Messenger was killed, or has since died.

“Joseph Brown died this morning.” (Glasgow Weekly Times, MO. “Terrible Steam boat Accident – 39 persons badly scalded – several killed.” 11-19-1857, p. 3.)

Nov 20, Hannibal Messenger: “We learn from the St. Louis News of Friday [20th] that the steamer Cataract, one of the Lightning Line packets, while lying at Lisbon, on the Missouri river, last Tuesday [17th], burst her mud receiver, killing five persons, and scalding fourteen others. – The following is a list of the sufferers: —

“Killed. – Wm. Brace, of Hartford, Connecticut, passenger; Mr. Blackburn, of Cass county, Missouri; Barney Kelley, keeper of the saloon, Mr. McDonald, messenger of the United States Express Company; Leander Jones, second engineer, is reported lost….” (Hannibal Messenger, MO. “Explosion of the Cataract – Five Killed, and Fourteen Wounded.” 11-24-1857, p. 2.

Nov 20, Monroe Sentinel: “St. Louis, Nov. 20. The steamer Cataract burst her mud receiver at Lisbon, Missouri River, on the 17th, killing five passengers and scalding fifteen.” (Monroe Sentinel. Nov 25, 1857, p. 2.)

Nov 20, NYT: “From the St. Louis Democrat. We have to record a distressing accident to the Lightning Line packet Cataract, Capt. O’Neil, which resulted in the loss of five lives, and the scalding of 15 more persons. The disaster occurred on the 17th instant at Lisbon, a small place below Glasgow, on the Missouri River. The only information we have in relation to it is contained in the following telegraphic dispatches, received in this city last evening….

“Boonville, Mo., Friday, Nov 20.—The steamer Oglesby passed here at five o’clock this evening, with the wounded passengers of the Cataract on board, bound to St. Louis. Her officers report that twelve of the persons scalded by the explosion, are dead….It is reported that Stark Mauzey, member of the Legislature from Brunswick, was scalded to death on the Cataract.” (NYT. “Explosion of Steamer Cataract—Twelve Persons Killed…,” 26 Nov 1857.)

Nov 20, St. Louis Christian Advocate, MO: “….Boonville. – The steamer Oglesby passed here at five o’clock this evening, with the wounded passengers of the Cataract on board, bound to St. Louis. Her officers report that twelve of the persons scalded by the explosion are dead…..It is reported that Stark Mauzey, member of the Legislature from Brunswick, was scalded to death on the Cataract.” (St. Louis Christian Advocate, MO. “Telegraphic News of the Week….Friday, Nov. 20….” 11-26-1857, p. 3.)

Nov 26: “Two more of the sufferers by the Cataract disaster have died since our last [~12]. Mr. Young, boat hand, and L. B. Loring, passenger.” (Glasgow Weekly Times, Glasgow, MO. “Dead.” 11-26-1857, p. 3.)

Dec 5: “Hon. Mr. Mauzey, of Chariton county, died a few days since from injuries received by the explosion on the Cataract.” (Springfield Mirror, Springfield, MO. 12-5-1857, p. 2.)

Fatalities Identified in Sources Above

1. Blackburn, Mr. Cass County, MO.
2. Brace, William, Hartford, CT. Passenger.
3. Brown, Christian. Boat hand. (Noted as one of three to die shortly afterwards.)
4. Brown, Joseph. Boat hand; died at Glasgow, apparently on Nov. 19.
5. Kelley, Barney. Saloon keeper.
6. Loring, L. B. Passenger.
7. Jones, Leander. 2nd engineer. Lost, presumed blown overboard by the explosion.
8. Mauzey, Judge Stark, Representative of Chariton County. Passenger.
9. McDonald, Mr. Messenger of the United States Express Company; died later.
10. Young, Mr. Boat hand.
11. Unknown passenger said to have died shortly after the explosion.
12. 2nd unknown passenger said to have died shortly after the explosion.
13. 1st of “several others dead’ as reported when the Emma passed Glasgow on 19th.
14. 2nd of “several others dead’ as reported when the Emma passed Glasgow on 19th.
15. 3rd of “several others dead’ as reported when the Emma passed Glasgow on 19th.

Sources

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

Glasgow Weekly Times, Glasgow, MO. “Dead.” 11-26-1857, p. 3. Accessed 8-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/glasgow-weekly-times-nov-26-1857-p-3/

Glasgow Weekly Times, Glasgow, MO. “Terrible Steam boat Accident – 39 persons badly scalded – several killed.” 11-19-1857, p. 3. Accessed 8-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/glasgow-weekly-times-nov-19-1857-p-3/

Gould, E. W. Fifty Years on the Mississippi; or, Gould’s History of River Navigation. St. Louis: Nixon-Jones Printing Co., 1889, 750 pages. Digitized by Google. Accessed 2008 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=udyywXOVBvsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Hannibal Messenger, MO. “Explosion of the Cataract – Five Killed, and Fourteen Wounded.” 11-24-1857, p. 2. Accessed 8-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hannibal-tri-weekly-messenger-nov-24-1857-p-2/

Monroe Sentinel, WI. [Steamer Cataract Explosion] November 25, 1857, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=37539275

New York Times. “Explosion of Steamer Cataract—Twelve Persons Killed…,” 11-26-1857. Accessed at: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=990CE1DD173CEE34BC4E51DFB767838C649FDE

Pearsonhighered.com. Chapter 14. Boilers. “Key Terms,” p. 291. Accessed 8-15-2020 at: https://www.pearsonhighered.com/assets/samplechapter/0/1/3/4/0134891260.pdf

Springfield Mirror, Springfield, MO. 12-5-1857, p. 2. Accessed 8-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/springfield-mirror-dec-05-1857-p-2/

St. Louis Christian Advocate, MO. “Telegraphic News of the Week….Friday, Nov. 20….” 11-26-1857, p. 3. Accessed 8-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/saint-louis-christian-advocate-nov-26-1857-p-3/

United States Steamboat-Inspection Service. “Appendix 12,” in United States Treasury Department. Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of the Finances for the Year Ending June 30, 1858. Washington: William A. Harris, Printer, 1858. Accessed 8-15-2020 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=XCUSAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_atb#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.