1871 — Jan 14, Steamboat T. L. McGill burns, Mississippi River, Shoo-Fly Bar, MS –40-58

–40-58 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

— ~75 Bragg. Historic Names and Places on the Lower Miss. River. “Hardin Cutoff,” 1977, 94.
— 58 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 193.
— 58 Greenville Advance, Greenville, PA. “News Summary,” 1-28-1871, p. 4, col. 2.
— 58 Haydn’s Dictionary of Dates and Universal Information (17th Ed.). 1884, p. 758.
— 58 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 686.
— 58 Simonds. The American Date Book. 1902, p. 101.
— 58 US Congress, House. Hearings. “Safety of Life and Property at Sea.” 1935, p. 247.
— 40 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 291.
— ~40 Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam-Vessels. Proceedings of Twentieth… 1872, 192.
— 40 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994. 1994, p. 441.
— ~30 Alton Telegraph, Alton, IL. “Another River Calamity,” Friday, Jan 20, 1871, p. 2.
— ~30 NYT. “Steam-Boat Disaster. A Mississippi Boat Burned on ‘Shoo Fly’,” 1-16-1871, p. 1.
–15-20 Coshocton Age, OH. “Another Steamboat Disaster. Thirty…Lost,” 1-20-1871, p. 2.

* Blanchard estimated death toll. The range of estimated fatalities from usually reliable marine-matters sources is 40 on the low-end and 58 on the high-end. We disregard Bragg, who tends not to be reliable on fatalities. We also disregard the newspaper reports of 15-20 or 40 deaths.

Narrative Information

Berman: “T.L. McGill. St.p. [Steam sidewheel packet]. 598 [tons]. Jan 16, 1872. Burned. Memphis, Tenn. 40 lives lost.” (Berman 1972, p. 291.)

Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam-Vessels: 6th District, Memphis, TN, report: “January 16. – Steamer T. L. McGill burned at Shoofly Bar. This case was investigated by the local board at Memphis, but the captain and numerous other officers having lost their lives, a perfect and satisfactory investigation could not be had. No accident of the same character has occurred since the burning of the Stonewall that will compare with it in regard to loss of life. It was a bitter cold night, the boat had been aground for twenty-four hours or more, and all hands were exhausted and demoralized. The fire probably originated from the deck stove-pipe. The total number of lives supposed to have been lost is about forty. Estimated value of boat and cargo, about $42,000. The boat belonged to the Saint Louis district, and was last inspected there.” (Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam-Vessels. Proceedings…[20th An. Mtng.]…Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam-Vessels… 1872, p. 192.)

Bragg: “On January 16 [sic, 14th], 1871, the steamboat T.L. McGill went aground at Shoo Fly Bar and caught fire. High winds fanned the flames and the boat’s 115 passengers had to jump for their lives. About 75 people lost their lives in the accident.” (Bragg. Historic Names and Places on the Lower Mississippi River. “Hardin Cutoff,” 1977, p. 94.)

Chappell: “1857-’70. T.L. McGill. A large lower-river freight boat. She brought the first locomotive for the Missouri Pacific railroad to Kansas City. Burned in Shoo Fly bend, with great loss of life.” (Chappell, Phil E. “Missouri River Steamboats.” 1906, p. 312.)

Way: “T.L. McGill…Burned near Memphis at Shoo-fly Landing, Jan. 16 [sic, 14th], 1871. The H.M. Yeager rendered aid, and the pilot on the St. Francis saw the light in the night sky and turned back to assist. The life loss was set at 40.” (Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994. 1994, p. 441.)

Newspapers

Jan 15 report, Coshocton Age, OH: “Memphis, January 15. — One of the most fearful of the recently multiplied marine disasters occurred last night at 10 o’clock, on Shoo-Fly Bar, eighty miles below this city. The steamer T. L. McGill, bound from Cairo to New Orleans, and lying aground at the time, about one hundred yards from the Arkansas shore, caught fire below the cabin, on her starboard quarter, aft of the wheel-house. The weather was intensely cold, and a very high wind prevailed, which caused the flames to spread rapidly and baffled all efforts to subdue them.

“Oliver Cottrill, the chief engineer, was sitting in the blacksmith shop when the alarm was given. He got the fire hose attached without a moment’s delay, but all to no purpose. The fire spread with astonishing rapidity toward the forward part of the doomed vessel, driving the passengers and crew before it in great consternation. Mr. Cottrill let the hose drop and rushed to the engine, opened the valves to let off the steam in the boilers, and had his hand burned and hair singed before he could get away from the foot box. He then assisted in casting a number of bales of cotton overboard, one of which he jumped after, and by dint of swimming, holding on with his teeth; while he beat his benumbed fingers to limber them, and after continued struggles he finally made the bank in an exhausted and helpless condition.

“Meantime the remainder of the people on board threw boxes, barrels and every loose object on the decks into the river, for the purpose of giving others, who were compelled to jump overboard, a chance for their lives. The steamer St. Francis and A. J. White were on their way to this city, and eight miles above the burning vessel. Seeing the light of the conflagration, both vessels thought it the McGill on fire, and both turned about and ran for the scene. They arrived inside of twenty minutes, at which time the fire was burning the forward steps of the cabin, while the people remained on board were crowded on the forecastle forward of the capstan. Many were holding on with their hands and hanging at arms-length over the burning steamer’s bow and nosing….

“The White and St. Francis landed above the McGill and sent out their small boats, reaching the scene at the same time with the boats of the Henry C. Yeager, the latter vessel tying below the bar at the time, waiting to come over. All on board were saved by the small boats, but a number that jumped overboard were lost. Some fifteen or twenty are thought to be lost in all, though some of the missing may have been saved after floating down to where the Yeager was lying. In half an hour from the time the fire broke out, the vessel had burned to the water’s edge, and she now lies an unsightly wreck on the bar….

“The T. L. McGill was a side-wheel steamer, built at New Albany, Indiana, in 1857, for the Missouri River trade…She was owned by Captains David Silver and Thomas Shields, of St. Louis, who lost the enlarged steamer Peoria City two years ago, in the Lower Mississippi….” (Coshocton Age, OH. “Another Steamboat Disaster. Thirty…Reported Lost,” 1-20-1871, p. 2.)

Jan 15 report, NYT: “Memphis, Jan 15. – Steamer T. L. McGill, from St. Louis, for New-Orleans, was burned on Shoo Fly Bar at 9 o’clock last night. The fire broke out aft. Owing to a gale prevailing, the flames spread rapidly, and the passengers had barely time to rush to the bow and plunge into the water before the fire was upon them. To add to the horror of the scene the weather was intensely cold, and many who plunged into the river were chilled and sunk to rise no more. The survivors give imperfect and conflicting reports. The boat had been aground for two days and had unloaded 200 tons of her freight in order to get over the bar. She was laden with 900 tons of general merchandise, including pork and coal-oil. Just as the passengers were preparing to retire an alarm of fire was raised, and a general stampede ensued. The steamers St. Francis and Ann White, which had passed her, were several miles above, but, seeing the fire, turned back and arrived in time to render valuable assistance. The H.C. Yerger, lying nearby, also rendered assistance.

“So confused and contradictory are the reports, it is impossible to give an accurate estimate of the number of persons lost, but it is probable that thirty of those on board the steamer when the flames were first discovered are now dead, and that the number includes four women and three children. Thomas F. Evans, a barber, of St. Louis, died soon after he was placed on board the St. Francis, from wounds and exposure. In addition to Capt. Tompkins and William McFarland, the first clerk, who are supposed to be lost, a German and his wife are missing, also a carpenter from St. Louis, who was bound for Greenville, Miss., two women, three children, the colored chamber-maid, and Philip Lock, of Philadelphia, Penn. Mr. Everett, of St. Louis, who came here on the St. Francis, says that a man and his wife, who were cabin passengers, floated past them, holding on to the stage plank. As they went by with the current, the woman said to her husband, ‘I am freezing – let’s die together.’ She then let go the plank, and her husband grasped her, but he was too exhausted to maintain her above the water, and both sunk, locked in each other’s embrace. Cottrell, the engineer, thinks that at least fifteen persons were lost…” (NYT. “Burning of a Steam-boat on the Mississippi,” 1-16-1871, p. 1.)

Jan 20, Alton Telegraph, IL: “On Friday night, the steamer T.L. McGill, which was aground on Shoo-fly bar, near Memphis, caught fire and was totally destroyed with her cargo. About thirty lives are supposed to have been lost…” (Alton Telegraph, IL. “Another River Calamity,” Friday, 1-20-1871, p. 2.)

Jan 20 report, Fort Wayne Gazette: “Missouri. St. Louis, Jan 20….About one thousand dollars was raised at a meeting this noon for the benefit of the suffers by the burning of the steamer McGill, and for the recovery and burial of the bodies of those lost.” (Fort Wayne Daily Gazette, IN. “The Late Disaster,” 1-21-1871, p. 1.)

Feb 1, Algona Upper Des Moines, IA: “Oliver Cottrel’s Statement: I was engineer of the T. L. McGill. The fire did not originate in the engine room, as stated, but started back aft on the star-board quarter, and was caused, I suppose, by the overheating of the deck stove. It broke out about half past nine o’clock. The alarm was given by some of the deck crew. I was sitting in the blacksmith shop when I heard the alarm. I ran out, on finding the boat was on fire and attached the hose to the fire-pump or doctor. Nelson Brown, the second engineer, assisted me in attaching the hose and starting the doctor. Jerry Lory, the assistant engineer, brought the nozzle and rendered assistance. The doctor had just got to work when word came that it was useless to use the fire-pump, the flames having got under full headway. At this time the engine-room was filled with fire and smoke.

“I ran up on the foot box and opened the throttle valve to blow the steam out; doing so my hair was singed, and the side of my face was slightly scorched — nothing serious; I was the last one to
leave the engine-room; in coming down from the foot-box, blinded and choked by the smoke, I fell twice, and lost my bearings — could not tell which way to go, or where I was exactly; in going about I got hold of the slats alongside the boilers, and then I knew my locality; I went to the forecastle, where a crowd was collected; Capt. Thompkin and the first clerk, Mr. McFarlane, was there; McFarlane had the books of the boat under his arm; the captain was throwing barrels and cotton bales overboard for the people to hold to. The pilots, Kelly and Murray, were helping — pitching overboard everything that would float — plank, barrels — everything they could lay hold of. I joined them and helped throw out cotton bales, etc. There were eleven bales of cotton on board, and we heaved them all overboard. George Murray threw over a hook-plank and jumped overboard on a bale cotton. The negroes knocked him and took possession of it. It was a struggle for life — every man for himself, without regard to race, color, or previous condition of servitude, as the politicians say.

“I thought it about time to take care of No. 1, and jumping on a bale of cotton, called on Woodruff’, the second clerk, to jump on. He jumped on like a June bug; the bale careened, and I rolled off into the water, and went splashing under the guard. I floundered around, and, got hold of the bale again, but had hard work to hold on, being almost frozen. I held with my hands as long as I could, when I lost grip from numbness. I seized the bale with my teeth, and stuck to it like grim death to a defunct Ethiopian. While holding by the teeth, bulldog fashion, I tried to restore the circulation to my hands by pounding them violently upon the bale. Can’t tell how long I was in the water — it seemed a century or two — certainly longer than I would like again. It was the coldest bath I ever took. The bale floated down, and when twenty-five feet from shore, a yawl from the Henry C. Yeager came along, and I was hauled in, like a frozen turtle from a dead log. I was as stiff as a poker, and they rolled me into the yawl like a coil of cable, my legs hanging over the sides. They put me ashore and started off, and Woodruff and another man helped me crawl on board the Yeager, where I procured dry clothing and had myself thawed out. My fingers were frost bitten, and I was as cold as a turnip. I was kindly treated on the Yeager, and, in fact, everywhere. I live in St. Louis, and feel thankful for my escape.

“Captain Bowman’s Statement. Captain Thomas Bowman, of the steamer St. Francis, says his boat was lying at O. K. Landing, almost three miles above Shoo Fly bar, taking on freight. He saw the fire on board of the McGill shortly after it broke forth. He backed the St. Francis away from the landing as soon as possible, but had to heave slowly over the shoal water between where he lay and the main channel. The St. Francis arrived at the burning steamer in twenty or twenty-five minutes after the first fire broke forth. She rounded to under the stern, and to the windward of the McGill, and worked up next to the Arkansas shore holding out in the river and sending her yawl to save the people in the water and on the burning vessel. Captain Bowman directed his men to take the yawl on the starboard side of the burning steamer, and to keep its stern down-stream and back it toward the McGill’s forecastle, while the people got aboard; also, to be careful not to overload it. The directions were well carried out, and a boat load of people was brought off before the arrival of the steamer A. J. White. Several persons standing on the McGill’s forecastle were taken off on ‘the first trip of the yawl in this way. In the meantime, the St. Francis worked herself slowly into the Arkansas shore, where Captain Bowman found the yawl of the McGill. It had been taken ashore soon after the fire broke out by a part of the deck crew, and was lying idle at the bank, with no one on board. Captain Bowman had it manned at once, and with it saved a number of people. Two negroes and two Mexicans were seen by Captain Bowman holding to the hull straps under the larboard forward guard of the McGill’s forecastle. The wind forced the blazing fire down upon them, while the eddying current prevented the boats from reaching them, and they were either drowned or burned to death. The St. Francis stayed near the burning wreck until one o’clock in the morning, the White having left half an hour before. She arrived at our levee after dark Sunday night, bringing the following people: Mr. Hazel, barkeeper on the McGill; Geo. Correll, first cook; Thomas Evans…barber — taken out of the water insensible, and died a few minutes after getting aboard of the St. Francis.

“Captain Bowman states that a cypress raft was lying aground on the head of Shoo Fly bar, some four hundred yards below where the McGill was aground. She had two light skiffs, which were manned at once and sent to the burning steamer. Some eighteen persons or more were taken out safely with these two small skiffs, all of whom went on board of the H.C. Yeager, lying at the bank below the bar, or to houses in the vicinity, where they found shelter and raiment. These raftsmen deserve unlimited praise for their unremitting and skillful efforts in saving the wrecked people. They accomplished more than any others who attempted to succor or save them.” (Algona Upper Des Moines, IA. “The McGill Disaster,” Feb 1, 1871, p. 1, col. 8.)

Sources

Algona Upper Des Moines, IA. “The McGill Disaster.” 2-1-1871, p. 1, col. 8. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=124461969

Alton Weekly Telegraph, IL. “Another River Calamity,” Friday, 1-20-1871, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=115302989

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

Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam-Vessels. Proceedings of the Twentieth Annual Meeting of the Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steam-Vessels, held at Washington, D.C., January, 1872. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1872. Accessed 11-1-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Proceedings_of_the_Twentieth_Annual_Meet/PHq2xqMdSJAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=t%20l%20mcgill

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

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

Coshocton Age, OH. “Another Steamboat Disaster. Thirty Lives Reported Lost,” 1-20-1871, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=12246238

Fort Wayne Daily Gazette, IN. “The Late Disaster” [Steamer McGill Fire], 1-21-1871, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=43531157

Greenville Advance, PA. “Another Frightful Disaster,” 1-28-1871, p. 4, col. 3. Accessed 11-1-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/greenville-advance-jan-28-1871-p-4/

Greenville Advance, Greenville, PA. “News Summary,” 1-28-1871, p. 4, col. 2. Accessed 11-1-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/greenville-advance-jan-28-1871-p-4/

Haydn’s Dictionary of Dates and Universal Information Relating to All Ages and Nations (17th Ed.). NY: Harper & Brothers, 1884. Digitized by Google. Accessed 11-1-2020 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=Dys-AAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&hl=en#v=onepage&q&f=false

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.

New York Times. “Burning of a Steam-boat on the Mississippi,” 1-16-1871, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=19714939

New York Times. “Steam-Boat Disaster. A Mississippi Boat Burned on ‘Shoo Fly’ Bar—Passengers Compelled to Leap Overboard – Thirty Persons Supposed to be Drowned—Names of Some of the Lost and Saved,” 1-16-1871, p. 1. Accessed at: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D00EFDA133EEE34BC4E52DFB766838A669FDE

Simonds, W. E. (Editor). The American Date Book. Kama Publishing Co., 1902, 211 pages. Google digital preview accessed 9-8-2017 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JuiSjvd5owAC

United States Congress, House of Representatives. Hearings Before the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, United States Congress (74th Congress, 1st Session). “Safety of Life and Property at Sea.” Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1935. Accessed 8-9-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Safety_of_Life_and_Property_at_Sea/l9xH_9sUuVAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq

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.