1882 – July 16, Steamer John Wilson snags/sinks, Atchafalaya Riv., Richard’s Lndg, LA– 15

–15 Portland Daily Press, ME. “Struck on a Snag. Sinking of the John Wilson…” 7-21-1882, 1.
–15 Supervising Inspector-Gen. of Steam-Vessels. An. Rpt. …Year Ended June 30, 1883. p. 16.
–15 USACE, NOLA Dist. Cultural Resources Investigations…Atchafalaya Basin, [LA]. 1990, p. 41.

Narrative Information

Supervising Inspector-General of Steam-Vessels (U.S.): “Tenth District….July 16, 1882. – The steamer John Wilson struck a snag on the Atchafalaya river, and sunk, whereby three passengers and twelve of her crew were drowned.” (Annual Report of…Year Ended June 30, 1883. p. 16.)

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: “Several steamer lines serviced the Atchafalaya and Teche regions during the nineteenth century….Tragically in 1882 the John Wilson struck a snag and sank at Richards Landing on the Atchafalaya and 14 persons lost their lives.” (USACE, New Orleans District. Cultural Resources Investigations, cross Basis Channel Realignments, Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana. December 1990, p. 41.)

Newspaper

July 20: “Struck On A Snag. Sinking of the John Wilson at Richards’ Landing, Tenn. [sic, LA ]. Fifteen Lives Lost – Details Of The Accident.

“New Orleans, July 20. — Clerk Charles Bachins and Captain Jobin, of the ill-fated Atchafalaya steamer John Wilson, reached here yesterday evening, and give the following particulars of the loss of the boat: The Wilson left Washington Sunday morning, and was just backing out from Richards’ Lauding that same night about half-past eleven o’clock when she struck a snag.

“Captain Jobin, who was in the cabin at the time, says the shock was so slight that he had no idea anything serious had occurred. Immediately after the cry was raised that the boat was sinking, and he hurried at once to the cabin with life preservers to assist a lady who had a number of children aboard. It was then announced that all danger had passed. Captain Jobin found the steamer careened over, and on reaching the boiler deck be was immersed waist deep in the water. Struggling through this he managed to reach the hurricane deck, and from there made his way to the paddle boxes. He could see nobody, as the night was very dark, but could hear the cries of those who were clinging to the wreck. In the meanwhile the line made fast to the shore parted and the steamer swung out into the stream.

“Every effort was made by the unfortunate passengers to reach the land. Some attempted to swim and must have been drowned. Others saved themselves by life-preservers, planks, doors, shutters, or anything they could get hold of. As the boat floated down stream she lay with her larboard side above water, and this was the means of saving many who otherwise would have been lost. Afterward two of the Wilson’s boats-were launched from the hurricane deck, and some skiffs came from the shore and rescued all that could be found on the wreck. The steamer floated down to the crossing of the Pacific railroad, a short distance above Churchville. and went to pieces against some trees.

“The officers of the boat stated that there were about one hundred persons all told on board at the time of the accident. There were about 20 deck passengers, and about 20 persons in the cabin. There were only two lady passengers aboard, and both are saved. One of these, Mrs. Leblanc, of Poplar Grove parish, St. Landry, had eight children with her, the oldest a boy not over 12 years of age. Six of the children were saved, and two lost: one a boy of about four years, and a baby girl only two and a half months old. The latter was last seen in the arms of the second chambermaid, who was holding it aloft and struggling, up to her shoulders in the water, determined, apparently, to save the child if she could. Both are among the missing and are undoubtedly lost. Besides these, the following are among the missing, and in all probability were drowned: B. F. Hess, the first engineer; Frank Henderson, colored cook; Edward Keed, roustabout; and one white deck passenger whose name is unknown. The body of the latter floated out of the boat a few minutes before she went to pieces. Four other bodies, not yet identified, have been discovered near the railroad crossing.

“Later. New Orleans, July 20. – The clerk of steamboat John Wilson, which stuck and sunk in Atchafalaya river Sunday night, reports a loss of 15 lives.” (Portland Daily Press, ME. 7-21-1882, p. 1.)

Sources

Portland Daily Press, ME. “Struck On A Snag. Sinking of the John Wilson at Richards’ Landing… Fifteen Lives Lost – Details Of The Accident.” 7-21-1882, p. 1. Accessed 1-23-2021 at: https://www.gastearsivi.com/gazete/portland_daily_press/1882-07-21/1

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

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District. Cultural Resources Investigations, cross Basis Channel Realignments, Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana (Final Report). December 1990. Accessed 1-23-2021 at: https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a239448.pdf