1926 — Apr 8, tanker Silvanus burns in collision, MS Riv., Pointe A La Hache, LA –25-27
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-10-2025 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–25-27 Blanchard estimate. The last death toll number we have found in newspapers at the time (May 21) noted that 14 bodies had been recovered from the tanker and that 26 lives had been lost. We have not been able to locate a U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service report on this collision. Though it appears to us that there were 26 deaths, we nonetheless employ a death toll range of 25-27 given the range of death tolls noted. We choose to discount other estimates noted below.
–35 Brownsville Herald, TX. “Blast Aboard Tank Ships Take Heavy Toll.” 4-18-1926, p. 1.
–35 National Fire Protection Association. Fire Protection Handbook (11th Ed.). 1954.
–30 Cumberland Evening Times, MD. “35 Seamen Die in Blast Aboard 2 Oil Tankers,” 4-9-1926.[1]
–28 Assoc. Press. “Seeking Cause For Disasters.” Laredo Weekly Times, TX. 4-11-1926, p. 1.
–27 AP. “New Orleans Investigation of Blasts Starts Tomorrow.” Daily Herald, Biloxi MS. 4-12-1926, 1
–26 Daily Herald, Biloxi, MS. “Fourteen Bodies So Far Recovered From Steamer.” 5-21-1926, 1.
–26 Military-history.fandom.com. “SS Papoose.”
–26 Wikipedia. “SS Papoose” [new name after salvage of the Silvanus]. 10-302024 edit.
–25 AP. “Petroleum Disasters Take Added Life Toll.” Daily Herald, Biloxi, MS. 4-12-1926, p.1.
–25 NFPA. “Tanker Fires.” NFPA Quarterly. Vol. 20, No. 1, July 1926, pp. 137-139.
–23 AP. “Hunt for Bodies of River Victims Goes on.” High Point Enterprise, NC. 4-11-1926, 14.
–23 UP. “Twenty-Three Still Missing In Boat Crash.” Anniston Star, AL. 4-10-1926, p. 1.
–>20 AP. “Wheeler at Full Speen When It Rammed Tanker.” Hattiesburg American, MS. 4-19-1926, 5.
— 8 O. T. Waring, Jahnche’s dry dock, New Orleans. U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service, FY 26
Narrative Information
National Fire Protection Association. “Tanker Fires.” July 1926, p. 137: “On April 8, 1926, about 8 :30 P. M., the Standard Oil tanker Thomas H. Wheeler and the Dutch tanker Silvanus collided in the Mississippi River near Favret light about forty miles below New Orleans.
“The investigation conducted by the U. S. Steamboat Inspection Service found that a light fog lay over the east bank of the river and extended out into the stream in this vicinity. The fog was low lying, but high enough to conceal the hulls of the vessels and the side lights were not visible to each other until the collision was inevitable. However, the masthead lights were always visible to each other above the bank of fog.
“The Wheeler was inbound coming up the river keeping close to the east bank. The Silvanus was outbound and presumably keeping to the middle of the river to take advantage of the current. Both vessels were blowing fog signals. About ten minutes before the collision, the pilot on the Wheeler deemed it advisable to pull in toward the bank and anchor by Favret Light. The engines were stopped and preparations made to anchor.
According to the testimony of the master and pilot of the Wheeler, the Silvanus loomed up through the fog dead ahead and coming at full speed. The pilot on the Wheeler ordered full speed astern and the ships apparently exchanged signals to pass port to port. It was apparently the intention of the pilot of the Silvanus to endeavor to avoid collision by throwing his bow hard to starboard and by going full speed ahead to drive the steamer clear of the Wheeler, and the pilot of the latter cooperated by driving his steamer full astern. However, they came together; the port side of the Silvanus about abreast the bridge crashing on the bow of the Wheeler.
“From the testimony of the personnel of both vessels, the impact was followed by a blinding flash, both were enveloped in flames and soon the water all around was ablaze with ‘floating fire’. The Silvanus had a full cargo of benzene which flowed out when the shell plating was broached by the collision and it is believed some sparks were generated thereby which ignited the benzene. This vessel became a total loss. Immediately after the collision, the Wheeler at full speed pulled out of the zone of fire on the water and coming to anchor, the whole crew fought the fire on board until it was extinguished.
“Twenty-five of the crew of the Silvanus lost their lives, but fortunately there was no loss of life on the Wheeler. It is remarkable that both were not totally destroyed.” (NFPA. “Tanker Fires.” NFPA Quarterly. Vol. 20, No. 1, July 1926, pp. 137-139.)
Newspapers
April 9: “New Orleans, Apr. 9 – Searchers today continued their task of searching for bodies of more than 35 sailors who are believed to have lost their lives in two Mississippi river disasters in the New Orleans district yesterday and last night….Several boats today centered their activities near Pointe A La Hache, La., about forty miles below New Orleans, where the Dutch steamer Silvanus last night collided with the Standard Oil company’s tanker, Thomas H. Wheeler. Early today thirty members of the crew of the Silvanus were unaccounted for. None of the Thomas H. Wheeler seamen were badly injured….
“Shortly after the Dutch and American ships collided a severe explosion occurred aboard the foreign-owned tanker, which was bound for London with a cargo of benzene. A few minutes later the vessel ran against a bank and minor explosion followed. The impact with the earth plunged the tanker back into the stream. It was caught in the current and carried down the river 11 miles before burning to the water’s edge and sinking.
“Meanwhile, members of the crew of Thomas H. Wheeler were successful in their efforts to extinguish a blaze which originated in the accident. The Thomas H. Wheeler was beached.
“Fifteen sailors rescued from the Silvanus were brought here and were being held for immigration authorities. One of this number, a badly burned Chinese, gave a vivid account of the collision today. He declared that he was on deck for several minutes before the catastrophe took place. The Silvanus was cut nearly in half in the crash he related…
“The sailors aboard the Silvanus rapidly gathered to discuss their chances of escaping death. They noticed that a large quantity of blazing benzene gave the water a dangerous appearance. He said that of his 35 countrymen on the vessel, all but 12 were powerful enough swimmers to clear the burning oil without rising to the surface and each of that number reached shore safely without assistance. Several jumped in and were drowned, be believes.” (Cumberland Evening Times (MD). “35 Seamen Die in Blast Aboard 2 Oil Tankers,” April 9, 1926.)
April 10, UP: “New Orleans, April 10. – (United Press) – With twenty-three still missing and believed to have gone to their death in the raging currents of the Mississippi river 50 miles south of New Orleans when the tankers Thomas H. Wheeler and Silvanus collided Thursday night, marine authorities set about today trying to subdue the blaze, still burning aboard the Silvanus. Last reports were that the vessel with her stern upstream, was blazing furiously, the fire being fed by the 8,200 gallons of gasoline in the cargo. Two tugs are standing by the fire-stricken craft and whenever the intensive heat permits, approach the vessel and pour streams of water on the flames. Meantime a close watch is being kept along the banks of the Mississippi river for possible victims of the disaster.
“Of the crew of 45 aboard the Silvanus when the collision and subsequent explosion and fire occurred, 22 have been accounted for. Practically all of the survivors are in hospitals suffering from burns and other injuries.
“Some hope was held out today that it may be possible to salvage part of the Silvanus if the flames can be extinguished within the next few hours. The vessel is valued at $2,000,000 and a like amount is the estimated value of its cargo.” (United Press. “Twenty-Three Still Missing In Boat Crash.” Anniston Star, AL. 4-10-1926, p. 1.)
April 10, AP: “By Associated Press. New Orleans, La., April 10. – While the authorities of the federal government and the operating companies today investigated the causes of the collision of the Dutch tanker Silvanus and the Standard Oil tank steamer Thomas H. Wheeler and the explosions aboard the Standard Oil tanker O. T. Waring near here Thursday, searchers continued hunting for the bodies f 28 missing seamen. The property damage will run into the millions.” (Associated Press. “Seeking Cause For Disasters.” Laredo Weekly Times, TX. 4-11-1926, p. 1.)
May 21, Daily Herald, Biloxi, MS: “New Orleans, May 21. – Fourteen bodys [sic]from the ill-fated Dutch tanker Silvanus, which exploded after a collision in the lower Mississippi River a month ago, so far have been recovered. Twenty-six men are supposed to have perished in the blast and the resulting fire. Of the fourteen bodies recovered, eleven have been those of Chinese members of the crew. The body of a whit man, believed to be that of an officer, was found yesterday in the river at Ponte-a-la-Hache. Reports from Triumph, La., four miles below Burns, last night, indicated that the body of another white man had been found there, but other information indicated that the body might be that of a Chinaman.” (Daily Herald, Biloxi, MS. “Fourteen Bodies So Far Recovered From Steamer.” 5-21-1926, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Hunt for Bodies of River Victims Goes on.” High Point Enterprise, NC. 4-11-1926, p. 14. Accessed 3-9-2025 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/high-point-enterprise-apr-11-1926-p-14/
Associated Press. “Petroleum Disasters Take Added Life Toll.” Daily Herald, Biloxi, MS. 4-12-1926, p. 1. Accessed 3-9-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/biloxi-daily-herald-apr-12-1926-p-1/
Associated Press. “Seeking Cause For Disasters.” Laredo Weekly Times, TX. 4-11-1926, p. 1. Accessed 3-9-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/laredo-weekly-times-apr-11-1926-p-1/
Associated Press. “Wheeler at Full Speen When It Rammed Tanker.” Hattiesburg American, MS. 4-19-1926, p. 5. Accessed 3-9-2025 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/hattiesburg-american-apr-19-1926-p-5/
Brownsville Herald, TX. “Blast Aboard Tank Ships Take Heavy Toll.” 4-18-1926, p. 1. Accessed 3-9-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brownsville-herald-apr-18-1926-p-9/
Cumberland Evening Times, MD. “35 Seamen Die in Blast Aboard 2 Oil Tankers,” April 9, 1926. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=102530094
Daily Herald, Biloxi, MS. “Fourteen Bodies So Far Recovered From Steamer.” 5-21-1926, p. 1. Accessed 3-10-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/biloxi-daily-herald-may-21-1926-p-13/
Military-history.fandom.com. “SS Papoose.” Accessed 3-9-2025 at: https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/SS_Papoose
National Fire Protection Association. Handbook of Fire Protection (11th Ed.). Boston: 1954.
National Fire Protection Association. “Tanker Fires.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 20, No. 1, July 1926, pp. 137-139.
United Press. “Twenty-Three Still Missing In Boat Crash.” Anniston Star, AL. 4-10-1926, p. 1. Accessed 3-9-2025 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/anniston-star-apr-10-1926-p-1/
United States Steamboat Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector General Steamboat Inspection Service to the Secretary of Commerce for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1926. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1926. Accessed 3-9-2925 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=6wVqK5n1NZAC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q=silvanus&f=false
Wikipedia. “SS Papoose” [new name after salvage of the Silvanus]. 10-302024 edit. Accessed 3-9-2025 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Papoose
[1] The “35” in the headline includes at least five seamen lost in an explosion on the oil tanker Waring at New Orleans.