1882 — Dec 6, steamer Morning Star flue collapse/boiler bursts, MS Riv., below N.O., LA–15-17

–15-17 Blanchard estimated death-toll range.*

— 17 McCarty, L.P. (Ed.). McCarty’s Annual Statistician 1885, Vol. 9. “Chronology,” p. 85.
— 16 Galveston Daily News. “New Orleans…Steamboat Boiler Explosion.” 12-7-1882, p1.
— 16 New York Times. “The Morning Star Explosion.” Dec 8, 1882, p. 2.
— 15 Lake Charles Commercial, LA. [Morning Star] 12-9-1882, p. 2, col. 1.
–13-15 Steubenville Weekly Herald, OH. “Boiler Explosion.” 12-8-1882, p. 1, col. 10.
–13 reported dead (10 by drowning, 1 by explosion and 2 from scalding
— 2 “…whose injuries ae reported as fatal.” (Frank Howard and Charles Traites.)
— 14 Centralia Sentinel, IL. “Chronology. Record of the Year 1882.” 12-28-1882, p. 6, col. 4.
— 12 Quincy Daily Herald, IL. “River Calamity…Propeller Morning Star…” 12-7-1882, p. 1.
— 10 Supervising Inspector-Gen. of Steam-Vessels. An. Rpt. [FY] Ended June 30, 1883. p.17.

* Blanchard estimated death-toll range. Given a range of 10-17 deaths reported in sources cited above we have attempted to compile a listing of fatalities found at the end of the Newspapers section. There are eight named fatalities. There the apparent certainty ends. Depending on the source, there were seven to nine deaths of black roustabouts who jumped or were thrown into the river when the boiler burst and scalding water and steam escaped. Several others were said to have gone overboard but did not drown. If we were to accept and use the lower number of seven unidentified roustabout drownings the death-toll would be fifteen. This is the number we use as the low-end of our death-toll estimate. It is also the death-toll announced by the Lake Charles (LA) Commercial on Dec 9, the day before engineer and part-owner Mark Pennywitt succumbed to his scalding injuries.

If we were to accept the reports of nine unidentified black roustabout drownings, the death-toll would be seventeen.

It should also be noted that H. Mennier, a young married man, who was reported to have been aboard, was reported missing and presumed dead several days after the event.

Additionally, two people, Frank Howard and Charles Traites were noted in early reporting to have been (or so it was thought) fatally injured. We, however, have not seen additional reporting of the deaths of either of these men.

Thus, from our compilation effort we are drawn to the conclusion that 15-17 people probably died due to this event. Several quoted sources report similar numbers – either a range of 13-15, or 15, or 16 or 17 (McCarty).

It is possible that we are mistaken and that the estimate of the Supervising Inspector of Steam Vessels was correct in reporting ten deaths, but for this to be the case, then far fewer than the seven to nine black roustabout drowning deaths took place. We should also note that we have “investigated” several hundred maritime events wherein ten or more people died which are noted in the various yearly Supervising General of Steam Vessel reports (as well as preceding and succeeding organizations) and find that this service was not always a reliable source when it comes to fatalities.

Narrative Information

Supervising Inspector-General of Steam-Vessels (U.S.): “December 6. – The steamer Morning Star collapsed a flue in her boiler, whereby eight passengers and two of her crew lost their lives.”
(Supervising Inspector-General of Steam-Vessels (U.S.). Annual Report of…Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1883. 1883, p. 17.)

Newspapers

Dec 6: “Special Telegram to The News. New Orleans, December 6. – The Morning Star is a small steamboat commanded by Captain H. W. Pennywitt, which has been making daily trips to Magnolia plantation, below the city, and return. This morning she left Magnolia plantation at 5 o’clock on her up trip. On board were twenty-one passengers. After running for a little over an hour Belair plantation was reached. Shortly afterward, without any warning, the boat’s boilers exploded, both fore and aft literally parting. The noise of the explosion was not loud. In an instant everything was in confusion. The hot, scalding water was thrown in all directions. Those who escaped scalding jumped overboard, preferring to take their chances of life in that way. There were thirteen of these, ten of whom were drowned. These were Jack Johnson…fireman, and nine negro roustabouts, names unknown.

“The steamboat Sunbeam was at the time of the disaster about 100 yards in front of the Morning Star. As soon as possible she was turned round and headed for the ill-fated boat, rescuing as many people as she could pick up. Among those taken from the water were Engineer Pennywitt, John Ryan and another…man… Pennywitt and Ryan were badly scalded by the escaping steam. Henry Kaiser…was killed by the explosion, and Joseph Simoderin [Simederin ] a…child, and Nancy Gardner [or Gardiner ], colored, were so badly scalded that they died while en route to the city. Among those badly scalded were Mary Miller…passenger, Frank Holt and Wm. Fratz, of the boat’s crew, Nancy Young…and Charles Traites and Frank Howard…passengers. Of these, Howard and Traites are fatally, and Mary Miller dangerously, scalded. Except Frank Howard, all the killed and wounded belong in and around the city….Captain Pennywitt…came up to the city on the Sunbeam, but almost immediately returned to the scene of the disaster in a tugboat. A rumor is current that the two boats were racing when the explosion occurred, but it cannot be traced to an authentic source. It is said that the pressure of steam was so great that the boiler blew out at both ends. The Morning Star was a propeller, about 110 feet long, and was built at Marietta, Ohio. She was owned by the Pennywitt Brothers, one of whom commanded her. One was pilot and the other engineer.” (Galveston Daily News. “New Orleans…Steamboat Boiler Explosion.” 12-7-1882, 1.)

Dec 6: “Boiler Explosion. Ten People Drowned – A Sad Accident.

“New Orleans, December 6. – At 6 o’clock this morning the Morning Star, engaged in the lower coast trade, while coming up the river, and near Bellaire plantation, exploded her boiler. The escaping steam at once enveloped the boat and drove 13 of the crew into the river, and although the bank was not over one hundred yards away, 10 of them were drowned. Engineer Pennywitt, John Ryan and a white passenger, name unknown, were rescued by the crew of the steamer Sunbeam, which fortunately was but a short distance ahead of the Morning Star when the explosion occurred, and immediately came to the relief. The sufferers, Pennywitt and Ryan, were both badly scalded.

“When the confusion attendant upon the explosion had measurably subsided it was found that those who remained on the boat, Henry Kaiser (white) had been killed outright, and an infant, a grandchild of Charles Tratus, and Nancy Gardner, a colored passenger had been so badly scalded that they survived but a short time.

“Among those whose injuries are reported as fatal are Frank Howard and Charles Traites. Upon the arrival of the Sunbeam here, they are sent to the Charity Hospital. Among the badly scalded are Mary Miller and Nancy Young, colored, and Frank Holt and William Frantz, employes of the boat. Of the 10 persons who jumped into the river and were drowned, was Jack Johnson, a white fireman. The others were negro roustabouts.

“There were 21 passengers in all on the Morning Star. Those who were uninjured describe the scene at the time of the explosion as heartrending. Had it not been for the escaping steam, which drove so many of the crew into the river, the list of casualties would have been much reduced, as the explosion was not followed by fire.

“The Morning Star was built at Marietta, O., and was about 110 feet long. She was owned by the Pennywitt brothers, of Manchester, O., one of whom was captain, one pilot and the other the engineer.” (Steubenville Weekly Herald, OH. “Boiler Explosion.” 12-8-1882, p. 1, col. 10.)

Dec 7: “Morning Star Disaster. Caused by Racing With Another Steamer.

“Exclusively to Herald by Associated Press.

“New Orleans, Dec. 7. – Passengers saved from the steamboat Morning Star, which exploded her boilers yesterday, state that she was racing with the Sunbeam when the disaster occurred.” (Steubenville Weekly Herald, OH. “Morning Star Disaster.” 12-8-1882, p. 1, col. 10.)

Dec 7: “New Orleans, Dec. 7. – Frank Holt, of Chattanooga, William Froitus, and Sarah Young…who were badly scalded by the explosion on the Morning Star and were sent to the Charity Hospital, have since died. Of 21 persons on board at the time of the accident only five are now living. It was stated this morning that the Star was racing with the Sunbeam when the explosion occurred.” (New York Times. “The Morning Star Explosion.” Dec 8, 1882, p. 2.)

Dec 9: “Last Tuesday morning, thirty miles below New Orleans, a flue of the boiler of the steamboat Morning Star collapsed scalding five persons to death, ten reported drowned, two badly hurt and a great many injured by scalding.” (Lake Charles Commercial, LA. [Morning Star] 12-9-1882, p. 2, col. 1.)

Dec 9: “A Missing Married Man. Special to The Constitution.

“New Orleans, December 9. – H. Mennier, a young married man, who took passage at Point a la Hache, on the steamer Morning Star, has been missing since the disaster, and is supposed to have perished.” (Atlanta Weekly Constitution, GA. “A Missing Married Man.” 12-12-1882, p. 2, col.2.)

Dec 16: “Mr. Mark Pennywitt, engineer and one of the owners of the little steamer Morning Star, died in New Orleans last Sunday morning [Dec 10] of the injuries he received when the Star collapsed a flue at Belair plantation on Tuesday of last week. A number of our readers became acquainted with the three Messrs. Pennywitt, captain, pilot and engineer of the Star, when the boat was running as a mail packet between Donaldsonville and Baton Rouge, and all who knew them will deeply regret the sad fate that has overtaken one of these estimable and popular gentlemen. The body of the unfortunate engineer has been taken to Cincinnati by his brother, Capt. H. W. Pennywitt, for interment.” (Donaldsonville Chief, Donaldsonville, LA. “Local Jottings.” 12-16-1882, p. 3, col. 2.)

Dec 28: “December….6. – Fourteen persons killed by the bursting of a boiler on the steamer Morning Star near New Orleans.” (Centralia Sentinel, IL. “Chronology. Record of the Year 1882.” 12-28-1882, p. 6, col. 4.)

Fatalities from the Morning Star as Identified in Sources Cited Above

1. Froitus, William, 16 ; died of scalding injuries at Charity hospital, New Orleans.
2. Gardner (or Gardiner), Nancy. Black passenger; died of scald injuries on way to hospital.
3. Holt, Frank, of Chattanooga; died of scalding injuries at Charity hospital, New Orleans.
4. Johnson, Jack Morning Star fireman; jumped overboard and drowned.
5. Kaiser, Henry; “killed by the explosion.”
6. Pennywitt, Mark. Morning Star engineer and part owner; died from scald injuries Dec 10.
7. Simoderin (or Simederin), a child; died of scald injuries on the way to NOLA hospital.
8. Young, Sarah; died of scalding injuries at Charity hospital, New Orleans.
9. Unidentified Morning Star black roustabout, one of nine drowned after going overboard.
10. Unidentified Morning Star black roustabout, 2nd of nine drowned after going overboard.
11. Unidentified Morning Star black roustabout, 3rd of nine drowned after going overboard.
12. Unidentified Morning Star black roustabout, 4th of nine drowned after going overboard.
13. Unidentified Morning Star black roustabout, 5th of nine drowned after going overboard.
14. Unidentified Morning Star black roustabout, 6th of nine drowned after going overboard.
15. Unidentified Morning Star black roustabout, 7th of nine drowned after going overboard.
16. Unidentified Morning Star black roustabout, 8th of nine drowned after going overboard.
17. Unidentified Morning Star black roustabout, 9th of nine drowned after going overboard.

Noted as Missing and Presumed Dead

1. Mennier, H. Missing, presumed dead. Young married man, boarding at Point a la Hache.

Listed as Thought to be Fatally Injured

1. Howard, Frank
2. Traites, Charles.

Sources

Atlanta Weekly Constitution, GA. “A Missing Married Man.” 12-12-1882, p. 2, col. 2. Accessed 1-24-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/atlanta-weekly-constitution-dec-12-1882-p-2/

Centralia Sentinel, IL. “Chronology. Record of the Year 1882.” 12-28-1882, p. 6, col. 4. Accessed 1-23-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-sentinel-dec-28-1882-p-6/

Donaldsonville Chief, Donaldsonville, LA. “Local Jottings.” 12-16-1882, p. 3, col. 2. Accessed 1-24-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/donaldsonville-chief-dec-16-1882-p-3/

Galveston Daily News, TX. “New Orleans…Steamboat Boiler Explosion.” Dec 7, 1882, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=42531957

Lake Charles Commercial, LA. [Morning Star] 12-9-1882, p. 2, col. 1. Accessed 1-24-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lake-charles-commercial-dec-09-1882-p-2/

Library of Congress. “Belair Plantation, Belair, Plaquemines Parish, LA.” Photo, Print, Drawing. Accessed 1-24-2021 at: https://www.loc.gov/item/la0564/

McCarty, L.P. (Ed.). McCarty’s Annual Statistician 1885, Vol. 9. “Chronology,” pp. 51-94. San Francisco and New York City, 1885. Digitized by Google. Accessed 1-22-2021 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=DXsZAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

New York Times. “The Morning Star Explosion.” Dec 8, 1882, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=19724818

Quincy Daily Herald, IL. “River Calamity. The Propeller Morning Star Explodes Her Boiler Near New Orleans. A Dozen Killed, and Many More Severely Injured.” 12-7-1882, p. 1. Accessed 1-24-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/quincy-daily-herald-dec-07-1882-p-1/

Savannah Morning News, GA. “Scalded or Drowned. Explosion on a Mississippi Propeller.” 12-7-1882, p.1, c.4. Accessed 1-24-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/savannah-morning-news-dec-07-1882-p-1/

Steubenville Weekly Herald, OH. “Boiler Explosion.” 12-8-1882, p. 1, col. 10. Accessed 1-23-2018 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/steubenville-weekly-herald-dec-08-1882-p-1/

Steubenville Weekly Herald, OH. “Morning Star Disaster.” 12-8-1882, p. 1, col. 10. Accessed 1-23-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/steubenville-weekly-herald-dec-08-1882-p-1/

Supervising Inspector-General of Steam-Vessels. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector-General of Steam-Vessels (U.S.) to the Secretary of the Treasury for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1883 (dated 10-9-1883). Washington: Government Printing Office, 1883. Accessed 1-22-2021 at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc1.cu09189980&view=1up&seq=169&q1=vernon

The Advertiser-Courier, Hermann, MO. “News Of The Week.” 12-13-1882, p. 1, col. 2. Accessed 1-24-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hermann-advertiser-and-advertiser-courier-dec-13-1882-p-1/

The Somerset Herald, PA. “A Steamboat Horror.” 12-13-1882, p. 2, col. 4. Accessed 1-24-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/somerset-herald-dec-13-1882-p-2/