1901 — May 12, City of Paducah snags and sinks, MS Riv. ~Brunkhorst Landing, IL –6-<10

— 6-<10 Blanchard.* --25-50 The Herald, Eldora, IA. “Lost In A River Wreck.” May 18, 1901, p. 2. -- About twenty-five Black crew “drowned.” -- 27 Marble Rock Journal, IA. May 30, 1901, p. 2. (Notes two more bodies had been found.) -- 2-24 NYT. “Mississippi Steamer Sunk. Strikes a Snag and Goes Down…” May 14, 1901, 2. -- 2 passengers --22 crew missing -- 23 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 692. -- 22 Twaintimes. “1901-1910.” -- 22 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…MS River Sys.. 1994, 95. -- 2 passengers --20 deck crew -- ~20 Winona Republican and Herald, MN. “Losses By Snags.” 6-13-1901, p. 3. -- 15 Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac, Vol. 17. “General Chronology of 1901.” Jan 1902, 558. -- 15 Marshall News, MI. “Snag Sinks A Boat…City of Paducah…Bottom.” 5-17-1901, 6. -- 2 passengers killed --13 crew (4 white and 9 black) killed -- 7 crew missing -- 1-10 Boston Daily Globe, MA. “Sunk in the Mississippi.” May 13, 1901, p. 18. -- 1 passenger --8-9 crew missing -- 10 Quincy Weekly Whig, IL. 6-6-1901, p. 8, col. 7, (bottom). Notes ten bodies recovered. -- 6 The Republic, St. Louis, MO. “Recover Sixth Body from Wreck.” 5-31-1901, p. 9. -- 5 Associated Press. “Five Lives Lost.” Kalispell Bee, MT. 5-15-1901, p. 1. -- 5 Evening Gazette, Monmouth, IL. “Two River Disasters.” 5-16-1901, p. 2. --2 passengers (Dr. J. W. Bell, Bells Landing, TN, and Miss Mabel Gardiner, St. Louis) --3 crew --Charles Johnson, deck watchman, St. Louis --James Canfield, second fireman, St. Louis --white fireman, names unknown. -- 2 US SIS. An. Rpt.…Steamboat-Inspect. Service…Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1902. P.54. *Blanchard on death toll: It is somewhat disconcerting to see estimates of loss of life range from a low of two to a high of 25-50, with many in the twenties, apparently based on reporting of a large loss of life among the crew, contradicted by later reporting. It seems to be the case that at least six lives were lost, if the report in The Republic of May 31, on the recovery of a sixth body is correct. Up to this time it was only clear that five lives were lost. The Quincy Weekly Whig (Quincy, IL), of June 6 wrote that “Ten bodies have so far been recovered from the wreck.” If this is accurate, then at least ten lives were lost, perhaps more, as a number of sources relate. But, this is not clear, so we estimate that the loss of life was approximately six to ten. Narrative Information Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac: “May…12. Steamer City of Paducah sinks off Brunkhorn landing, Mo.; 15 lives lost.” (Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac, Vol. 17. “General Chronology of 1901.” Jan 1902, p. 558.) U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service: “May 12. – Steamer City of Paducah, while trying to back around in a narrow chute, at Brunkhorsts Landing, Illinois, on night of May 12, being heavily laden and sluggish in handling, became unmanageable, struck log or snag protruding from bank and sunk within three minutes in about 20 feet of water. Two passengers are known to have drowned. Boat, valued at $15,000, is a total loss. Damage to cargo, $15,000. Case investigated and officers and crew exonerated.” (U.S. SIS. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector-General, Steamboat-Inspection Service, for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1902. “Casualties. Local District of St. Louis, MO. 1901.” 54.) Way: “Stw p wh b [Sternwheel packet, wood hull, built] Jeffersonville, Ind., by Howard, 1891. 190 x 34 x 555….She was downbound from St. Louis to Tennessee River, and had landed in at Brunkhorst Landing, Ill., to lord corn. She caught a snag and went down in 30 feet, this about 10:00 p.m. Twenty of the deck crew and two passengers were lost….” (Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…MS River System. 1994, p. 95.) Newspaper Articles – Chronological: May 13: “St. Louis, May 13 – A telegram from Chester, Ill. says the steamboat City of Paducah of the St. Louis & Tennessee river packet company, struck a snag and sank while backing out from Brunkhorn landing between there and Grand Tower, Ill, about 9 o’clock last night. It is reported that one passenger was drowned, and that eight or nine of the crew are missing. The boat is a total loss….The…City of Paducah left this city at 5 p.m. yesterday for Chester, Grand Tower, Cairo, Paducah and points on the Tennessee river as far as Florence, Ala.” (Boston Daily Globe, MA. “Sunk in the Mississippi.” May 13, 1901, p. 18.) May 13: “Grand Tower, Ill., May 11. The steamer City of Paducah sank in twenty-five feet of water five minutes before 10 o’clock last night, in-less than five minutes after striking a snag and while backing out from Brunkhorst Landing. The bodies of 2 passengers who were drowned have been recovered, and 22 members of the crew…are missing. “All of the officers were saved. First Mate Tobias Royal of St. Louis says only about 12 passengers were on board and all were saved except 2. The body of Dr. J. W. Bell of Bell’s Landing, Tenn., was taken out of his stateroom. That of a young woman, on which was a visiting card reading “Mrs. Harry L. Allen, 3,430 Eads Avenue, St. Louis, Mo.,” was recovered from her stateroom. Two friends traveling with the drowned woman, who started back to St.- Louis on the steamer City of Clifton, said that the young lady was engaged to marry Dr. C. A. Meredith, 3,903 Lee Avenue, St. Louis. Several hundred dollars’ worth of jewelry was found on her body. “The passenger list has not been recovered. A diver is searching for it. Only the hurricane deck is above water, which reaches to the skylights of the cabins. All the staterooms are completely filled with water. “The steamboat drifted a third of a mile below the landing before she sank. The first mate says the boat went down within three minutes after striking the snag. He was on the cabin deck and escaped by climbing through the skylight. It is supposed that most of the missing deckhands who were on the lower deck were washed down the river. The boat lies down about 100 feet from the Illinois shore, the fore-part of the hurricane deck being under water. She appears to be a total wreck. “The Coroner, C. E. Knauer of Murphys-borough Ill., is now holding an inquest, while the diver is searching for more bodies. Thomas Johnston, watchman of the boat, who is said to be among the lost, was eighty-five years old, and had been a steamboat man for sixty years. He lived in St. Louis.” (NYT. “Mississippi Steamer Sunk. Strikes a Snag and Goes Down…” May 14, 1901, 2.) May 13: “St. Louis, May 13. – Special telegrams that the steamer City of Paducah…had sunk at Grand Tower, Ill, while it was making for this port last evening. Several persons are reported drowned. The Paducah left St. Louis Saturday evening for a ten-day trip in the Tennessee River trade. She carried a small cargo and a small list of passengers. John H. Massengale, manager of the St. Louis and Tennessee Packet Company…received a telegram at 2 o’clock this morning that the boat had sunk… “The Paducah was a 600-ton vessel and was built nine years ago. She was a stern-wheeler and cost $15,000. Captain Kirkpatrick, one of the oldest rivermen, was her master, having had command of the vessel since she went into commission.” (Sumner Press, IL. “The City of Paducah Sinks.” May 16, 1901, p. 2.) May 14: “St. Louis, May 14. – A special to the Post-Dispatch from Grand Tower, Ill., says: The steamer City of Paducah sank in 25 feet of water five minutes before ten o’clock Sunday night, in less than five minutes after striking a snag, while backing out from Brunkhorst Landing. Fifteen lives were lost. Six of these were white persons and nine were negroes. All were members of the crew except two, who were passengers, and whose bodies have been recovered. Seven members of the crew are missing….The boat lies down about 100 feet from the Illinois shore….” (Marshall News, MI. “Snag Sinks A Boat…City of Paducah Goes to the Bottom.” 5-17-1901, 6) May 14: “Carbondale, Ill., May 14. – The City of Paducah, a Mississippi river packet, was sunk near Brunkhorst Landing, four miles north, about 12 o’clock Sunday night. Between twenty-five and fifty people were drowned, only seven escaping with their lives…. “Between 11 and 12 o’clock Miss Fannie Block, who in company with her parents. Rev. and Mrs. Block, was going from St. Louis to Evansville, Ind., was aroused from sleep by a sudden jar. She asked her mother if her berth had been broken and no sooner had the words passed their lips than water rushed in to their apartments and they were compelled to act quickly to save their lives. With four others they escaped to the Illinois shore by holding on the driftwood and swimming. The seven saved are Jews. Rev. Block is a Jewish rabbi. The seven survivors of the catastrophe made their way down the river. They escaped in their night clothes and arrived here with wet blankets about them. Among the drowned were about twenty-five negroes. The top of the boat can be seen.” (The Herald, Eldora, IA. “Lost In A River Wreck.” May 18, 1901, p. 2.) May 15: “St. Louis, May 15. – The Globe-Democrat says: ‘It is definitely known that not more than five lives were lost in the wreck of the steamer City of Paducah Sunday night. The negro roustabouts and deck hands reported missing have all been accounted for, and most of them have returned to the wreck.” (Associated Press. “Five Lives Lost.” Kalispell Bee, MT. 5-15-1901, p. 1.) May 16: “….St. Louis, May 16. – At last a correct list of the dead resulting from the City of Paducah disaster can be given. It is believed they number only five, as follows: Miss Mabel Gardiner, passenger, St. Louis; Dr. J. W. Bell, passenger, Bells Landing, Tenn.; Charles Johnson, deck watchman, St. Louis; white fireman, name unknown. The negroes reported drowned have all turned up alive.” (Evening Gazette, Monmouth, IL. “Two River Disasters.” 5-16-1901, p. 2.) May 30: “Republic Special. Carbondale, Ill., May 30. – The sixth body from the wreck of the steam packet City of Paducah, which sunk near Brunkhorst’s Landing over two weeks ago, was recovered yesterday. The body is unidentified, but is supposed to be that of one of the white deckhands. So far, three white and three colored bodies have been recovered. More bodies are still beneath the wreck. The salvage of the vessel is being removed slowly.” (The Republic, St. Louis, MO. “Recover Sixth Body from Wreck.” 5-31-1901, p. 9.) May 30: “Two more bodies were recovered from the wreck of the City of Paducah near Carbondale, Ill, making the total loss of life 27.” (Marble Rock Journal, IA. May 30, 1901, 2.) June 6: “Ten bodies have so far been recovered from the wreck of the steamer City of Paducah which sunk near Brunkhorst’s Landing several weeks ago.” (Quincy Weekly Whig, IL. 6-6-1901, p. 8.) June 26: “Springfield, Ill., June 26. – In the United States district court today Arthur Hicky, John Wilson, Dan Godair and Jerry Woods, who have been in jail here for several weeks, and who were arrested on a charge of looting the wrecked steamer City of Paducah, near Grand Tower, Ill., were brought into court in order to plead. They entered pleas of not guilty and court set July 2 as the time for the trial of the cases.” (Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. “Accused of Looting Steamer.” 6-27-1901, p. 3.) July 3: “Springfield, Ill., July 3. – John Wilson, under indictment on the charge of looting the steamer City of Paducah after it was wrecked the night of May 12, near Grand Tower, Ill., when several lives were lost, was today found guilty in the United States Court. Jerry Woods, Lewis Beeber, Arthur Hickey, Daniel Godair and William Cruise are also under indictment on the same charge, and their separate trials will follow. Woods saved several passengers from drowning.” (Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Looted a Wrecked Steamer,” 7-4-1901, p. 11.) Sources Associated Press. “Five Lives Lost.” Kalispell Bee, MT. 5-15-1901, p. 1. Accessed 8-17-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/the-kalispell-bee-may-15-1901-p-1/ Boston Daily Globe. “Sunk in the Mississippi” [City of Paducah]. May 13, 1901, p. 18. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=161110340 Brooklyn Daily Eagle Almanac 1901, Vol. 17. “General Chronology of 1901.” Jan 1902, p. 557-560. Digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=R8MWAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=true Buffalo Center Tribune, IA. “Prison for Steamer Robber.” 7-11-1901, p. 6. Accessed 8-17-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/buffalo-center-tribune-jul-11-1901-p-6/ Davenport Republican, IA. “Looted Wrecked Steamer.” 7-4-1901, p. 2. Accessed 8-17-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/davenport-daily-republican-jul-04-1901-p-2/ Evening Gazette, Monmouth, IL. “Two River Disasters.” 5-16-1901, p. 2. Accessed 8-17-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/monmouth-evening-gazette-may-16-1901-p-2/ Marble Rock Journal, IA. [City of Paducah steamboat sinking.] May 30, 1901, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=34166607 Marshall News, MI. “Snag Sinks A Boat. Steamer City of Paducah Goes to the Bottom.” 5-17-1901, 6. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=120390442 Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Looted a Wrecked Steamer,” 7-4-1901, p. 11. Accessed 8-17-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portland-morning-oregonian-jul-04-1901-p-11/ 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. Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. “Accused of Looting Steamer.” 6-27-1901, p. 3. Accessed 8-17-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-nebraska-state-journal-jun-27-1901-p-3/ New York Times. “Mississippi Steamer Sunk [City of Paducah]. Strikes a Snag and Goes Down. Two Passengers Drowned – Twenty-two of the Crew Missing.” May 14, 1901, 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=52163555 Paducah Sun, KY. “The Hero of the City of Paducah Must Do Time.” 7-5-1901, p. 7. Accessed 8-17-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/paducah-sun-jul-05-1901-p-7/ Quincy Weekly Whig, IL. 6-6-1901, p. 8. Accessed 8-17-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/quincy-weekly-whig-jun-06-1901-p-8/ Sumner Press, IL. “The City of Paducah Sinks.” 5-16-1901, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=29630536 The Herald, Eldora, IA. “Lost In A River Wreck” [City of Paducah]. May 18, 1901, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=141340047 The Republic, St. Louis, MO. “Recover Sixth Body from Wreck.” 5-31-1901, p. 9. Accessed 8-17-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/saint-louis-republic-may-31-1901-p-9/ Twaintimes. “1901-1910.” URL no longer accessible. United States Steamboat Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector-General, Steamboat-Inspection Service, for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1902. Washington: GPO, 1902. Accessed 8-17-2020 at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.hb1k9f&view=1up&seq=5 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. Winona Republican and Herald, MN. “Losses By Snags.” 6-13-1901, p. 3. Accessed 8-17-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/winona-republican-herald-jun-13-1901-p-3/