1884 — Aug 29, steamer Belmont capsizes, high wind, Ohio Riv., 3m ~Henderson, KY-13-17

–13-17 Blanchard estimated death-toll range.*

–20-25 New York Times. “A Storm’s Fatal Violence.” 8-30-1884, p. 1, col. 1.
–7->20 New York Times. “The Evansville Disaster.” Aug 31, 1884, p. 5.
— 17 Weekly Breeze, Monroeville, IN. “Lost in a Fierce Gale.” 9-4-1884, p1; datelined Aug 30.
— 16 Evening Gazette, Monmouth, IL. “The River Disaster.” 9-1-1884, p. 1, col. 2.*
— 16 Palo Alto Reporter, Emmetsburg, IA. “The Year’s Record.” Jan 2, 1885, p. 3.
–12-15 Evening Gazette, Monmouth, IL. “The River Disaster.” 9-1-1884, p. 1, col. 2. (text)
— 15 Indianapolis Journal, IN. “The Loss Of The Belmont.” 9-1-1884, p. 7, col. 5.
— 15 Waterloo Courier, IA. “By Water and Fire. A Day of Frightful Disasters.” 9-3-1884, p2.
— 14 Evening Gazette, Monmouth, IL. “The River Disaster.” 9-1-1884, p. 1, col. 2. (headline)
— >14 Hopkinsville Semi-Weekly South Kentuckian. “Down to Death.” 9-2-1884, p. 4, col. 2.
— 14 Terre Haute Express, IN. “The Disaster at Evansville…Along the Ohio River.” 8-31-1884, 1.
— 13 Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “The Steamer Belmont Disaster.” 9-1-1884, p. 8, col. 2.
–11 recovered bodies
— 2 bodies reported to be still in the wreck
— >13 Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 113.
— 13 Supervising Inspector-General of Steamboats (US). Annual Report…1885, 1885, p. 11.
–12 passengers
— 1 crew (Capt. John Smith)
— 13 US Life-Saving Service. Annual Report of…for the [FY] 1885. Table 64. 1886, p. 359.

* Blanchard estimated death-toll range. It is clear to us that there were at least thirteen deaths. This is the number of fatalities reported by the Supervising Inspector-General of Steamboats (US), as well as by the U.S. Lifesaving Service. Our own attempt to compile a listing of people noted in newspaper reporting at the time, comes to sixteen people identified as fatalities, two others, a Mr. and Mrs. Phifer (or an elderly couple) noted as “supposed lost,” and one person reported as a fatality (Laura Morton), for which we have seen but one source, and thus do not include in our tally in the compilation.

From our compilation of fatalities eleven represent bodies recovered in multiple sources, with another (Mrs. Woodville) reported as recovered in only one source we have seen. As of Sep 1, two bodies were being reported as still in the wreck – for a total of thirteen or fourteen (Mrs. Woodville).

Several accounts note the death of an African American girl by the name of Alice Bell. We have not seen reporting of the recovery of her body, though it is possible that she was the “unidentified black child” whose body was still in the wreck as of Sept 1. It was the case that her grandmother, a Mrs. Hamilton, was also reported to be a fatality, and that her body was still in the wreck as of Sept 1.

This leaves three people, above 13-14 identified as bodies recovered (11-12 recovered bodies, and two reported “still in the wreck” as of Sept 1.) These three are the child of Mrs. Woodville and Mr. and Mrs. Phifer, or the unnamed elderly couple reported as boarding the boat shortly before its departure. If these three people were indeed fatalities, then the total number of deaths would be seventeen. However, we have not been able to confirm to our satisfaction that these are facts.

If the compilation we show at the end (just before the Sources section) is correct seventeen fatalities, not including one report of the death of a Laura Morton, which we have not been able to confirm, and which we therefore do not include in the compilation tally.

*Evening Gazette, Blanchard note: Though the sub-title to this article notes fourteen deaths, and twelve to fifteen in the text, our count of known and presumed fatalities totals to sixteen, though at least one of these looks to be questionable.

Narrative Information

Grazulis: “At least 13 people were drowned, five miles ‘below’ Evansville, on the Ohio River, when high winds capsized the steamer Belmont. Wind damage in Evansville totaled about $250,000, with several deaths.” (Grazulis. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991. 1993, p. 113.)

Supervising Inspector-General of Steamboats: “August 29. – The steamer Belmont, en route from Evansville to Henderson, Ky., was struck by a storm and capsized. Twelve passengers were drowned, as was also Capt. John Smith, master of the vessel, who lost his life endeavoring to save the lives of his passengers.” (Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector-General of Steamboats [US]…for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1885, 1885, p. 11.)

Newspapers

Aug 29: “A Storm’s Fatal Violence. A River Steamboat Capsized On The Ohio. Twenty Or Twenty-Five Of Her Passengers Drowned And Others Barely Escaping With Their Lives.

“Nashville, Tenn., Aug. 29. – The steamer Belmont, which sank at a point three miles above Henderson, KY., about 9:30 this morning, during a storm, had on board a number of passengers of the Henderson Division of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, besides several local passengers bound for Henderson. The boat, which was a large new one, had in tow two barges, on which were six cars. The storm, which came upon the steamer suddenly, capsized her before the officers could take any precautions, and she went down in the middle of the river. The barges broke loose and drifted to the shore, enabling those on board of them to escape. Conductor Wood, of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, swam ashore, and was with difficulty revived. The train crew was on the barges.

“It is estimated that from 20 to 25 persons were drowned, including Capt. John Smith, commander of the Belmont, and 5 ladies and 3 children. As soon as the facts were known that a disaster had befallen the steamer, the railroad authorities at Henderson took steps to recover the bodies of the passengers. The steamer Iron Cliff was sent to the scene, and the bodies of Mrs. Hattie M. Murray, of Mobile, Ala., and her child, also that of an unknown elderly lady, were recovered. When found Mrs. Murry had her baby, only 6 months old, in her arms. She had been on a visit to friends in Osage, Kan., and was to have met her husband in Nashville. Mr. Murray arrived here to-day, and upon hearing of the accident telegraphed to Henderson and was informed of the sad fate of his wife and child. He left here this afternoon on a special train for Henderson, where the bodies are in charge of an undertaker.

“Owing to the fact that Capt. Smith was drowned, it is impossible to ascertain the names of the lost. Dorsey C. Pierce, agent at Nashville of the Adams and Southern Express Companies, and his daughter, Miss Anna, were on the boat, but managed to escape with their lives….the storm has been prevailing nearly all day between Henderson and Nashville, prostrating the wires…

“Dorsey C. Pierce, one of the passengers, informed The Time’s correspondent that when he and his daughter left Evansville, at 7:50 o’clock, the weather was perfectly calm, there being no sign of a storm. They had only been out a short time when a heavy wind came up. A black cloud appeared in the northeast, containing a great deal of wind but very little lightning. The wind first blew from the northwest toward the front of the steamer. It then blew down the river. The steamer tried to go toward the Indiana side, where it could hug the shore and be sheltered from the gale. This could not be done, and the wind struck the boat full in the side. The fastenings connecting her with the barges broke and she turned over and sank….Two drummers and three of the boat’s crew were saved by sticking to the upper side of the steamer and getting upon its bottom. They were brought ashore in skiffs. The barge, upon which the cars were placed was blown into the Kentucky shore and was made fast to the shore.

“It was ascertained from another passenger that Miss Francis Martin, sister of Mrs. Murray, was one of the victims. Mr. Bradley said that the barge had two passenger coaches, an express car, a mail car, and three freight cars. When the storm came up the steamer began to rock to such an extend that both of her pilots went to the wheel. There was much confusion on board. ‘Finally the wind grew fiercer, and, standing on the barge, I looked around and saw that the boat had disappeared. The storm had then lasted about 40 minutes, and in 10 minutes more it was over. The passengers were not frightened much until the smokestack of the Belmont was blown to the deck by the wind.’ ” (New York Times. “A Storm’s Fatal Violence.” 8-30-1884, p. 1, col. 1.)

Aug 30: “Nashville, Aug. 30. – Great excitement still prevails at Henderson, Ky., on account of the sinking of the steamer Belmont. The scene of the disaster was visited to-day by thousands of persons from Evansville, Henderson, and surrounding towns who watched with eagerness the attempts that were made to recover the bodies of the passengers who went down in the terrible gale yesterday….

“J. G. Murray, Secretary of the Brierfield (Ala.) Coal and Iron Company, arrived at Henderson this morning, and identified the bodies of his wife and child, who were found late last evening. He will remain until the corpse of his sister-in-law, Miss Francis Martin, is recovered….

“The body of Miss Laura Lyon, who, with her mother and married sister, Mrs. Bryan (all of Evansville, Ind.,), perished, was brought to Henderson this afternoon and placed in charge of an undertaker.

“The divers have been laboring assiduously all day, and have experienced considerable difficulty on account of the Belmont lying on her side and her two decks being jammed together. It is supposed that the cabin, in which nearly all the passengers took refuge during the storm, was crushed and the victims so pinned down that they could make no effort to escape.

“It is thought by the railroad and steamboat officers that the number of the dead will not exceed 15, but there are reports that at least 20 found a watery grave….The train crew urged the passengers to go on the barge, but when they started it was too late, and only two escaped by clinging to the chains after they had leaped into the river….Capt. Smith and Pilot McKay remained at their posts and went down with the boat, but the latter struggled from under the wreck and crawled upon the upturned steamer, from which he was rescued….” (New York Times. “The Evansville Disaster.” Aug 31, 1884, p. 5.)

Aug 30: “The Disaster at Evansville and Along the Ohio River.
“Later Reports Increase the Loss to Property – The Sinking of the Transfer Steamer.

“Lost and Saved. Special Dispatch to the Indianapolis News.

“Evansville, Ind., August 30. – The Belmont was in the transfer business between Henderson and Evansville….When four miles north of Henderson the wind struck the boat, and the barge and the steamer were separated. About twenty passengers and the crew were on the boat at the time of the disaster. All the crew escaped except Captain John A. Smith. The passengers drowned are Mrs. M. A. Lyon and daughters, Mrs. Sallie Bryant and Laura Lyon; Mr. E. C. Roach and son, all of Evansville; Mrs. Woodville and child, of Henderson; Mrs. Addie Murray and child, of Brookville, Ala.; Alice Bell, colored, and two other colored women, names unknown; also an unknown man and his wife, who had just gone on the boat to get breakfast….The bodies of Mrs. Lyon, Mrs. Woodville, and Mrs. Addie Murray and child have been recovered.” (Terre Haute Express, IN. “The Disaster at Evansville and Along the Ohio River.” 8-31-1884, p. 1.)

Aug 31: “The River Disaster. Particulars of the Sinking of the Steamer Belmont. Struck by a Tornado She Capsizes – Fourteen Persons Drowned – Effects of the storm at Evansville..

“Evansville, Ind., Aug 31 – A terrific storm visited this portion of the Ohio river valley in the morning, during which the steamer Belmont, the transfer boat between this city and Henderson, Ky., was entirely destroyed, carrying down to a watery grave some twelve or fifteen persons. The steamer left this city at 7 o’clock, having a number of passengers on board, also towing a barge containing two passenger coaches for the Louisville & Nashville road, containing about sixty passengers. Those in the cars were mostly through passengers, while those on the boat were nearly all Evansville people. When about five miles below the city the storm, which came on very suddenly, struck the boat, but she bravely weathered the fury of rain and wind, the pilot being able to hold her in the channel. The boat ran about four or five miles during the storm, and was about three miles from Henderson, just above Towhead island when the fury of the storm capsized her, breaking her loose from the barge. The steamer was blown clear over, bottom-side up, and went down in two minutes after. The startling suddenness of the accident prevented those on board from any opportunity to get on the barge. The water came down in perfect sheets, and the combined power of rain and wind was irresistible. When the boat went down all those in the cabin was drowned.
Names Of The Victims.

“The lost are Mrs. M. S. Lyon, of Evansville, and her two daughters, Miss Laura Lyon and Mrs. Sallie Bryan, who were en route to Madisonville, Ky.; E.C. Roach, a merchant of Evansville, and his son, Keen Roach, 7 years old; Capt. John H. Smith, master of the steamer Belmont, also of Evansville; Mrs. Addie Murray and child, of Brookville, Ala.; Mrs. Wookville, of Henderson, Ky.; Alice Bell (colored), of Evansville; also two other colored women from Evansville, names unknown. It is also supposed that a gentleman named Phifer, with his wife, were lost. They had been visiting Jacob Kuhn, of this city, a salesman for Mackey, Neshet & Co., and went on the Belmont at the city wharf. They reside in New Orleans….” (Evening Gazette, Monmouth, IL. “The River Disaster…Belmont.” 9-1-1884, p. 1, col. 2.)

Sep 1: “The Loss Of The Belmont.”
“The latest information from the wreck of the steamer Belmont, sunk in the Ohio river near Evansville during the storm of Friday, shows a list of fifteen persons lost, as follows:

John A. Smith, captain of the steamer.
Mrs. M. S. Lyon, Miss Laura Lyon, Mrs. Sallie Bryant, E.C. Roach and his son, all of Evansville.
Mrs. Woodville and her child, of Henderson, Ky.
Mrs. Addie Murray and child, of Brookville, Ala.
Alice Bell, colored, and two other unknown colored women.
An unknown man and his wife.

“Six bodies have been recovered, as follows: Mrs. Murray, of Brookfield, Ala., and babe; Capt. J. A. Smith, commander of the steamer; Mrs. M.S. Lyon and her two daughters. Diver Hill will arrive in the morning and go to the wreck. It is thought there are several more bodies in the cabin. A Mrs. Hay, of Owensboro, is missing, and her body is thought to be in the wreck. Mr. Hay says his wife’s niece, a young lady nineteen years old, accompanied her, and is lost….” (Indianapolis Journal, IN. “The Loss Of The Belmont.” 9-1-1884, p. 7, col. 5.)

Sep 1: “The Steamer Belmont Disaster. Seven Bodies Recovered from the Wreck – Names of the Unfortunates.

“Evansville, Ind., September 1.

“The tug Isabella has arrived from the wreck of the steamer Belmont. Five bodies were taken out to-day, making eleven bodies in all recovered. It is thought that all the white bodies have teen taken out. There is still a colored woman and a colored child in the wreck. The bodies recovered are those of Mrs. Murray and child; Miss Murray, of Brookfield, Ala.; Mrs. Matthew Lyon and daughters, Laura and Sallie; E.C. Roach and son; a colored girl, named Lucy Fletcher; Captain John Smith, of this city, and Mrs. William Hay, of Owensboro. A careful comparison of the sale of tickets on the railroad and boat makes it nearly certain that only a colored woman and girl remain in the wreck. The diver, Hiram Hill, is at the wreck, and if the river does not get too high he will commence at once the work of saving thee machinery and hull of the boat. The river is rising fast.” (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “The Steamer Belmont Disaster.” 9-1-1884, p. 8, col. 2.)

Sep 2: “Down to Death.

A Storm Strikes the Transfer Belmont, Near Henderson, Ky. And Sinks Her with a Cargo of Human Freight.

Fourteen Lives Known to be Lost and Probably More Will be Found in the Wreck.

“At 8 o’clock Friday morning the Nashville train was run on to the barge transfer at Evansville, and started on the fifteen miles trip down the Ohio river to Henderson, Ky. The barge was broad and long, and had on it a baggage and two passenger cars and three heavily laden freight cars, under the control of Conductor C.L. Wood, of the Louisville and Nashville road. The barge was drawn by the tug Belmont, Captained by Mr. Jno. H. Smith of Evansville, and was closely connected with the towed barge by huge ropes. When Evansville was left the sky was blue, the air cool and bracing, but by 9 o’clock a dark cloud appeared to the northeast, and in a few moments a fearful storm had come up and the waves mounted high up against the tug. The passengers pale in the sight of the awful danger, began to leave the boat and go on the cars on the barge, but a number remained, thinking one place as safe as another. Finally a mighty billow struck the Belmont amidships, and it broke loose and was wheeled over into the angry waves.

“A few agonized screams, a few forms struggling beneath the resistless hand of death as the waters closed above them, the crash of the smokestack as it snapped from the boat, and the tug lay bottom upward in the midst of the seething billows. Capt. Jno. H. Smith and thirteen others had sunk to rise no more.

“The barge was held down by heavy freight cars on the windward side and slowly drifted to the Kentucky shore and anchored on a sand-bar. A newsboy went ashore, procured a horse and carried the news to Henderson.

“When the boat went down, all on board, excepting five souls, were lost. One man, a drummer, as it went down threw off his coat, leaped into the river and swam to the Indiana shore. The pilot, the fireman and two drummers climbed up on the wreck and were rescued when the relief boat arrived. The following is a list of the drowned.

Capt. Jno. H. Smith, Evansville.
Mrs. Matt S. Lyon, Evansville.
Mrs. Sallie Bryan,
Miss Laura Lyon, her daughters.
E.C. Roach and little son, Keen, Evansville.
Mrs. J.G. Murray and baby, Brookville, Ala.
Mrs. Woodville, of Henderson, Ky.
Mrs. Hamilton, col. And two colored girls about 12 years old.

“These twelve in all, are known to have been lost, and it is believed several more went down with the wreck.

“None of the crew, except Capt. Smith, was drowned.

Rescuing The Bodies.

“Up to yesterday the following bodies had been recovered:

Mrs. Lyon and her daughters, Miss Lyon, and Mrs. Bryan. The latter was the wife of Mr. John Bryan, Jr., formerly of this city.

Mrs. Addie Murray and child. Her husband arrived and recognized the body of his wife Saturday. He stated that Mrs. Murray’s niece, 19 years old, was with her and must be lost.

Capt. Smith, captain of the Belmont.

Mr. E.C. Roach and his little son were brought up Sunday.

“The bottom of the capsized boat was blown out, and Hiram Hill, the celebrated diver, was sent for.

“A man names Hay, who expected to meet his wife at Henderson, believes she was lost, as she had left Owensboro the day before….

The Latest.

“The search for the bodies continued Sunday, and the following were found:

Miss Hattie Murray, Mr. J. G. Murray’s niece.
Lucy Fletcher, colored girl.
Mrs. W.H. Hay, the young woman supposed to have been lost.
….All of these were recovered by Hill, the diver.

“The bodies of Mrs. Woodville, Mrs. Hamilton, col., and her grand-daughter, Alice Bell, had not been found up to yesterday….” (Hopkinsville Semi-Weekly South Kentuckian. “Down to Death.” 9-2-1884, p. 4, col. 2.)

Sep 3: “A hurricane swept over Evansville, Ind., on the morning of the 29th, unroofing hundreds of houses, mills, factories, warehouses, stores, etc., and in many instances whole houses were blown down. The loss was estimated at $250,000. The transfer steamer Belmont, bound for Henderson, Ky., and freighted with a train of cars, was sunk by the gale, and fifteen lives were lost.” (Waterloo Courier, IA. “By Water and Fire. A Day of Frightful Disasters.” 9-3-1884, p. 2.)

Jan 2, 1885: “Transfer steamer Belmont sunk in a storm near Evansville, Ind.; sixteen lives lost.” (Palo Alto Reporter, Emmetsburg, IA. “The Year’s Record.” Jan 2, 1885, p. 3.)

Named Fatalities from the Capsizing of the Steamer Belmont

1. Bell, Alice (black) Evansville, IN still in wreck as of Sept 1?
2. Bryan, Mrs. Sallie, daughter of Mrs. Lyon. Evansville, IN body recovered
3. Fletcher, Lucy, black girl body recovered
4. Hamilton, Mrs., grandmother of Alice Bell (black). still in wreck as of Sept 1
5. Hay, Mrs. William M. (or John ) Owensboro, KY body recovered
6. Lyon, Mrs. Sarah (wife of Matthew) Evansville, IN body recovered
7. Lyon, Laura, daughter of Mrs. Lyon Evansville, IN body recovered
Morton, Laura Briarfield, AL
8. Murray, Mrs. Addie (of Hattie) Brookfield (or Mobile), AL body recovered
9. Murray, child (infant, 6 months) of Mrs. Murray Brookfield, AL body recovered
10. Murray, Miss Francis (sister of Mrs. Murray. Brookfield, AL body recovered
11. Roach, E. C. Evansville, IN body recovered
12. Roach, Keen, 7, son of E.C. Evansville, IN body recovered
13. Smith, Captain John H. Evansville, IN body recovered
14. Woodville, Mrs. Henderson, KY body recovered
15. Woodville, child of Henderson, KY
Unidentified black child (Alice Bell?) ? still in wreck as of Sept 1

Noted as “supposed” to be lost

1. Phifer, Mr.? (Noted as supposed loss.) New Orleans, LA
2. Phifer, Mrs.? (Noted as supposed loss.) New Orleans, LA

Sources

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “The Steamer Belmont Disaster.” 9-1-1884, p. 8, col. 2. Accessed 1-26-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brooklyn-daily-eagle-sep-01-1884-p-8/

Evening Gazette, Monmouth, IL. “The River Disaster…Belmont.” 9-1-1884, p. 1, col. 2. Accessed 1-26-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/monmouth-evening-gazette-sep-01-1884-p-1/

Grazulis, Thomas P. Significant Tornadoes 1680-1991: A Chronology and Analysis of Events. St. Johnsbury, VE: Environmental Films, 1993, 1,326 pages.

Hopkinsville Semi-Weekly South Kentuckian. “Down to Death.” 9-2-1884, p. 4, col. 2. Accessed 1-26-2021: https://newspaperarchive.com/hopkinsville-semi-weekly-south-kentuckian-sep-02-1884-p-4/

Indianapolis Journal, IN. “The Loss Of The Belmont.” 9-1-1884, p. 7, col. 5. Accessed 1-26-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/the-indianapolis-journal-sep-01-1884-p-7/

Jerome, Brenda Joyce. “Sinking of the Belmont 1884.” Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog. 6-18-2009. Accessed 1-27-2021 at: http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/2009/06/sinking-of-belmont-1884.html

New York Times. “A Storm’s Fatal Violence.” 8-30-1884, p. 1, col. 1. Accessed 1-26-2021 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1884/08/30/issue.html

New York Times. “The Evansville Disaster.” 8-31-1884, p. 5. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=19730680

Palo Alto Reporter, Emmetsburg, IA. “The Year’s Record.” Jan 2, 1885, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=153587846

Republican Progress, Bloomington, IN. “Ingulfed By The Ohio. Terrible Work Wrought by a Hurricane Near Henderson, Ky.” 9-10-1884, p. 1, col. 6. Accessed 1-27-2021 at: https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=BPR18840910.1.1&e=——-en-20–1–txt-txIN——-

Supervising Inspector-General of Steamboats. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector-General of Steamboats (U.S.) to the Secretary of the Treasury for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1885 (Treasury Department Document No. 759, Steamboat Inspection, dated 11-14-1885). Washington: Government Printing Office, 1885. Accessed 1-26-2021 at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=nnc1.cu09189980&view=1up&seq=51

Terre Haute Express, IN. “The Disaster at Evansville and Along the Ohio River.” 8-31-1884, p.1
Accessed 1-27-2021 at: https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=DWE18840831.1.1&e=——-en-20–1–txt-txIN——-

United States Life-Saving Service. Annual Report of the Operations of the United States Life-Saving Service for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 1885. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1886. Accessed 1-27-2021 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=ZX8DAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Waterloo Courier, IA. “By Water and Fire. A Day of Frightful Disasters.” 9-3-1884, 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=88427182

Weekly Breeze, Monroeville, IN. “Lost in a Fierce Gale.” 9-4-1884, p. 1. Accessed 1-26-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/monroeville-weekly-breeze-sep-04-1884-p-1/