1851 — Jan 27, steamer John Adams snags/sinks, MS River, ~(above) Greenville, MS — 123

— 123 Blanchard estimate of loss of life.*

— 140 Daily Crescent, New Orleans. “Disasters on the Western Rivers.” 1-30-1851, p. 2.
–~140 Daily Morning Post, Pittsburgh. “By Telegraph.” 2-4-1851, p. 3.
–~140 Daily Union, Washington, DC. “More of the Steamboat Disaster.” 2-1-1851, p. 3.
— 130 New York Times. “Principal Events of 1851.” Jan 1, 1852.
— 130 Warrick Democrat, Newburgh, IN. “Sinking of the John Adams.” 2-4-1851, p. 2.
— 123 Adams County, MS Genealogical & Historical Research. “Natchez, Adams County, MS.
— 123 Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “The Loss of the Steamer ‘John Adams.’” 2-5-1851, p. 2.
— 123 Childs. A History of the U.S. In Chronological Order From…1492…to…1885. 1886, 134.
— 123 Hunter, Louis C. and Beatrice J. Steamboats on the Western Rivers. 1994, p. 274.
— 123 Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1952, p. 234.
— 123 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 682.
— 123 Simonds. The American Date Book. 1902, p.9.
— 123 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…[MS Riv. Sys.]…1999, 249
— 120 Daily Democrat, Madison, WI. Feb 1, 1851, p. 3, col. 4.
–>100 Bragg. Historic Names…Places on…Lower Miss. River. “Ashbrook Cutoff,” 1977, 128.
–>100 Daily Free Democrat, Milwaukee. “Dreadful Calamity,” Jan 31, 1851, p. 2.
–>100 Daily Sanduskian, OH. Jan 30, 1851, p. 3, col. 1.
–>100 New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “Rumored Steamboat Disaster.” 1-31-1851, p. 2.**

*Blanchard estimate on loss of life: We accept as definitive the Brooklyn Daily Eagle account of February 5, the most detailed newspaper account we have seen. It is probably not coincidentally the number of lives lost reported by Childs, Hunter, Lytle and Holdcamper, Nash, Simonds, and Way.

**New Albany Daily Ledger: Writes that more than 100 deck passengers were killed, and that additionally “all the deck hands and firemen except two, also perished.”

Blanchard on date of loss: We have highlighted in yellow below the different reporting on the date of the loss – either January 27 or 28. We follow the reporting of the several newspapers below which note January 27 as the date of loss which also note the day of the week of the loss. Given that several of these are date-lined January 28 and refer to the snagging as having occurred on the previous day, it would not be possible that the accident happened on the 28th. In that there were many January 28 date-lined reports which did not indicate that the event took place the day before, we speculate that those sources (such as Way) had one or more of these sources in hand when drafting their accounts.

Blanchard on location of loss. The reporting is that the snagging occurred at Island No. 82 in the Mississippi River just above Greenville, MS. Bragg reports the loss as at what is known today as Miller Bend (apparently where Island No. 82 use to be). The State placement is tricky in that the boundary between Arkansas and Mississippi in this vicinity meanders considerably today. Additionally, Way notes that the snagging took place to the west of where the Mississippi currently runs. In that according to one map we have seen (eBird) locates the once (but no more) Island No. 82, on a map, it still appears that this loss would have taken place in Mississippi waters not Arkansas waters, but this is not crystal clear to us. If one Google “Miller Bend,” the map places a red dot directly on the boundary line between Arkansas and Mississippi, with the bend of land itself to the west protruding from Arkansas. However, if one looks further to the west beyond “Old River,” one sees the State of Mississippi border occupying land north and west of Arkansas – because of the meandering boundary between the two states in this vicinity.

Narrative Information

Bragg: “Ashbrook Cutoff. Mile 549.4 AHP [Above Head of Passes]….In the early steamboat days, the [Miller] bend had been filled with snags and was notoriously difficult. It was in this bend that the big sidewheel steamer John Adams had struck a snag on January 28, 1851. The boat sank so rapidly that most of the 123 deck passengers on board disappeared with it and were never seen again. Fortunately for the cabin passengers, the cabin had separated from the hull as the boat went down, and all of them were rescued.

“Contemporary accounts of the accident gave few details. The 100 or more people who had died were mostly Irish and German immigrants and even their names were not known. Most newspapers dismissed the tragedy in a brief paragraph, and some of them were not even certain just where the accident had occurred or why.” (Bragg. Historic Names…Places on…Lower Miss. River. “Ashbrook Cutoff,” 1977, p. 128.)

Childs: “The steamer John Adams struck a snag on the Ohio [sic.]…and sunk immediately, causing a loss of one hundred and twenty-three lives, mostly emigrants.” (Childs 1886, p. 134.)

Hunter: “The John Adams struck a snag in the Mississippi about two hundred miles below Memphis while on her way upriver from New Orleans. The hull was broken in two by the shock of the concussion, and the boat sank almost immediately. Of the 230 person reported on board only 107 were known to be saved.” (Hunter. Steamboats on the Western Rivers. 1994, p. 274.)

Lytle and Holdcamper: “John Adams…298 [tons]…snagged…1 28 1851…Island No. 82…123 [lines lost].” (Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1952, p. 234.)

Simonds: “1851, Jan. 27, John Adams strikes a snag in the Ohio [sic.], 123 lost.” (Simonds 1902, p. 99.)

Way: John Adams. Sidewheel wood-hull packet, built in Cincinnati in 1848 at 298 tons. “Built by Capt. Henry A. Jones of Cincinnati and others for the New Orleans trade. She was upbound at Island 82 above Greenville, Miss., on Jan. 28, 1851, when a snag broke the hull in two and she sank immediately with life loss set at 123 persons. The larger share of the casualties were deck passengers and deck crew. The scene of this tragedy was considerably west of the present course of the Mississippi.” (Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats of the Mississippi River System…(Revised). 1999, p. 249.)

Newspapers

Jan 29, Daily Free Democrat: “Louisville, Jan. 29…The Steamer John Adams, from New Orleans to Cincinnati, sunk yesterday at 3 o’clock A.M. [Jan 28] near Granville [Greenville?] in five minutes. Her cabin parted from the hull and broke in two. It floated to Granville [sic.] and grounded. All the deck passengers, over 100 were lost, also all the deck hands and firemen, excepting two. No cabin passengers were lost, but not of their effects were saved.” (Daily Free Democrat, Milwaukee, WI. “Dreadful Calamity,” Jan 31, 1851, p. 2.)

Jan 29, Daily Sanduskian: “Louisville, Jan. 29. The steamer John Adams, bound for New Orleans, sunk yesterday at 3 o’clock A.M. [Jan 28], near Greenville. In five minutes her cabin parted from the hull and broke in two. It floated to Greenville and grounded. All the deck passengers, over 100, were lost: also all the deck hands and firemen except two. No cabin passengers were lost; but none of their effects were saved.” (Daily Sanduskian (OH). Jan 30, 1851, p. 3, col. 1.)

Jan 30, Daily Crescent: “We have to record another terrible accident. The John Adams was snagged at Island 82, and one hundred and forty passengers lost. This is a fearful argument in favor of internal improvements.” (Daily Crescent, New Orleans. “Disasters on the Western Rivers.” 1-30-1851, p. 2.)

Jan 30, Daily Democrat: “Cairo, January 30. The steamer John Adams struck at the head of island 82 last Monday morning [Jan 27], and sunk entire; 120 lives lost, and those who saved themselves by swimming and other-wise escaped with their lives only. The boat had a considerable number of emigrants on board, all of whom with the deck passengers went down with the wreck and perished. None of the officers and but few of the cabin passengers were lost: Those who escaped passed up the Ohio to-day on the Petona [Peytona?] She will prove a total loss. She was commanded by Capt. Henry Jones and owned in Cincinnati. Both rivers receding slowly.” (Daily Democrat (Madison, WI). Feb 1, 1851, p. 3, col. 4.)

Jan 31, New Albany Daily Ledger: “The following dispatch is copied from the Louisville Courier – not a very reliable source:

“Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 28, P.M.

“The steamer John Adams, Capt. Jones, from New Orleans bound for Cincinnati, sunk at 3 o’clock yesterday morning [27th], at Island No. 80. In five minutes, the cabin parted from the hull and broke in two, and floated to Greenville and grounded.

“All of the deck passengers, more than one hundred in number, were lost, and all the deck hands and firemen except two, also perished. All of the cabin passengers were saved, but they lost all their clothing, baggage, &c.” (New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “Rumored Steamboat Disaster.” 1-31-1851, p. 2.)

Feb 1, Daily Union, DC: “New Orleans, Jan. 30 – It now appears that there have bee in all about one hundred and forty lives lost by the sinking of the steamer John Adams, among whom were eight or ten cabin passengers. The accident occurred near Island No. 82, not far from Vicksburg.”
(Daily Union, Washington, DC. “More of the Steamboat Disaster.” 2-1-1851, p. 3.)

Feb 4, Daily Morning Post, Pittsburgh: “Louisville, February 3. The Peytona brings full particulars of the sinking of the John Adams. She had large quantities of groceries on board for Cincinnati. The loss of life was about 140, including about 25 in the cabin.” (Daily Morning Post, Pittsburgh. “By Telegraph.” 2-4-1851, p. 3.)

Feb 4, Warrick Democrat, Newburgh, IN: “On Monday morning, 27th, at 3 o’clock, the steamer John Adams, on her way from New Orleans to Cincinnati, when opposite the head of Island 82, struck a snag or stump, and sank in two minutes. The cabin broke from the hull, which went down in about 65 or 70 feet water. 130 lives supposed to have been lost. Officers all saved, and with the surviving passengers were taken on board the Peytona. Many of these passengers were in a destitute condition, having lost their all.” (Warrick Democrat, Newburgh, IN. “Sinking of the John Adams.” 2-4-1851, p. 2.)

Feb 5, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY: “On Monday morning, 27th January, at 3 o’clock, the steamer John Adams, Capt. H. A. Jones, with a heavy freight and a large number of passengers, bound for Cincinnati, when near the head of Island 82, struck a snag or stump, and sank in two minutes. The cabin parted from the hull, and the latter went down in about 60 feet water. She had about 90 or 100 deck passengers, a few of whom only were saved. The cabin, in breaking from the hull, separated in the middle; which doubtless was the cause of many of the cabin passengers saving their lives. The ladies in the cabin were all saved. After suffering many hours in the water, they were enabled to get ashore at the plantation of a Mr. Carter. The forward portion of the cabin, including the fixtures, floated down to the head of the Island 83, where it grounded. About 3 P.M., the Peytona came along, and took the passengers on board from that part of the wreck, thence she proceeded with all possible haste to the other portion of the wreck, where she took all on board with the exception of Capt. Jones and his family, Mr. Wilson, the mate, and a few others.

“Owing to the time of her sinking, everyone being asleep, and it being so sudden, few were able to get sufficient clothing to cover themselves, and many of them are indeed in a most destitute condition. The number on board was as follows: Cabin passengers 100, deck 87, officers 11, crew firemen and hands 32; total, 230. The number saved, as near as can be ascertained, is as follows: cabin passengers 84, deck passengers 5, officers 11, crew, &c., 7, total 107. Showing the number lost, to be 123. The deck passengers were Californians, and German and Irish emigrants going to Cincinnati. The cargo was also for Cincinnati.” (Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “The Loss of the Steamer ‘John Adams.’” 2-5-1851, p. 2.)

Sources

Adams County, Mississippi Genealogical and Historical Research. “Natchez, Adams County, Mississippi.” 4-12-2009 at: http://www.natchezbelle.org/adams-ind/silver.htm#accidents

Bragg, Marion. Historic Names and Places on the Lower Mississippi River. Vicksburg, MS: Mississippi River Commission, 1977. Accessed at: Accessed 9-15-2020 at: ftp://ftp.library.noaa.gov/noaa_documents.lib/NOAA_related_docs/US_Army/Mississippi_River_names_1977.pdf

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “The Loss of the Steamer ‘John Adams.’” 2-5-1851, p. 2. Accessed 9-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brooklyn-daily-eagle-feb-05-1851-p-2/

Childs, Emery E. A History of the United States In Chronological Order From the Discovery of America in 1492 to the Year 1885. NY: Baker & Taylor, 1886. Google digitized. Accessed 9-4-2017: http://books.google.com/books?id=XLYbAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Daily Crescent, New Orleans. “Disasters on the Western Rivers.” 1-30-1851, p. 2. Accessed 9-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-orleans-daily-crescent-jan-30-1851-p-2/

Daily Democrat, Madison, WI. [Loss of the John Adams] Feb 1, 1851, p. 3, col. 4. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=34936777

Daily Free Democrat, Milwaukee, WI. “Dreadful Calamity” [Loss of Steamer John Adams], Jan 31, 1851, p. 2. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=33322904

Daily Morning Post, Pittsburgh. “By Telegraph.” 2-4-1851, p. 3. Accessed 9-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pittsburgh-daily-morning-post-feb-04-1851-p-3/

Daily Sanduskian, OH. [Steamer John Adams Sinks] Jan 30, 1851, p. 3, col. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=6385923

Daily Union, Washington, DC. “More of the Steamboat Disaster.” 2-1-1851, p. 3. Accessed 9-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/daily-union-feb-01-1851-p-3/

eBird. “Mississippi River–Island No. 82 Miller Bend dikes.” Accessed 9-15-2020 at: https://ebird.org/hotspots?hs=L1825136&yr=all&m=

Google Maps. “Miller Bend, Lower Mississippi River.” Accessed 9-15-2020 at: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Miller+Bend/@33.4521183,-91.1598783,14z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x862b8cb8d34f10db:0x3668bb4e3655ec61!8m2!3d33.4501149!4d-91.1181644

Hunter, Louis C. and Beatrice J. Steamboats on the Western Rivers: An Economic and Technological History. NY: Dover Publications, Inc., 1994, 684 pages.
New York Times. “Principal Events of 1851.” January 1, 1852. Accessed at: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=2&res=9501E2DC1331E234BC4953DFB7668389649FDE

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=8&size=125

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 Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “Rumored Steamboat Disaster.” 1-31-1851, p. 2. Accessed 9-14-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-albany-daily-ledger-jan-31-1851-p-2/

New York Times. “Principal Events of 1851.” January 1, 1852. Accessed at: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=2&res=9501E2DC1331E234BC4953DFB7668389649FDE

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

Warrick Democrat, Newburgh, IN. “Sinking of the John Adams.” 2-4-1851, p. 2. Accessed 9-15-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/newburgh-warrick-democrat-feb-04-1851-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). Athens OH: Ohio University Press, 1999.