1854 — Mar 5, Steamboat Caroline burns, White River ~20 miles from MS Riv. mouth, AR–45-60

–50-60 U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. Report… Oct 10, 1854, p. 394.
— 50 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 161.
— 50 Daily Argus and Democrat (Madison WI). “Burning of the Caroline,” 18 March 1854, 2
— ~50 Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, pp. 237-238.
— 50 NY Daily Times. “Destruction…Steamer Caroline, on White River…,” 15 Mar 1854, 5
— 50 US Congress, House Hearings… “Safety of Life and Property at Sea.” 1935, p. 246.
— 45 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 274.
— 45 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 683.
— 45 Simonds. The American Date Book. 1902, p. 99.
— 45 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…, 1999, p. 72.

Narrative Information

Berman: “Caroline…Mar 5, 1854; Burned…Mississippi River, 50 loves lost.” (Berman 1972, 161)

Lloyd: “The Caroline was a Memphis packet, employed on the White river. She had ascended that river about twenty miles on Sunday, March 5, 1854, when, at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, the wood pile near the boilers, was discovered to be on fire. The pilot at the wheel, Mr. John R. Price, steered for the shore, which was overflown by high water. Before the shore was reached, some persons attempted to escape in the yawl, which, being overcrowded, speedily sunk, and all who had embarked in it were drowned. The flames, in the meanwhile, rapidly overspread the steamer, which was soon consumed, down to the level of the water. There were many deck passengers on board, nearly all of whom were lost. The principal sufferers were women and chil¬dren, who were not able to make the exertions required for their pre¬servation…. [Lloyd lists 48 known fatalities as well as noting “a number of deck passengers, names unknown.] The hull of the Caroline, having burned to the water’s edge, broke in two, and sunk out of sight.” (Lloyd 1856, pp. 236-237.)

US Steamboat Inspection Service: “The steamer “Caroline” was burned on White river on the 5th March last. By this accident, the boat and cargo were a total loss; and also, we much regret to add, between fifty and sixty lives were lost. The origin of the fire was at the after-end of the boilers, in the immediate vicinity of the fire-pumps, so that the pumps could not be used. Upon the fire being discovered, the boat was immediately run ashore; but such was the confusion and panic among the passengers, that no use was made of either life-boat or life-preservers, and the deplorable loss of life already mentioned was the result. We deem it proper to mention here, as a tribute to the memory of the pilot of this boat on duty at the time of the accident, John R. Trice, that after the discovery of the fire he continued at his post in the pilot-house, heading the boat for the shore, until he was actually burned to death; thus sacrificing his own life in the effort to preserve the lives of those dependent therefor upon his prudence, energy, and judgment. It gives us much pleasure to add that the steamboat-men and citizens of Memphis are about erecting a monument to commemorate this noble self-sacrifice.” (U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. Report… Oct 10, 1854, p. 394.)

Way: Sternwheel packet, built Pittsburgh, 1847, 103 tons. “Ran Memphis-White River. Burned Mar. 5, 1854, 20 miles above mouth of White River with loss of 45 lives.” (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). Athens OH: Ohio Univ. Press, 1999, p. 72.)

Newspapers

March 14: “Louisville, Tuesday, March 14. The Memphis and White River steam packet Caroline was destroyed on Sunday, the 5th inst., on White River, about twenty miles above the mouth, and from forty to fifty lives were lost. The vessel took fire between 2 and 3 o’clock in the afternoon, and the flames spread so rapidly that it was with difficulty any person escaped. As soon as the fire was discovered, the pilot steered the boat for a bank, and ran her out about twenty feet. The scene that followed is indescribable. Fifteen persons took possession of the yawl, but she sunk, and every one of them perished. The captain, Creighton, jumped into the river, and was drowned. John Trice, the pilot, perished at the wheel. The boat burned to the water’s edge, when she slid off and sunk, proving, with her cargo, a total loss. Only two cabin passengers were lost, the remainder being deck passengers and hands on the boat.” (NY Daily Times. “Destruction of the Steamer Caroline, on White River – Fifty Lives Lost,” 3-15-1854, 5.)

March 18, Daily Argus: “The St. Louis Intelligencer has the following particulars of the burning of the steamer Caroline, by which 50 lives were lost:

“The boat was ascending White river with a full cargo and a large number of deck passengers, and when twenty miles above the mouth, at 2 p.m., a fire was discovered immediately over the after end of the boilers, which soon communicated to the cabin and consumed the boat. The flames were caused from the heat of the boilers, and the light wood work of the boat burnt very rapidly. As soon as the alarm was given the greatest confusion prevailed on board, and in a very few minutes all communication between the forward and after part of the boat was cut off by the intense heat and smoke which filled the deck room, and to this may be ascribed the great loss of life, chiefly emigrants, who were in the after deck room and who could not reach the forward part of the boat or the shore in time to save their lives. Both engineers were on watch and escaped narrowly, one by jumping into the river and the other by running forward almost as soon as the alarm was given. A number of horses and other stock stationed near the after end of the boilers and in the forward part of the deck room impeded the exit of the unfortunate deckers, as they became frantic, and in plunging and kicking entirely stopped up the small space left for a pass way.” (Daily Argus and Democrat (WI). “Burning of the Caroline,” March 18, 1854, p. 2.)

Sources

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

Daily Argus and Democrat, Madison, WI. “Burning of the Caroline,” March 18, 1854, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=35136979

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

Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours – A Narrative Encyclopedia of Worldwide Disasters from Ancient Times to the Present. New York: Pocket Books, Wallaby, 1977, 792 pages.

New York Daily Times. “Destruction of the Steamer Caroline, on White River – Fifty Lives Lost.” 3-15-1854, 5. http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=2827431

Simonds, W. E. (Editor). The American Date Book. Kama Publishing Co., 1902, 211 pages. Google digital preview accessed 9-8-2017 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JuiSjvd5owAC

United States Congress, House of Representatives. Hearings Before the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, United States Congress (74th Congress, 1st Session). “Safety of Life and Property at Sea.” Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1935. Accessed 8-9-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Safety_of_Life_and_Property_at_Sea/l9xH_9sUuVAC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=belle%20zane

United States Steamboat Inspection Service. “Report of Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats,” Oct 10, 1854, pp. 392-394. In: Index to Executive Documents Printed by Order of The Senate of the United States, Second Session, Thirty-Third Congress, 1854-’55 (in Twelve Volumes). Washington: Beverley Tucker, Senate Printer, 1855. Digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=sIcFAAAAQAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

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). Athens OH: Ohio University Press, 1999.