1845 – July 23, Steamboat Big Hatchie boiler explos., wharf, Missouri Riv., Hermann MO->35

— >35 Erwin and Erwin. Steamboat Disasters of the Lower Missouri River. 2020, pp. 50-51.
— >35 Way. Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994. 1994, p. 53.
–20-30 Indiana Palladium, Vevay, IN. “Another Steamboat Explosion.” 8-2-1845, p. 2.
— ? Lloyd. Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, p. 284.

Blanchard note on date: We highlight in yellow differing dates as to this event, which according to a letter from the boat’s clerk, dated July 23, 1845, leads us to believe this was the date of loss.

Blanchard note on fatalities: While the highest fatality estimate we have seen in the press reporting of the time (which we are able to access) was 20-30, we use > (over) 35 given that the town of Hermann paid to have an obelisk monument created and placed in a cemetery commemorating the deaths of thirty-five unnamed people in a mass grave at the cite. We presume there were additional deaths due to the explosion and scalding. The reporting at the time noted a number of named fatalities, and we presume one or more of these were not buried in the mass grave for unidentified victims, but were sent to their homes.

Narrative Information

Erwin and Erwin: “The Big Hatchie was one of the few stern-wheelers operating on the Missouri River in 1845. It left St. Louis on July 21 bound for St. Joseph under the command of Captain Roswell R. Frisbee. In addition to freight and a few cabin passengers, it had many German immigrants on board as deck passengers. At 1:00 a.m. on July 23, the Big Hatchie pushed off from the landing at Hermann. Suddenly, it was ripped by an explosion that decimated the forward cabin of the boat and poured steam throughout the main deck. The details are sketchy, but evidently, at least five crew members and cabin passengers were killed instantly. Of those who were identified, another seventeen were scalded, seven of them seriously. Captain Frisbee was standing on the hurricane deck at the time of the explosion. Despite being hurled over the pilothouse, he escaped injury. Many of the German deck passengers were killed, either scalded to death or blown into the river. Because the ship’s books were destroyed in the blast, it was impossible to determine how many were killed in the accident.

“The remains of the boat drifted two miles downriver, where it stayed until it was towed back to Hermann by the Wapello. The Wapello took some of the wounded to St. Louis. The Big Hatchie did not sink. It was apparently rebuilt, because Way’s Packet Directory says it was sold to the U.S. government in 1846.

“The newspapers were incensed by the disaster and called for an investigation to punish the responsible parties. Captain Frisbee was charged in federal court with misconduct and neglect under the Steamboat Act of 1838. At trial, the government tried to prove that Frisbee employed an incompetent engineer, Barry Mohan, who allowed too much steam into the boilers as the vessel was leaving the landing. However, the evidence showed that Mohan had built and repaired steam engines for several years and served on the river under one o f the most respected engineers on the Mississippi. He was described as ‘steady, sober, industrious and careful.’ Several citizens of Memphis, Frisbee’s hometown, sent a petition describing the captain as a skillful and cautious commander.

“As for the cause of the disaster, an examination of the boiler that exploded revealed that it had an internal crack not visible from the outside that went nearly all the way around it. In some places, the crack was one-eighth of an inch deep. Captain Frisbee was acquitted.

“The citizens of Hermann erected a memorial to thirty-five unidentified victims of the blast buried in a mass grave at the top of the hill in the town’s cemetery. Curiously, the inscription gives the date of the explosion as 1842 instead of 1845. It still stands (although it was replaced by an identical marker in later years).”

On page 51 there is a photo of the memorial by the authors. Their caption reads “This obelisk commemorates the thirty-five German immigrants who died on the Big Hatchie and were buried in an unmarked grave. The disaster occurred in 1845, not 1842, as inscribed on the memorial.”

The photo of the obelisk is readable and does not indicate the thirty-five unidentified fatalities were German immigrants, though we can see how that could be inferred from the phrase “early pioneers.” The inscription is:

In memory of the early pioneers who perished in the explosion of the steamboat “Big Hatchie” at the wharf at Hermann in 1842. The thirty-five dead that lie buried here in unmarked graves and the many whose bodies were never recovered from the waters of the Missouri River.

(Erwin and Erwin. Steamboat Disasters of the Lower Missouri River. 2020, pp. 50-52.)

Lloyd: “Big Hatchie. – The steamboat Big Hatchie exploded one of her boilers at Harmon’s Landing, 100 miles above St. Louis, on the Mississippi [Missouri], July 25, 1845. A passenger, named Hoyle, was instantly killed, and a sone of Mr. Ludlow, Manager of St. Charles Theatre, New Orleans, mortally wounded. Several other persons, names unknown, are supposed to have been killed.” (Lloyd. Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, p. 284.)

Way: Sternwheeler, built in Pittsburgh, PA in 1844, at 195 tons. “Today (1977) in the Protestant Cemetery, Hermann, Mo., is a three foot column surmounted by a sundial. Inscribed thereon: ‘In memory of the early pioneers who perished in the explosion of the steamboat Big Hatchie at the wharf at Hermann in 1842, the thirty-five dead that lie buried here in unidentified graves and the many whose bodies were never recovered from the waters of the Missouri River.” The explosion happened on July 25, 1845 (not 1842), and apparently the boat survived, inasmuch as Customs records show she was turned over to the U.S. War Department in 1846.” (Way, Frederick Jr. (Author/Compiler), Joseph W. Rutter (contributor). Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994, p. 53.)

Newspapers

July 23: “On leaving at one o’clock this morning, the starboard boiler exploded, forcing itself overboard, forward, the steam discharging abaft, carrying away the main cabin and staterooms as far abaft as the ladies’ cabin, and displacing the larboard boiler three or four feet from its bed, and scalding some twenty-tree of the passengers and crew, of which Mr. L. Hoyle, of St. Louis, Bernard Mahan, first engineer, and James Youngson, first steward, are now dead; and Solomon Carver, second engineer, Noah Ludlow, third engineer, the first and second cook, and Mr. O. Strange Titus, are expected to live but a short time. The remainder not seriously injured. The wreck floated below the landing about two miles before it could be landed. Yours, respectfully, James Mellon, Clerk.’”
(Weekly National Intelligencer, Washington. “Extract of a Letter dated Herman, July 23d.” 8-9-1845, p. 1.)

July 23: “From the St. Louis New Era of July 25.

“On the morning of the 23d instant, the steamer Big Hatchee, Capt. Frisbee, bound from this place to Weston, bursted her starboard boiler as she was shoving out from the landing at Herman.

“The explosion scalded some twenty or thirty persons; five or six were killed; among the number was Mr. Lawrence Hoyle, of this city, and the first and second engineers of the boat; the third engineer, a son of Mr. Ludlow of this city, was badly scalded….

“The Big Hatchee is said to have suffered severely, having nearly all the forward part of her cabin blown off. At the time of the accident she had not made more than one or two revolutions with her wheels. There were but a small number of passengers in the cabin, but they numbered between forty and fifty on deck, and fortunately for them it was that the engine-room was filled with lumber, which prevented the steam and water from reaching as far back and doing the mischief it would otherwise have done. The number killed and missing cannot be correctly ascertained, as the passenger-book in which the names of those on deck were registered was lost….” (Weekly National Intelligencer, Washington. “Steamboat Disaster on the Missouri.” 8-9-1845, p. 1.)

Aug 2: “The St. Louis papers received last evening, bring us the painful particulars of another steamboat explosion on the Missouri river, attended by serious loss of life and great suffering. It appears that the steamer Big Hatchee, Capt. Frisbee, bound from St. Louis to St. Joseph’s, with about 40 or 50 passengers, in backing out from the landing at a place called Herman, on the morning of the 23d ult., exploded her starboard boiler, with a loud report, moving it out of its place, passing aft through the cabin floor, and up through the hurricane deck, overboard, and into the river by the wheelhouse – making a perfect wreck of the boat above the lower deck a far back as the ladies’ cabin, and spreading death and desolation amongst the passengers. The St. Louis Republican furnishes the following account of the result of the explosion.

The number of killed and scalded is not yet ascertained. The first engineer, named Barney Mohan, of St. Louis, was killed instantly. The skull of a man was found on board, and there are several others supposed to be killed, but we have not yet heard any definite account from the Clerk’s register. The following are badly wounded: Solomon Carver, second engineer, supposed to be dying; Patrick Carrigan, fireman, from Ireland; Arthur Neal, Callaway co., passenger; Thompson Gaines, Saline Co., Mo., passenger; Harman Spellman, of Germany, fireman; John Ryan, of Ireland, fireman; John Hammonds, of Van Buren co., Mo., passenger; John Barbee, of Bath county, Ky., passenger; ____ Pullam, passenger; Mr. Bolivar Foster, Callaway county, Mo., passenger, badly scalded; Robert Carter, of Osage county, Mo., passenger, badly scalded. All of thee are dangerously scalded – some appear to be dying.

The following are slightly scalded: E. Strange Titus, Warren co., Pa., passenger; Geo. Carrico, and wife, of Carroll co., Mo., very slightly scalded; also a back boy belonging to the same; Thos. Pearce, of Boone c., Mo., passenger; Cornelius McGiniss, Mason co., Ky., passenger, slightly hurt; E. W. Richardson, fireman, Summit co., Ohio; Mrs. Amelia Sperry, Fort Leavenworth, Mo.; very slightly scalded; ____ Tunis, place of residence not known….

A number of persons have not, as yet, been heard of. There are about seven still on the wreck, who were so badly hurt that it was not thought advisable to bring them to town, and are not included in this list. Those who have been named were conveyed to town this morning, and are now receiving every assistance in the power of the citizens to render them. After the accident the boat floated down the river, about two and a half miles, before in could be made fast to the shore. A great part of the deck load has been swept into the river – the hull appears to be in a sound condition.

P.S. Lawrence Hoyle, of St. Louis, is among the dead. Noah Ludlow, of St. Louis, third engineer, badly scalded.”

(American Republican and Baltimore Clipper, MD. “Terrible Steamboat Explosion.” 8-2-1845, 4.)

Aug 2: “We learn by passengers on board the steamer Orpheus, from St. Louis, that the steamboat Big Hatchee blew up at Harman, on the Missouri river, on the 22nd inst. She had landed for a load of lumber, and when in the act of shoving out from the above place, she blew up, killed some twenty or thirty persons. No further particulars when the steamboat Orpheus left.” (Indiana Palladium, Vevay, IN. “Another Steamboat Explosion.” 8-2-1845, p. 2.)

Aug 4: “The steamer Big Hatchee, Capt. Frisbie, on leaving her landing at Herman on the 23d ult., for the Missouri river, burst her starboard boiler…the steam discharging itself aloft, carrying away the main cabin as far aft as the ladies cabin…The number of killed and scalded is not yet ascertain. The first engineer, named Barney Mohan, of St. Louis, was killed instantly killed….

“Since the above was in type we have the following: …. The larboard boiler was displaced by the explosion some two or three feet from its bed. Lawrence Hoyle, of St. Louis…and James Youngson, first steward, were instantly killed. Two firemen and one deck hand are missing… — St. Louis Reveille.” (Boston Post. “A Disastrous Explosion.” 8-4-1845, p. 2.)

Aug 9: “The steamer Big Hatchee, a Pittsburgh Boat owned and commanded by Capt. Rosal Frisbee, burst her starboard boiler in leaving Herman, about 100 miles above St. Louis, on the Missouri river on the 23d, at one A.M. The boiler was thrown aft, through the cabin floor, and up through the hurricane deck, overboard, and into the river by the wheelhouse – making a perfect wreck of the boat above the lower deck as far back as the ladies’ cabin, and spreading death and desolation amongst the passengers.

“The number of killed and scalded is about twenty-three.” (Columbia Democrat, Bloomsburg, PA. “Dreadful Steamboat Accident.” 8-9-1845, p. 2.)

Aug 16: “The St. Louis Republican states that legal proceedings have been instituted against Captain Frisbee, of the steamboat Big Hatchee, growing out of the terrible disaster and loss of life which befell that vessel some three weeks since. He have bonds yesterday for his appearance.” (Brooklyn Eagle, NY. “The Big Hatchee.” 8-16-1845, p. 2.)

“Sep 20: “Capt. Frisbee, the late commander of the unfortunate steamboat ‘Big Hatchee,’ which blew up at Herman’s Landing, Mo., has, after a thorough investigation at St. Louis, been exculpated from all blame in the matter of the explosion.” (The Telegraph, Logansport, IN. 9-20-1845, p. 2, col. 2.)

Sources

American Republican and Baltimore Clipper, MD. “Terrible Steamboat Explosion.” 8-2-1845, p. 4. Accessed 8-10-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/baltimore-american-republican-and-daily-clipper-aug-02-1845-p-4/

Boston Post. “A Disastrous Explosion.” 8-4-1845, p. 2. Accessed 8-10-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boston-post-aug-04-1845-p-2/

Brooklyn Eagle, NY. “The Big Hatchee.” 8-16-1845, p. 2. Accessed 8-10-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brooklyn-eagle-and-kings-county-democrat-aug-16-1845-p-2/

Columbia Democrat, Bloomsburg, PA. “Dreadful Steamboat Accident.” 8-9-1845, p. 2. Accessed 8-10-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bloomsburg-democrat-aug-09-1845-p-2/

Erwin, Vicki Berger and James Erwin. Steamboat Disasters of the Lower Missouri River. Charleston, SC: The History Press, 2020. Google preview accessed 8-10-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Steamboat_Disasters_of_the_Lower_Missour/OcHDDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=steamboat+big+hatchie+explosion&pg=PA50&printsec=frontcover

Indiana Palladium, Vevay, IN. “Another Steamboat Explosion.” 8-2-1845, p. 2. Accessed 8-10-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/vevay-indiana-palladium-aug-02-1845-p-2

Lloyd, James T. Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. Cincinnati, Ohio: James T. Lloyd & Co., 1856. Digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JlYqAAAAYAAJ

The Telegraph, Logansport, IN. 9-20-1845, p. 2. Accessed 8-10-2020 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-telegraph-sep-20-1845-p-2/

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 Edition). Athens OH: Ohio University Press, 1994-1999.

Weekly National Intelligencer, Washington. “Extract of a Letter dated Herman, July 23d.” 8-9-1845, p. 1. Accessed 8-10-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/weekly-national-intelligencer-aug-09-1845-p-1/

Weekly National Intelligencer, Washington. “Steamboat Disaster on the Missouri.” 8-9-1845, p. 1. Accessed 8-10-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/weekly-national-intelligencer-aug-09-1845-p-1/