1867 — Jan 17, steamer Platte Valley hits submerged wreck/sinks, MS Riv. ~Memphis, TN–16-50

–>16-50 Blanchard estimated death-toll.*

— ~100 Cincinnati Commercial. “Terrible Calamity. Steamer Platte Valley Sunk…” 1-18-1867, 1.
— ~100 Cultivator & Country Gentleman. “Disaster on the Mississippi.” V. 29, 1-24-1867, p.69.
— ~100 New York Times. “The Old Year. Chronology of 1867,” Jan 1, 1868, p. 2.
— ~ 90 Dodgeville Chronicle, WI. “The South.” 1-31-1867, p. 4, col. 6.
~70 passengers
~20 crew
— 60 Twaintimes, p. 4.
— ~60 Van Wert Weekly Bulletin, OH. “Loss of the Platte Valley.” 1-25-1867, p. 1.
— 50 Memphis Daily Appeal, TN. “Sinking of the Platte Valley.” 1-18-1867, p. 9, col. 4.
— >16 Blanchard. At least 13 passengers and at least three crew — two deck hands; a steward.
— >13 Memphis Daily Appeal. “The Platte Valley Disaster.” 1-19-1867, p. 9, col. 4.**
— 3 Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1952, p. 255.
–“considerable.” Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats… 1999, p. 374.
–“great loss of life.” “Appendix H.” Report of the Secretary of War, p. 378.

* Blanchard estimated death-toll. While we show at least 16 deaths as the low-end of our estimated death toll, we are of the opinion that there were probably many more, based on our reading of the sources below. As for the high-end, while we see no evidence to support the initial speculative reports of approximately 90-100 deaths, we do not think the Memphis Appeal report of 50 deaths of Jan 18 can be dismissed, especially in light of the report by Way of “considerable” loss of life, as well as the report of Col. Macomb of a “great loss of life.” This explains our use of fifty for the high-end of our estimated death toll. We must say we would be more confident in this number if we had been able to locate reports of bodies of people who drowned eventually coming to the surface and found, or discovered in the wreck and reported. We must note, however, that we were unable to locate such reporting.

** Memphis Daily Appeal: “Capt. Blake knows of only thirteen passengers that were drowned…”

Narrative Information

Way: Platte Valley. Sidewheel wood-hull packet, built in 1857 in Jeffersonville, IN, measuring 220 x 33 x 5, with three boilers. “…entered St. Louis-Vicksburg trade, Capt. William H. Blake ….Struck the wreck of the Confederate gunboat Jeff Thompson just below Memphis, Jan. 18, 1867, and tore out her bottom and sides. Sank broadside in the current. Life loss was not accurately determined, but called ‘considerable,’ first estimates said 60.” (Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats of the Mississippi River System…(Revised). 1999, p. 374.)

Newspapers

Jan 17, Cincinnati Commercial: “Memphis, January 17. The steamer Platte Valley, which left here for Vicksburg this afternoon, struck the wreck of a gunboat and sunk almost to the hurricane deck in about three minutes. She was crowded with passengers, a large number of whom were lost. It is estimated by the survivors that one hundred persons were drowned. Among them was Judge McBride, of Monroe County, Missouri; a family of fifteen persons, bound for Texas, were all lost. The steward and about twenty of the crew are believed to be lost. The captain and pilot are safe.

“There were some forty women and children on board, most of whom were lost. A tug passing up took off those who had presence of mind enough to stick by the wreck, and brought them here tonight. It is impossible to obtain full particulars of this distressing calamity to-night.” (Cincinnati Commercial. “Terrible Calamity. Steamer Platte Valley Sunk Near Memphis.” 1-18-1867, p. 1.)

Jan 18, Memphis Daily Appeal: “Another one of those terrible steamboat disasters which of late years have made the Mississippi river a noted graveyard, occurred last evening in sight of this city. Late last evening a tugboat started down the river, having on board a number of pilots for the purpose of sounding the channel. When they reached the rear of President Island, they learned of a most heart-rending accident, which caused the loss of the steamer Platte Valley and the sending of some fifty lives suddenly into eternity. It appears that the Platte Valley passed this point late yesterday afternoon, being heavily loaded and with a large number of passengers, both in cabin and on deck. She was from Cairo, and bound to New Orleans. When she reached near the head of the island she struck the wreck of the Confederate gunboat Jeff. Thomson (which was sunk during the naval engagement opposite this city in 1862) and sank almost instantly. After she struck she swung into the channel and sent down below her hurricane roof. The cabin passengers were at supper at the time, and so quickly did she go down that many did not have time to go on the hurricane roof. One of the passengers told us it was only three minutes going down. It is supposed that some fifty lives were lost, but it many be more or less, for at the hour of writing no accurate estimate can be made. The scene is described as a most heart-rending one that baffles description. The tugboat brought the survivors up to the city, and most of them took passage on the Olive Branch, which left here about eleven o’clock last night. The Platte Valley belonged to the Memphis and St. Louis packet company, and was valued at about $60,000.” (Memphis Daily Appeal, TN. “Sinking of the Platte Valley.” 1-18-1867, p. 9, col. 4.)

Jan 19, Memphis Daily Appeal: “In addition to what we have already stated we have learned the following particulars of the unfortunate sinking of the steamer Platte Valley: It seems that the boat got into the channel of the bend in the usual way, and that the pilot was aware and knew the exact position of the wreck of the Jeff. Thompson, but she took a flank on him striking the sunken gunboat and commenced sinking. The commander, Capt. William H. Blake, who was on the roof at the time, saw the condition of affairs and immediately gave orders to the pilot to round her and go over to the bar, which was obeyed, but too late for any effect, for she sunk before she reached it, going down in four minutes from the time she struck. After ordering the pilot to round to, Capt. Blake went down to the cabin, when he tole Mr. Isaacs, the clerk, to get all the passengers on the hurricane roof. This created the wildest excitement among the passengers, and it was more than Capt. Blake and Mr. Issacs could do to allay their fears. They told them that if they kept cool all would be well, but so wild was the excitement that some of the passengers rushed out of the cabin and threw themselves into the river and were drowned. After sinking, the boat listed so badly to the larboard, that it caused the pilot-house to catch fire from the falling stove. This was put out by Col. Mitchel, Capt. Blake, Mr. Isaacs and others. A light was next seen burning in the cabin, which was broken in through a sky-light, and a lady and a small negro girl were found floating on a table. The mate, Mr. Sullivan, and the pilot, Mr. Jim Hall, neared them, and by this time a couple of skiffs came to the rescue, which took on not only the two parties named, but all the women and children, and landed them on the bank. About this time the tugboat arrived and took on board the remnant of the passengers, and afterward got those on the banks and brought them to the city. Mr. Isaacs knows of two cabin passengers who were lost, an old gentleman and lady who were going to the mouth of White river, but as the register was lost it is very difficult to say how many are among the missing. Capt. Blake knows of only thirteen passengers that were drowned, and among them were two families who were going to the mouth of Red river….” (Memphis Daily Appeal. “The Platte Valley Disaster.” 1-19-1867, p. 9, col. 4.)

Jan 19, Evening Telegraph, Philadelphia: “From the Memphis Argus of Saturday [Jan 19]. The great disaster in the sinking of the steamer Platte Valley proves to be of fully the magnitude we described in yesterday’s issue. As to the number of lives lost, that will never be known while time lasts. The passengers had not been all, or near all, registered, and as to the steerage passengers, there cannot be any correct data. They went aboard as the immense freight was loaded, and no particular notice was taken of he number. The clerk had not taken any of their names….

“The bottom of the boat is supposed to have been torn almost literally off. The water rushed in so fearfully fast that few of those below could go above….

“A gentleman from Arkansas, named Martin, floated two miles down the river on a door, and was picked up by a flatboat. A deck sweeper also floated down about the same distance, and finding he would soon become stiff from cold, abandoned the float and swam to a snag, which he held onto, and from which he was ultimately taken by the flatboat.

“Few only of the cabin passengers are known to have been lost. One ole gentleman and lady bound for the mouth of Red river are missing, and most probably lost. Two of the deck-hands were smothered up or fastened by the falling of a lot of corn, when the boat careened, and thus perished. The others, we understand, escaped….” (Evening Telegraph, Philadelphia, PA. “Sinking of the Platte Valley.” 1-23-1867, p. 1, col. 2.)

Jan 22, Cincinnati Commercial: “….We glean the following details of the Platte Valley disaster from the Republican, of [Jan 22]: From Colonel John Q. Burbridge, who was a passenger on the ill-fated steamer, we learn the particulars of this terrible disaster. Colonel B. states the steamer left Memphis about half-past five o’clock on Thursday evening last, with a full cargo of freight, and her cabin full of passengers, in addition to whom there were from fifty to seventy-five deck passengers. Every thing went on smoothly until about seven o’clock. When the boat was some six or seven miles below the city, everyone was startled by a heavy concussion, and the immediate startling sound of crushing timbers…..As soon as the situation of affairs was understood, the passengers and the crew rushed to the hurricane deck, as the only possible means of escape. Many were unable to reach it, and were drowned….at one time it was thought that all that was left above the water would be burned, and some twenty persons leaped overboard, most of whom were drowned. Through the energetic efforts of some of the men on the roof the flames that threatened destruction to all were subdued. Now came the feat that the boat would go to pieces, and the thoughts of all were turned to the discovery of means by which they could reach the shore; the yawl swinging at the after derrick had hone down with the boat, and the life-boat, when launched, was immediately made way with by a few of the cowardly ‘Rounsters.’ ….Fortunately, however, a small flatboat, to which was attached a skiff, came floating by. The man who had charge of the flat immediately jumped into the skiff and went to the wreck, and immediately commenced carrying the ladies and children to the Arkansas shore, distant about three hundred yards….No estimate as to the loss of life can be made, as the boat had not been out long enough for the clerks to get a full list of those who were on board. The greater portion of the lost were deck passengers, who were on the lower deck and at the stern of the boat; and so rapid was the sinking that before they could possibly reach the stairs at the forward end, they were completely submerged. Of the cabin passengers but few were lost, but no names are given. The officers and crew escaped, with the exception of the steward and a few of the ‘roustabout.’ It is very doubtful if it ever will be known how many lives were lost by the disaster….How the pilot came to strike a wreck, the position of which is known to almost every one that has been in the pilot-house of a steamboat during the past four years, is a question yet to be answered. It is generally asserted that the wreck lies some distance out of the channel and shows a clear and well-defined ‘break.’ The night was clear, with a full moon shining, and the disaster can only be charged to the utmost recklessness of the pilot. If so, it is but justice to humanity that he should be made to suffer the extreme penalty of the law. It is heart-rending to contemplate such wholesale loss of human life, and more especially in this instance, when the circumstances are considered….The colored steward, known as ‘Paper Dick,’ was lost while endeavoring to save his mother-in-law, who was the chambermaid….” (Cincinnati Commercial. “River and Steamboat News….Gleanings from Our Exchanges.” 1-24-1867, p. 7, col. 1-2.)

Jan 25: “From the protest in the case of the Platte Valley, it appears that while James Hall, one of the pilots, was at the wheel, the boat sheered, and before he could control her, ran directly upon the wreck of the Jeff. Thompson, which lifted her partially out of water….” (New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “River News.” 1-25-1867, p. 3, col. 7.)

Jan 26, NYT: “The Memphis papers contain detailed accounts of the sinking of the steamer Platte Valley, about five miles below Memphis, on the evening of the 18th… The steamer arrived at Memphis on the day of the disaster, from St. Louis, en route to Vicksburg, and after taking on a number of passengers and a quantity of freight she left about 5:30 in the evening…. After passing President’s Island, and when about five miles below this city, the Platte Valley came into collision with the wreck of the Confederate gunboat Jeff. Thompson, and a loud and ominous crash was heard….Ladies and children shrieked as they hurriedly left the supper-table, while strong men ran hither and thither, seeking those who were dear to them. All hurried toward the hurricane deck, for the vessel was rapidly sinking in deep water. No one could hurry fast enough, and the struggles to get out of the water were terrible in the extreme. The bottom of the boat is supposed to have been torn almost literally off. The water rushed is so fearfully fast that few of those below could go above…” (New York Times. “The Platte Valley Disaster,” January 26, 1867.)

Jan 31: “The steamer Platte Valley, which left Memphis for Vicksburg on the 17th, struck the wreck of a gunboat and sunk almost to the hurricane deck in about three minutes. She was crowded with passengers, 70 of whom were lost, among whom were Judge McBride, of Monroe county, Mo., and family. The steward and about 20 of the crew are believed to be lost….” (Dodgeville Chronicle, WI. “The South.” 1-31-1867, p. 4, col. 6.)

Jan 1, 1868: “The steamer Platte Valley sunk near Memphis, Tenn., about a hundred persons drowned.” (New York Times. “The Old Year. Chronology of 1867,” Jan 1, 1868, p. 2.)

Sources

Cincinnati Commercial. “Gleanings from Our Exchanges.” 1-24-1867, p. 7, col. 1-2. Accessed 10-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-commercial-jan-24-1867-p-7/

Cincinnati Commercial. “Terrible Calamity. Steamer Platte Valley Sunk Near Memphis. One Hundred Lives Lost.” 1-18-1867, p. 1. Accessed 10-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-commercial-jan-18-1867-p-1/

Cultivator & Country Gentleman, Albany, NY. “Disaster on the Mississippi.” Vol. XXIX, No. 732, 1-24-1867. Accessed 10-16-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Cultivator_and_Country_Gentleman/NqtMAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=steamer+%22platte+valley%22+sinks+near+memphis+january+1867&pg=PA69&printsec=frontcover

Dodgeville Chronicle, WI. “The South.” 1-31-1867, p. 4, col. 6. Accessed 10-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dodgeville-chronicle-jan-31-1867-p-4/

Evening Telegraph, Philadelphia, PA. “Sinking of the Platte Valley.” 1-23-1867, p. 1, col. 2. Accessed 10-16-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-evening-telegraph-jan-23-1867-p-1/

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

Macomb, Colonel J. N. Appendix H. “Report of Colonel J. N. Macomb, Office of Western River Improvements, Cincinnati, Ohio, September 20, 1867.” Report of the Secretary of War. Executive Documents printed by order of The House of Representatives during the Second Session of the Fortieth Congress, 1867-’68. Accessed 10-16-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Congressional_Serial_Set/y4FBAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=steamer+%22platte+valley%22+sinks+near+memphis+january+1867&pg=PA378&printsec=frontcover

Memphis Daily Appeal, TN. “Sinking of the Platte Valley.” 1-18-1867, p. 9, col. 4. Accessed 10-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/memphis-daily-appeal-jan-18-1867-p-9/

Memphis Daily Appeal. “The Platte Valley Disaster.” 1-19-1867, p. 9, col. 4. Accessed 10-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/memphis-daily-appeal-jan-19-1867-p-9/

New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “River News.” 1-25-1867, p. 3, col. 7. Accessed 10-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-albany-daily-ledger-jan-25-1867-p-3/

New York Times. “The Old Year. Chronology of 1867.” 1-1-1868, p. 2. Accessed at: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E0CE4DB1630EE34BC4953DFB7668383679FDE

New York Times. “The Platte Valley Disaster,” January 26, 1867. Accessed at: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9503E6DA103AEF34BC4E51DFB766838C679FDE

Twaintimes. 1857-1867. Accessed at: http://twaintimes.net/page4.html

Van Wert Weekly Bulletin, OH. “Loss of the Platte Valley.” 1-25-1867, p. 1. Accessed 10-16-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/van-wert-weekly-bulletin-jan-25-1867-p-1/

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.