1860 — Nov 3, Sidewheel towboat Baltic boiler explosion, Mobile Bay near Mobile, AL–<20

—<20 Blanchard.* -- 23 [killed and wounded] Weekly Sun, Columbus, GA. “Explosion of the Baltic.” 11-13-1860, p. 2. -- 20 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 157. -- 20 USACE. Survey Report on Mobile Harbor, Alabama, Vol. 2, Oct 1980. Appendix 5, B-42. -- 20 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 684. -- 20 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…MS River System. 1994, 37. -- 17 [killed and wounded] Philadelphia Inquirer, PA. 11-10-1860, p. 6; cites Mobile Tribune, 4th. --~10 Weekly Sun, Columbus, GA. “Explosion of the Baltic.” 11-13-1860, p. 2.) -- 6 Chronicle & Sentinel, Augusta, GA. “Explosion of the Steamer Baltic.” 11-8-1860, p. 3. *Blanchard: Though we show four sources noting twenty fatalities, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the highest number of fatalities and casualties combined is twenty-three. All of these are early reports, however, with the story quickly dropping from papers, and it would not be surprising at all to learn that one or more of the seriously injured died from injuries. Thus we indicate < (up to) twenty as our own estimate. Narrative Information Way: Sidewheel wooden packet, 399 tons. Built in New Albany Ind. in 1856. Went to Mobile, Ala. Exploded and lost at the place, Nov. 3, 1860, with a loss of 20 lives.” (Way 1994, 37) Newspapers Nov 3, Philadelphia Press: “Mobile, Nov. 4. – The tow-boat Baltic exploded her boilers this morning, and several of her crew were killed and wounded.” (Philadelphia Press, PA. 11-5-1860, p. 2, col. 4. bottom) Nov 3, The World: “Mobile, Nov. 3. The towboat Baltic exploded this morning. Several persons were killed and wounded.” (The World, NYC. “Explosion in Mobile Bay.” 11-5-1860, p. 4.) Nov 5, Daily Ledger, IN: “A telegram states that the towboat Baltic exploded on Saturday morning, at Mobile, by which several were killed and wounded…The Baltic was built here in 1856 by Capt. Joshua Bragdon, at a cost of about $40,000, and was worth, at the time of her explosion, about $25,000. She was commanded by Capt. J. S. Brainard, and used for towing purposes in Mobile Bay. She was owned by Captains Brainard and Merchant.” (Daily Ledger, New Albany, IN. “Explosion of the Towboat Baltic.” 11-5-1860, p. 3.) Nov 6, Chronicle & Sentinel, Augusta, GA: “We learned at about midnight that the bay steamer Baltic was blown up yesterday evening in the bay, about fifteen miles from the city. We are at this moment without particulars of the disaster, but learn generally that the engineer was killed and several persons were wounded. – Mobile Advertiser, 3d.” (Chronicle & Sentinel, August, GA. “Explosion of the Steam4r Baltic.” 11-6-1860, p. 3.) Nov 8, Chronicle & Sentinel, Augusta, GA: “We are indebted to Mr. Wm. R. Fell, Clerk of the towboat Baltic, for most of the particulars of the disaster which occurred to her yesterday evening [2nd?]. The Baltic was on her way up from the fleet with a barge in tow, both freighted with hay, and had about twenty cabin passengers from the fleet, including five ladies and eight children, and on deck twelve sailors and eight shoremen. About quarter to 7 o’clock, when opposite to Deer River, some ten miles below the city, the middle starboard boiler exploded, parting in the middle. The forepart went forward, being blown entirely out of shape; the afterpart was buried in the deck, and brought up in one of the coal bunkers, which no doubt preserved the boat from sinking. The social hall, and everything forward were entirely carried away, the cabin furniture completely wrecked, and the whole scene was enveloped in darkness. “The first thing of which the alarmed company on board became sensible was, that the boat was on fire forward, and every effort – except that required for the immediate care of the wounded – was at once directed to getting rid of the hay which was burning on both the barge and the boat. It was all rolled overboard, amounting to 400 bales, when, by Capt. Brainard’s direction, Mr. J. Crimmons came up to town in a skiff for assistance. The steamer Col. Clay immediately went down, and it was judged best to bring the barge to town at once, with the wounded on board, which was accordingly done. The Baltic was towed up by the propeller Neaffie [unclear], arriving about 7 o’clock this morning, and now lies opposite town. “The following is the list of candidates so far as we have been able to ascertain them: “Killed. – Walter Wilson, ed Engineer, in charge at the time, missing, and no doubt blown overboard; a sailor from the ship Pettigrew; and a bayman, also missing; the striker (3rd Engineer) both legs blown off, survived about twenty minutes; a negro sailor from the fleet; and another sailor, whether white or black not known. “Wounded. – Capt. Wm. Lee, lower bar pilot, was injured, it is feared fatally, vomiting blood, and suffering much pain – he has been taken to the hospital. Two or three deck passengers and fur negro hands – Baptiste (Sidley master), Frank (Krebs), Peter and Leslie (Turner), were badly scalded; Baptiste the most, but none, it is believed, fatally. Two or three others were slightly injured. “The entire number of killed and wounded is about seventeen, not including trifling contusions, &c. “Capt. J. M. Brainard, and Mr. A. M. Godfrey had a narrow escape, as they were passing from the cabin to the social hall at the moment of the explosion, and the deck was torn away under their feet. Capt. Brainard was prostrated, but clambered back into the cabin, and with the greatest coolness immediately devoted himself to the care of the sufferers and of the boat. He was ably seconded by Mr. Godfrey, Mr. J. Crimmons, and Mr. Wm. A. Wallace, the mate of the Baltic – to all of whom the highest praise is given for the efficiency of the services rendered by them in the hour of alarm and confusion. – Mobile Evening News, 3d.” (Chronicle & Sentinel, Augusta, GA. “Explosion of the Steamer Baltic.” 11-8-1860, p. 3.) Nov 13, Weekly Sun, Columbus, GA: This article is virtually identical to the preceding one, with the exception of one additional paragraph at the end: “….We learn also that a bayman named Lorenzo Pratt, was very seriously wounded, also a man named Adams, a boy named John Wood, is missing, two negroes belonging to the ship Arkwright were killed, John Picon, belonging to ship Pettigrew was slightly wounded.” (Weekly Sun, Columbus, GA. “Explosion of the Baltic.” 11-13-1860, p. 2.) Sources Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972. Chronicle & Sentinel, August, GA. “Explosion of the Steamer Baltic.” 11-6-1860, p. 3. Accessed 8-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/augusta-daily-chronicle-and-sentinel-nov-06-1860-p-3/ Chronicle & Sentinel, Augusta, GA. “Explosion of the Steamer Baltic.” 11-8-1860, p. 3. Accessed 8-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/augusta-daily-chronicle-and-sentinel-nov-08-1860-p-3/ Daily Ledger, New Albany, IN. “Explosion of the Towboat Baltic.” 11-5-1860, p. 3. Accessed 8-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-albany-daily-ledger-nov-05-1860-p-3/ 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 Philadelphia Inquirer, PA. “The Explosion of the Baltic – Seventeen Killed and Wounded.” 11-10-1860, p. 6. Accessed 8-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-nov-10-1860-p-6/ Philadelphia Press, PA. 11-5-1860, p. 2, col. 4. Accessed 8-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-press-nov-05-1860-p-2/ The World, NYC. “Explosion in Mobile Bay.” 11-5-1860, p. 4. Accessed 8-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/world-nov-05-1860-p-4/ United States Army Corps of Engineers. Survey Report on Mobile Harbor, Alabama, Vol. 2. Mobile District: USACE, October 1980. Accessed 8-9-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Mobile_Harbor_Channel_Deepening/GCo0AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%22baltic%22%20 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 Edition). Athens OH: Ohio University Press, 1994-1999. Weekly Sun, Columbus, GA. “Explosion of the Baltic.” 11-13-1860, p. 2. Accessed 8-9-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/columbus-weekly-sun-nov-13-1860-p-2/