1857 — Nov 21, Steamer Rainbow burns/sinks, MS Riv., Victoria Bend, Napoleon, AR-62-75

–62-75 Blanchard estimated death-toll range.*

— 75 Athens Messenger, OH. “Loss of the Steamer Rainbow by Fire…” 12-4-1857, p. 1, c. 7.
— 75 NYT. “The Burning of the Steamboat Rainbow. Seventy-Five Persons Lost,” 11-25-1857
— 75 Pittsburgh Gazette, PA. “The Loss of the Rainbow.” 11-28-1857, p. 2, col. 1.
— >75 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…[MS Riv. Sys.]… 1999, 387.
–60-75 Louisville Evening Bulletin, KY. “Burning of the Rainbow.” 11-25-1857, p. 2, col. 1.**
–21 crew
–32 named passengers
–50-75 New York Times. “Burning of the Mississippi Steamer Rainbow.” 11-27-1857.
— 70 Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, WV “The River.” 11-27-1857, p. 3, col. 1.
–21 crew
–49 passengers (our inference — Rainbow officers noted 70 deaths, including 21 crew).
–60-70 Daily Milwaukee News, WI. “Latest News,” 11-24-1857, p. 3.
— ~40 Bragg. Historic Names…Places…the Lower Miss. River. “Victoria Bend,” 1977, p. 114.
— 30 Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1952, p. 247.
— 20 US SIS. Appendix 12, US Treasury Dept. Report on the Finances, Oct 25, 1858, p. 270.

* Blanchard estimated death-toll range. We employ the use of a range in that none of the sources appear to us to be so authoritative as to be the last word, though it is worth emphasizing that the Clerk of the Rainbow reported seventy deaths.

We have attempted to compile a list of the lost based on sources herein, which can be found between the Newspaper accounts and Source sections. This listing shows sixty two deaths and comprises the low-end of our estimated death-toll range (though we are tempted to use the Clerk’s seventy as the low-end of our range).

In that many sources, including the usually reliable Frederick Way Jr., report seventy-five deaths or employ a range of deaths using seventy-five as the high-end of the range, we adopt seventy-five as the high-end of our estimated death-toll range.

** The estimate is from Mr. Huston, the clerk: “..we cannot make the loss less than sixty to seventy-five human beings.”

Narrative Information

Bragg: “The small community of Victoria, Mississippi, gave this bend [Victoria Bend] of the Lower Mississippi its name, but changes in the river’s course doomed the village to extinction. One of the more spectacular steamboat tragedies of the pre-Civil War era occurred in the Victoria Bend in 1857, when the steamer Rainbow caught fire. About 40 people lost their lives, and the accident led to a demand for legislation to force the steamboat lines to take precautions that would prevent such accidents in the future.

“The flurry of concern aroused by the accident in Victoria Bend soon died down, and steamboat lines continued to pursue a policy dedicated to saving costs and time, rather than to the safety of their passengers. Between tragedies, the public seemed to view the explosions, fires, and snaggings on the river with the same kind of apathy with which people today view slaughter on the nation’s highways. Passengers continued to patronize the fastest boats on the river, and the most admired pilots were the ones who would try to stay ahead of every other boat on the river, no matter what risks they must run.” (Bragg. Historic Names…Places…the Lower Miss. River. “Victoria Bend,” 1977, p. 114.)

Lytle and Holdcamper: “Rainbow, 486 [tons], burnt 11 21 1857, Island No. 74…30 [lives lost].” (Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1952, p. 247.)

US Steamboat Inspection Service: “The steamer Rainbow was consumed by fire on the night of the 21st November last, when near Island No. 74, on the Mississippi river. By this accident twenty lives were lost. The fire originated in the kitchen, and when first discovered had so far progressed as to defy the exertions of those on board for its extinguishment. The boat was immediately headed for the land, and run bow on to the shore. The fire having started about midship, those on the forward part of the boat escaped to the shore without difficulty, but those abaft, being cut off from the means of escape, were obliged to jump overboard, and many of them were drowned before they could be rescued. At the time of the discovery of the fire the kitchen had been locked up for the night, and the cook was asleep; the origin of the fire could not be satisfactorily explained.” (US SIS. Appendix 12, US Treasury Dept. Report on the Finances, Oct 25, 1858, p. 270.)

Way: Rainbow. Sidewheel wood-hull packet, built in 1854 in New Albany, IN, at 486 tons. “Entered Louisville-Henderson trade, Capt. Holcroft, and later ran Louisville-New Orleans under his command. Burned 10 miles above Napoleon, Ark., night of Nov. 26 [sic., Nov 21], 1857, with large life loss, 75 or more.” (Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats of the Mississippi River System… 1999, p. 387.)

Newspapers at the Time

Nov 21 report, NYT: “Cincinnati, Tuesday, Nov. 21. Private dispatches, published this morning in the Commercial, give some particulars of the burning of the steamboat Rainbow, when near Napoleon, Arkansas. At the time there were 347 passengers on board, including a large number of coal boatmen on the deck. The wind was blowing a stiff gale when the fire was discovered, and the steamer was soon enveloped in flames. The boat was run ashore as soon as possible, and she there burned to the water’s edge. The origin of the fire is attributed to an incendiary among the deck passengers. The total loss of life is estimated at seventy-five persons. All the officers were saved. The steamer Minnehaha, from New Orleans, brought those who were saved to Memphis…. The boat’s books having been destroyed, no list of the lost can be furnished.” (NYT. “The Burning of the Steamboat Rainbow. Seventy-Five Persons Lost,” 11-25-1857.)

Nov 24: “The steamboat Rainbow was burned on the morning of the 21st, 10 miles above Napoleon, 50-70 lives lost –officers all lost—boat, cargo, books and papers all lost.” (Daily Milwaukee News, WI. “Latest News,” Nov 24, 1857, p. 3.)

Nov 25: “….All the books and papers being destroyed, it is utterly impossible to ascertain accurately the names of the lost or saved; but, after carefully comparing the statements of those that were saved, we cannot make the loss less than 60 to 75 human beings….

“Crew Lost. – Ed Prather, first, and Wm. Rochester, second steward (colored), and Frank Starkermeyer and assistant, pastry cooks (Germans); third and fourth cooks (one white and one black), with fifteen of the crew, firemen, and deck-hands….

“Passengers. – The passengers, with one or two exceptions, had retired to their rooms. Among them were several Californians, with their treasures of gold and their families, coming back to their homes, but, alas! They met with the cold embrace of Death in its most horrid form, instead of them….

“Mr. Wheatly, from California, with his wife and child, jumped from the steamer and struck boldly out for the shore. The wife soon sunk to rise no more; the child was drowned clinging to the father’s neck. He could not reach the shore with his child and was compelled to let it go….

Lost and Missing.

McGoffin [or McGaffin], of Scott co., Ky., missing;
Mrs. Wheatly and child, of California, lost;
Lady, name unknown, lost;
Third and 4th cooks, names unknown, lost;
Wm. Rochester, steward, lost;
John Ashby, Jo Adkins, and Thos. Collins, deck hands, lost;
Three ladies on deck, lost.
Leake, Mr., of Arkansas, missing;
Ingraham, Mr., of N.O., do [ditto];
Miss Larreck [or Farrick], lost;
Brashear, of Westport, do [ditto – lost]; [Or Mr. Brashears, of West Point.]
Frank Starkermyer and assistant, pastry cooks, lost;
E. Prather, steward, lost;
Geo. Davis, col’d boy, lost;
Wallace, do [ditto] do [ditto]
Three children of Mrs. Whitaker of Vicksb’g, lost;
Wm. Hall, col’d, lost.

“We republish the following list of names of the lost and missing, furnished by telegraphic dispatches from Memphis, and not included in the foregoing list:

Jas. Laughlin, Alliance, O.;
Hiram Charleton, do [ditto];
Wm. Chambers, Cincinnati;
John Galigher, Salineville, Ohio;
James Branard, Allegheny City, Pa.;
Mas. McLaughlin, Pittsburg;
Wm. Hern, do [ditto];
B. Craig, Birmingham, Pa.;
Mrs. Bond, Memphis.
Thos. Newhouse, Carrollton, Ky.;
Geo. Newman, Carrollton, Ky.;
A blind man named Johnson, wife, and two daughters, going to Paducah;
An Irish girl going to her mother at Cannelton, Ia.;
Jas. Mehaffy, McKeesport, Pa.;

“The above comprise all the names of the lost, as far as can be recollected by Mr. Huston, the clerk. Of the crew of 37 firemen and deck hands, 12 only are known to be saved; the rest are lost or missing.” (Louisville Evening Bulletin. “Burning of the Rainbow.” 11-25-1857, p. 2, col. 1.

Nov 25: “Louisville, No. 25 – 9 P.M. ….The officers of the Rainbow are here and report 70 lives lost, including the two stewards, four cooks, and 15 hands. Loss of boat and her cargo is estimated at one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. Pinck Varble, Falls Pilot.” (Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, WV “The River.” 11-27-1857, p. 3, col. 1.)

Nov 27, NYT: “Our special dispatches announce the destruction by fire of the Louisville and New-Orleans packet Rainbow, near Napoleon, Arkansas. The loss of life is variously estimated at from fifty to seventy-five. The Rainbow was built at Louisville, three years since, for the Louisville and Henderson packet trade, but entered the Southern trade last season….The Rainbow was burned on Saturday morning, at 2 o’clock, ten miles above Napoleon, at the head of Island Seventy-four. There were three hundred and forty-seven passengers on board – a large number of these on deck being coal boatmen, returning home. The origin of the fire is attributed to incendiary deck passengers….As soon as the fire was discovered, the boat was run ashore under a full head of steam, where she burned to the water’s edge….The books being all destroyed, no list of the lost can be furnished. All of the officers were saved.” (NYT, “Burning of…Rainbow.” 27Nov1857.)

Dec 1: “New Orleans, Dec 1. – It is feared that Hon. J. M. Sandidge, member of Congress from the fourth district of this State, was among the lost in the steamer Rainbow, which was burnt a few days since.” (Philadelphia Press. “The Loss of the Steamer Rainbow.” 12-2-1857, p. 2, col. 5.)

List of fatalities (lost and missing) from the Rainbow from sources above (62):
(21 crew, 41 passengers = 62)

Crew

1. Adkins (or Adkiner), Jo Deck hand Lost
2. Ashby, John Deck hand Lost
3. Collins, Thomas (or John) Deck hand Lost
4. Prather, Ed. Steward Lost
5. Rochester, William Steward Lost
6. Starkermyer (Starkermeyer) Pastry cook Lost
7. Not named Assistant pastry cook Lost
8. Not named 3rd cook Lost
9. Not named 4th cook Lost
10. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #1 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)
11. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #2 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)
12. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #3 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)
13. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #4 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)
14. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #5 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)
15. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #6 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)
16. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #7 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)
17. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #8 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)
18. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #9 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)
19. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #10 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)
20. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #11 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)
21. Unidentified fireman or deck hand #12 of 11 Lost (21 crew reported lost)

Passengers

1. Bond, Mrs. Memphis, TN Unclear if lost or missing
2. Branard (or Branan), James Allegheny City, PA Unclear if lost or missing
3. Brashear (or Brashears or Brocheay) Westport or West Point Lost
4. Craig, George Birmingham, PA Unclear if lost or missing
5. Chambers, William of Cincinnati Unclear if lost or missing
6. Charleton (or Chasterton), Hiram Alliance OH Unclear if lost or missing
7. Coffman Flatboatman from Rumsey, KY. Unclear if lost or missing.
8. Coffman’s partner Flatboatman from Rumsey, KY. Unclear if lost or missing.
9. Davis, George (black boy, probably a slave) Lost
10. Farrick, Miss (or Larreck, or Tarrack), Lost
11. Galigher, John (or James Galligher) Salineville, OH Unclear if lost or missing
12. Griffin, Mr. Scott County, KY Missing.
13. Hall, William (black) Unclear if lost or missing.
14. Hern, William Pittsburgh Unclear if lost or missing
15. Ingraham, Mr. George A. from New Orleans Missing
16. Johnson, Mr. (blind) going to Paducah Unclear if lost or missing
17. Johnson, Mrs., wife of Mr. “ Unclear if lost or missing
18. Johnson, daughter 1 of 2 “ Unclear if lost or missing
19. Johnson, daughter 2 of 2 “ Unclear if lost or missing
20. Laughlin, James Alliance, OH Unclear if lost or missing
21. Leake, Mr. Thomas Washitaw Co., AR Missing
22. McGaffin (or McGoffin) Scott County, KY Missing
23. McLaughlin, James Pittsburgh Unclear if lost or missing
24. Mehaffy, James McKeesport, PA Unclear if lost or missing
25. Newhouse, Thomas Carrollton, KY Unclear if lost or missing
26. Newman, George Carrollton, KY Unclear if lost or missing
27. Phillips, Samuel Derby, IN Unclear if lost or missing
28. Wallace (black boy, slave of Mrs. Davis of KY Lost
29. Wheatly, Mrs. California Lost
30. Wheatly, child of Mrs. Wheatley “ Unclear if missing or lost
31. Whitaker, child 1 of 3 Vicksburg Lost
32. Whitaker, child 2 of 3 “ Lost
33. Whitaker, child 3 of 3 “ Lost
34. Whitaker, servant of Mr. James E. Whitaker Lost
35. Unidentified lady, cabin passenger Lost
36. Unidentified female deck passenger, 1 of 3 Lost
37. Unidentified female deck passenger, 2 of 3 Lost
38. Unidentified female deck passenger, 3 of 3 Lost
39. Unidentified German brass foundryman with family in New Albany, IN.
40. Unidentified Irish girl going to her mother’s home in Cannelton, IA
41. Unidentified aged Irish woman from Baton Rouge, going to Memphis.

Sources

Athens Messenger, OH. “Loss of the Steamer Rainbow by Fire – Seventy-Five Lives Lost.” 12-4-1857, p. 1, c. 7. Accessed 10-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/athens-messenger-dec-04-1857-p-1/

Bragg, Marion. Historic Names and Places on the Lower Mississippi River. Vicksburg, MS: Mississippi River Commission, 1977. Accessed 9-15-2020 at: ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_related_docs/US_Army/Mississippi_River_names_1977.pdf

Daily Milwaukee News, WI. “Latest News” [Rainbow Fire], Nov 24, 1857, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=119982516

Daily Morning News, Savannah, GA. 12-19-1857, p. 3, col. 2. Accessed 10-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/savannah-daily-morning-news-dec-19-1857-p-3/

Louisville Evening Bulletin, KY. “Burning of the Rainbow.” 11-25-1857, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 10-20-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/louisville-evening-bulletin-nov-25-1857-p-2/

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

New York Times. “Burning of the Mississippi Steamer Rainbow.” November 27, 1857. At: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9C06E5DC173CEE34BC4F51DFB767838C649FDE

New York Times. “The Burning of the Steamboat Rainbow. Seventy-Five Persons Lost,” 11-25-1857. Accessed at: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9B05E2DD173CEE34BC4D51DFB767838C649FDE

Philadelphia Press. “The Burning of the Steamer Rainbow – Additional Names of the Lost.” 11-26-1857, p.2. Accessed 10-20-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-press-nov-26-1857-p-2/

Philadelphia Press. “The Loss of the Steamer Rainbow.” 12-2-1857, p. 2, col. 5. Accessed 10-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-press-dec-02-1857-p-2/

Pittsburgh Gazette, PA. “The Loss of the Rainbow.” 11-28-1857, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 10-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pittsburgh-daily-pittsburgh-gazette-nov-28-1857-p-2/

Sacramento Daily Union, CA. “Burning of the Mississippi Steamer Rainbow. 12-31-1857. Accessed 10-21-2020 at: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDU18571231.2.19.6&e=——-en–20–1–txt-txIN——–1

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. Digitized by Google 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.

Weekly Pioneer and Democrat, Saint Paul, MN. “The Latest News.” 12-10-1857, p. 6, cols. 1-2. Accessed 10-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/saint-paul-weekly-pioneer-and-democrat-dec-10-1857-p-6/

Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, WV “The River.” 11-27-1857, p. 3, col. 1. Accessed 10-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/wheeling-daily-intelligencer-nov-27-1857-p-3/

Wikipedia. “John M. Sandidge.” 3-31-2020 edit. Accessed 10-21-2020 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_M._Sandidge