1869 — Apr 10, steamboat G.A. Thomson snags/burns, AR. Riv., ~40M below Little Rock, AR-17

–21 New York Times. “Disaster on the Arkansas River.” 4-21-1869, p. 7.
–17 Captain James Burch of Red Fork, on Arkansas River.
–17 Cincinnati Commercial, OH. “Steamer G. A. Thomson Burned and Sunk…” 4-12-1869, 1.
–17 Cincinnati Commercial, OH. “The G. A. Thomson Disaster.” 4-20-1869, p. 7.
–17 Cincinnati Daily Gazette. “Loss of the G. A. Thomson. Statement…Pilots.” 4-13-1869, 3.
–17 Cincinnati Daily Gazette, OH. “Steamer G. A. Thomson Sunk.” 4-12-1869, p. 3.
–17 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…[MS Riv. Sys.]…1999, p.175.
— 4 Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1952, p. 273.

Narrative Information

Lytle and Holdcamper: “G. A. Thomson…366 [tons]…snagged…4 9 1869 [sic, was April 10 2:10, A.M.] …Pine Bluff, Ark. …4 [lives lost.” [Table: “Losses of United States Merchant Steam Vessels, 1807-1867.”]

Way: G.A. Thomson. Sternwheel wood-hull packet, built in Eureka, WI, and completed in St. Paul, MN, in 1865, at 366 tons. “Capt. James Alexander Frazier, Cincinnati, and James H. Kelly, Racine, Wis., owned her as partners when she was snagged and lost some 50 miles above Pine Bluff, Ark., on the Arkansas River with reported loss of 17 lives, among them clerks George Ely and John Perkins, bot of Cincinnati, this on Apr. 9 [sic., 10th], 1869. The wreck burned.”

Newspapers

April 11, Cincinnati Daily Gazette: “St. Louis, April 11. – A Little Rock special says the steamer G. A. Thomson, from Cincinnati for Little Rock, is reported to have struck a snag near Pine Bluff, Friday night [9th], and sunk. Seventeen lives are reported lost. Boat and cargo a total loss.” (Cincinnati Daily Gazette, OH. “Steamer G. A. Thomson Sunk.” 4-12-1869, p. 3.)

April 12, Cincinnati Daily Gazette: “Memphis, March [sic., April] 12. – The Appeal, Little Rock special this evening, says the following particulars of the loss of the Steamer G. A. Thompson are obtained from Mr. Desmoines one of the pilots.

“The boat was commanded by Captain Frazier and bound from Cincinnati to Little Rock and Fort Smith, laden with bacon, flour, agricultural implements, furniture and lime. She had aboard at the time of the accident about 18 passengers, five of whom were ladies, including the Captains wife. She struck a snag at Erwin’s Landing 40 miles below Little Rock at 2 A.M. Saturday [10th] and sunk immediately in 9 feet of water, slacking the lime on deck which set the boat on fire. Shortly after sinking, an effort was made to throw the lime overboard, but the crew were driven away by the heat of the flames. Immediate steps were taken to save the ladies which was accomplished with the lifeboat, after considerable difficulty in keeping the men back in which shooting had to be threatened. The ladies landed on a sand bar. Meanwhile the yawl was used to save the crew and was swamped by too many jumping in which occasioned greatest loss of life. Mr. Desmoines was in the yawl when it swamped, and floated down the river. His cries were heard and the lifeboat sent to his rescue, succeeded in saving him, Mar. Hugh Wilson and the carpenter of the boat, out of about thirteen or fourteen in the yawl when it swamped. Seventeen lives were lost, eight white men including Geo. Ely, 1st Clerk and Jno. Perkins, 2d Clerk, the cook, a lame cabin boy, from New Albany, Mr. trundle, of Little Rock, and three others whose names are not yet known, and nine colored chamber maids, and eight deck hands. Ely and Perkins were in the yawl when it swamped. Both were good swimmers but drowned.

“The Allen, going down Sunday morning, took the survivors of the crew.

“The Caldwell, coming up, brought the passengers to this city, both boats treating the sufferers with great kindness.

“The officers of the Thompson [sic., Thomson] behaved with great coolness. The ladies were hardly aware of the extent of the accident before they were safely landed. The boat and cargo are a total loss. The former, valued at from $12,000 to $15,000, was insured, mostly in Cincinnati offices. The value of the cargo is not known. Protest was entered. No bodies are know to be recovered yet.” (Cincinnati Daily Gazette. “Loss of the G. A. Thomson. Statement of One of the Pilots.” 4-13-1869, p. 3.)

April 12, Cincinnati Commercial: “The stern-wheel steamer G. A. Thomson, Capt. J. Alex. Frazier, bound from Cincinnati to Little Rock and Ft. Smith, sunk and burned on Saturday morning [10th], at 2 o’clock, in the Arkansas River, fifty miles above Pine Bluff, Ark. The boat and cargo are a total loss. Seventeen lives were lost by this terrible disaster. Both clerks of the boat, George Ely and John Perkins, were lost. Capt. J. Alex. Frazier, and his family, were saved. The clerks, Messrs. Ely and Perkins resided in Cincinnati. The G. A. Thomson was in her fourth year. The hull was built at Racine Wisconsin, and machinery at Milwaukee. She was valued at $10,000, and owned by Jas. H. Kelly, of Racine, Wisconsin, and Capt. J. A. Frazier, of Cincinnati.” (Cincinnati Commercial, OH. “Two Steamboat Disasters. Steamer G. A. Thomson Burned and Sunk in Arkansas River.” 4-12-1869, p. 1.)

April 13, NYT: “From the Little Rick (Ark.) Gazette, April 13.

“The report of the burning of the steamer G. A. Thomson, announced in Sunday’s issue [11th] and the terrible loss of life attendant upon it, was fully confirmed, yesterday, by passengers who were on her at the time of the disaster. Mr. David Allen, who has been residing near Louisville, Ky., with his wife and child, had taken passage on the boat for Ozark, Ark., and from him we get the following statement: [We have broken up a long paragraph.]

The boat struck a snag just below Irwin’s Landing, at 2 o’clock Saturday morning [10th]; he was in the ladies’ cabin at the time, and came to the front of the boat, where the captain was standing, who seemed to be quite cool and said there was no danger; and could get out without any loss. Just at that time the carpenter ascended the stairs from the deck of the steamer, and told the captain the boat was on fire, but the latter did not heed the remark, until the carpenter had a second time brought the news, and then took the captain below to show him that it was so. The captain then had two yawls launched, and ordered the women and children to be placed in them. The captain, his wife, Mr. Allen’s wife and child, the captain’s dog, her servant, and one or two others, got off in them, the captain promising to return for the others, but after getting about 25 yards from the steamer, she was enveloped in flames, and the only chance for safety left for those on board the burning steamer was to jump overboard.

About that time the carpenter got another skiff and took out the balance of the women and children. It being dark, it was hard to tell which shore was the nearest, and some landed on either side. One man was saved on a hogshead of tobacco, some on doors and planks. Anything that could be picked up was used. Mr. Allen put on a life-preserver, and swam ashore, landing about three-fourths of a mile from the wreck, on the opposite side from his wife.

Next morning those who had landed on the same shore were set across the river. All of his effects, save what himself, wife and child had on at the time, were lost. According to his estimate and that of other passengers, twenty-one persons were lost, including both the clerks, George Ely, of Cincinnati, and John Perkins, the deck-sweeper, one of the cooks, one waiter, one passenger from Pine Bluff, named Wilson, and the chambermaid, Mary Field (colored), of Cincinnati, and nine colored deck hands. The chambermaid was the only woman lost. No children lost. All three of the pilots saved. The Captain and crew returned on the Thos. H. Allen. The Captain said the first-clerk had all the money.

Mr. Allen gives much praise to the carpenter. He says but for him not a woman or child would have been saved. We could not learn his name. The largest life boat was not cut down and used, but allowed to hang to the spars. There was no effort whatever on the part of the Captain to save anybody. The last he saw of the chambermaid she was on the deck crying for help. Did no know where she was drowned or burned to death.

The boat was loaded with an assortment of general merchandise, pork, whisky, dry-goods, furniture, stoneware, farming utensils, &c. There was no lime in the hold, as stated in our former report. A number of barrels were on deck, and the fire originated among them. The boat was heavily loaded.

Mr. Allen relates it as a remarkable fact that the Captain, mate, carpenter and two pilots were all together in the pilot-house at the late hour of the occurrence. The wife of the Captain remarked to his wife, afterward, that they were expecting the boat would be sunk. He saw but one trunk and valise that were saved – they were supposed to belong to the Captain’s wife. Mr. Lilliard, another passenger, concurred in the above statement.

Captain James Burch, who resides at Red Fork, on the Arkansas River, reports that he knows of but seventeen persons being lost. The boat was not in the regular channel at the time she struck the snag. He agrees to most of the statements made by Mr. Allen. The first yawls carried out the ladies and children and the captain. The second was entered by the two clerks, Mr. Jacob Trundle, Mr. D. J. Desmoine, and one or tow others, but it was upset by the deck hands in their struggles to get in, and all save Mr. Desmoines [sic.] and the carpenter found watery graves. The captain requested the passengers to go below and throw the line overboard, and that they remain on the front of the boat, and he would take care of the women and children and send back for the balance, but the flames spread so rapidly he was prevented from doing so. Captain Burch remained on the boat with young Trundle, who was unable to swim, until the boat was enveloped in flames, and until he had seen him safely embark in the yawl which was capsized by the deck hands. He then swam ashore, landing about three-fourths of a mile from the wreck.

Mr. F. B. Wilcox, another passenger, states that the boat was not only out of the regular channel, but she was running with 130 pounds of steam. He concurs in the statement above.

The boat was about 130 yards from shore when the accident occurred. The water was about nine feet deep….The boat was quite an old craft, and was fully insured. Mr. Turnell, who resides at New Fork, is among the missing.

(New York Times. “Disaster on the Arkansas River. The Burning of the Steamer G. A. Thomson – Twenty-one Lives Supposed to be Lost…” 4-21-1869, p. 7.)

April 13, Little Rock Republican: “(From the Little Rock Republican, April 13.)

“The G. A. Thomson left Cincinnati for this port on the 31st day of March, with a full cargo….Her pilots were D. J. Desmoine and Leon Levy. The Thomson passed Memphis on the 7th, and up to the time of the accident, Saturday morning, April 10, had met with no serious drawback. Had on board at the time of the catastrophe, seventeen passengers – eleven grown persons and three children. The children were all saved.

Statement of the Pilot, Mr. Desmoine.

“I was in my berth asleep when she struck; the shock woke me, and upon looking at my watch, found it was twenty minutes past 2 o’clock A.M. This was on Saturday morning, April 10. She struck the snag on the forward end of the starboard boiler, tearing back; she sunk in about five minutes in nine feet water. On her sinking the lime on board slacked and ignited, setting fire to the carlins [?] or cabins, at the forward end of the cylinders, the wind blowing from that quarter straight toward the bow. There was no time to be lost in saving the passengers. Every moment was employed, the crew worked bravely and coolly until the flames drove them off the boat.

Captain J. K. Burch’s Statement.

“We went aboard the Thomson at Pine Bluff for Little Rock, for the purpose of obtaining hands to work on a plantation. Went to bed at 10 o’clock, and about 2 o’clock the boat struck a snag, and was discovered to be on fire soon after. The Captain and the other officers used every effort possible to keep down all excitement which would naturally arise, and to save the passengers. The Captain went ashore in the boat with the women and children. After the life-boat returned for its last load and, receiving its precious freight, it started again for the shore, but before getting away from the burning steamer, was swamped by some of the deck hands trying to get aboard of her. In the boat were the first and second clerks, Mr. Jacob Trundle and others, all of whom were drowned. Remained with Mr. Trundle as long as there was a possibility of saving his life. The cabin doors and blinds were brought into requisition, and did good service in assisting many who were in the water to reach the shore. Mr. Burch lost his money and some clothes. Nothing on the boat saved. He reached the shore after being in the water full thirty minutes, and landed three-quarters of a mile below the wreck. Came from East Tennessee, and has resided in this State twelve months.

Scene in the Cabin.

The scene in the cabin immediately after the first shock can be more easily imagined than described. Past the hour of midnight, reposing sweetly in their berths, with no thoughts of danger or of death, the sleepers were suddenly aroused to learn that death was staring them in the face. All was confusion, women screaming and children crying, and the circumstances of their condition and surroundings requiring hasty action to save their lives. Every thing else for the moment was forgotten; no time to look out for baggage or to secure any trinkets or clothing stowed away in the trunks and satchels. Mothers folded their little ones tightly in their arms, determined to save or perish together; husbands and wives fondly embracing each other, and sharing the doubts and fears of each jointly. It was a terrible scene to behold.

The Rescue.

“The life-boat was launched by the order of Pilot Desmoines, who stood at the gangway, pistol in hand, giving his orders, threatening to shoot down the first man who attempted to pass him until the women and children were provided for and safely landed. The boat made two or three trips safely, and was leaving the burning steamer with her last load, when the pilot was grasped around the neck by a burly deck-hand, and during the tussle a negro shot by and jumped into the river, making for the life-boat, and while attempting to get aboard upset it, and all on board perished. A number of the male passengers jumped into the water and swam ashore.

The Casualties.

“Eight white persons were drowned, the two clerks, Messrs. Ely and Perkins, Mr. Trundle, of Red Fork, and three other passengers, whose names we could not learn; one of the cooks and a lame cabin boy. Of the colored crew one was the chambermaid, and eight deck hands. Total number lost, seventeen. Their cries for assistance were heart-rending, and those rescued were powerless to save. Captain Frazier and wife and child were among the number saved.

“The steamer was snagged and burned about forty miles below this city, nearly opposite the place known as Irwin’s Landing, and is by far the most distressing accident ever occurring upon our river….

“(From the Memphis Avalanche, April 17.)

Statement of Pilot Leon F. Levy.

“I came on ‘watch’ at 12 p.m., Friday, April 9, near Brodie’s Landing, and was still at my post when the boat struck some invisible obstruction opposite what is known as Irwin’s Landing, forty miles below Little Rock: time, 2:20 A.M., Saturday, April 10. The boat did not seem to move after the first shock, but sank almost immediately, in about twelve feet of water, and a few moments after, in consequence of the slacking of a quantity of lime on her decks, took fire and was, within thirty minutes, in a complete blaze. Captain Frazier was in the pilot house with me at the time of the accident. He immediately went below, arousing the passengers as he passed through the cabin, and at once ordered boats lowered, and with coolness and energy set about making every available provision for the safety of the passengers. So soon as the yawl could be lowered and got into position, he had the ladies and children all placed therein – except the chambermaid, who could not be found – and placing them in my charge, requested me to take them ashore, which I did, returning at once with the boat, Captain Frazier still remaining aboard the burning wreck, not having quitted it with his ‘wife, child and dog,’ as reported; and here let me add that the conduct of Captain Frazier, from the first shock to the last, was cool, gallant and self-sacrificing in the highest degree, and in every particular eminently becoming the good, brave and true commander in the hour of danger.

“Mrs. Frazier came off the wreck in her night dress, not having saved one single garment nor one piece of jewelry (of which she lost several thousand dollars’ worth) except two rings on her hands.

“In conclusion, I must, in justice, bear testimony to the cool, heroic conduct of every true man aboard, both passengers and crew, on that ill-fated morning, and believe, had the negroes not have become panic-stricken and capsized the life-boar, not a single life would now be mourned.

“It would seem unfair to particularize personal gallantry when all did so nobly, but I can not refrain from mentioning the high order of courage exhibited by Frank Townley, the boat’s carpenter, who seemed to forget himself and his own danger, and to think of naught else but the ladies. ‘Tis with a feeling of pride that I can own as a fellow-steamboatman one so gallant and true.” (Cincinnati Commercial, OH. “The G. A. Thomson Disaster.” 4-20-1869, p. 7.)

Sources

Adam, Louis A. Adams’s Directory of Points and Landings in the South and Southwest. New Orleans: W. L. Murray, Publisher, 1877. Accessed 8-31-2020 at: http://www.milamcountyhistoricalcommission.org/1012.pdf

Cincinnati Commercial, OH. “The G. A. Thomson Disaster.” 4-20-1869, p. 7. Accessed 9-1-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-commercial-apr-20-1869-p-7/

Cincinnati Commercial, OH. “Two Steamboat Disasters. Steamer G. A. Thomson Burned and Sunk in Arkansas River. Boat and Cargo a Total Loss. Seventeen Lives Lost.” 4-12-1869, p. 1. Accessed 9-1-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-commercial-apr-12-1869-p-1/

Cincinnati Daily Gazette. “Loss of the G. A. Thomson. Statement of One of the Pilots.” 4-13-1869, p. 3. Accessed 9-1-2020: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-daily-gazette-apr-13-1869-p-3/

Cincinnati Daily Gazette, OH. “Steamer G. A. Thomson Sunk.” 4-12-1869, p. 3. Accessed 9-1-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-daily-gazette-apr-12-1869-p-3/

Lytle, William M., compiler, from Official Merchant Marine Documents of the United States and Other Sources; Holdcamper, Forrest H. (Editor, and Introduction by). Merchant Steam Vessels of the United States 1807-1868. “The Lytle List.” Mystic, CT: Steamship Historical Society of America (Publication No. 6), 1952. Accessed 8-16-2020 at: https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015018039084&view=1up&seq=9&size=125&q1=ceres

New York Times. “Disaster on the Arkansas River.” 4-21-1869, p. 7. Accessed 8-31-2020 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1869/04/21/79576637.html?pageNumber=7

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.