1852 — April 3, Sidewheel steamer Glencoe Boiler Explosion/Fire, St. Louis, MO –40-62
–40-62 Blanchard estimated death-toll range.*
— 83 Simonds. The American Date Book. 1902, p. 99.
— >80 Childs. A History of the United States In Chronological Order. 1886, 136.
— 80 Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine 1888. 1889, p. 610.
— >62 Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, p. 276.**
— 60 Gould. Fifty Years on the Mississippi. 1889, p. 437,
— 60 Hunter. Steamboats on the Western Rivers… 1994, p. 287fn.
— 60 Nash, Jay Robert. Darkest Hours. 1977, p. 682.
–40-60 New York Times. “The Explosion on Board the Glencoe.” 4-14-1852, p. 4.
— 54 Blanchard. Named or reported deaths in listing we compile an end of “Narrative.”
— ~50 Wabash Courier, Terre Haute, IN. [Steamboat accidents since January.] 5-1-1852, p. 1.
— 40 Lytle and Holdcamper. Merchant Steam Vessels of the [U.S.] 1807-1868. 1952, p. 229.
— >40 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…[MS Riv. Sys.]… 1999, 189.
*Blanchard on death-toll range. While it appears to us from a review of the material compiled below, that the death-toll was approximately fifty, we use the number forty as the low-end of our death toll range, simply to acknowledge the number (40) used by Lytle and Holdcamper as well as by Way.
We do not credit the Simonds, Childs, and Lippincott estimates in the eighties. We attempted a word search for the Glencoe through newspaper articles accessible via newspaperarchive.com for the entire year of 1852 following the April 3 explosion and see no reports to substantiate these numbers. We frequently saw references to an unknown death toll, but one thought to be about fifty. We cite just one (Wabash Courier) of many such reports.
Though we believe the death-toll was approximately fifty, it is possible that the 60-62 death toll noted by Lloyd, Gould, Hunter, and Nash was the case. As we say, we do not see the numbers in the breakouts supporting that, but we could be wrong, and choose to use 62 as the high-end of our estimated death toll.
**On Lloyd: We write “at least” 60 deaths. Lloyd, in his “List of the Killed” ends the paragraph by writing “a total of sixty killed.” This was apparently in reference to killed outright, in that the following paragraph on “Badly Wounded,” noting one as “mortally” is followed by statement “Very few of those who were badly wounded listed twenty-four hours after the accident.” Additionally, Lloyd writes that “A lady from Illinois was killed in her state-room in the steamer Cataract, which lay next to the Glencoe.”
Narrative Information
Chappell: “Glencoe…A fine side-wheel passenger steamer. On the 3d of April, 1852, just at dusk, as the Glencoe was being moored to the levee at St. Louis, all three of her boilers exploded, with the most appalling result. The sound of the explosion was heard all over the city, and in the neighborhood of the levee the shock was so great that it was like an earthquake. The boat was crowded with people, many of whom had just come aboard, and the force of the explosion drove the wreck far out into the river. As usual in such disasters, what remained of the cabin immediately caught fire, and as the boat floated down stream many of the people were seen to throw themselves overboard to escape the flames. The fire burned fiercely and rapidly, and the spectacle was presented of people running with frenzical gestures from one side of the boat to the other seeking some means of escape from the horrible death that confronted them. Five bodies were found on the deck of the Cataract, another Missouri river boat, that lay alongside, and several on the Western World. A piece of the iron boiler was blown high up in the air and came down on the roof of a house on the levee, with such force as to break through and kill a woman who was sitting in a chair in the room below. It was never known how many lives were lost in this disaster, but the number was great.” (Chappell. “Missouri River Steamboats.” 1906, p. 303.)
Childs: “On the 3d of April, the steamboat Glencoe, from New Orleans, arrived at St. Louis, and had just been moored at the levee when three of her boilers burst, causing the death of more than eighty persons. The houses for several squares around appeared to reel under the force of the concussion.” (Childs 1886, p. 136)
Lloyd, 1856 (Gould, writing later (1889, pp. 477-478), uses most of this text virtually verbatim): “On the 3d day of April, 1852, the Glencoe, Captain Lee, from New Orleans, arrived at St. Louis, and had just been moored at the levee, foot of Chestnut Street, when three of her boilers exploded, with the most appalling and destructive effects. The sound of the explosion was heard in the most remote quarters of the city; in the neighborhood of the levee the shock was like an earthquake, the houses for several squares around appeared to reel under the force of the concussion. The boat was crowded with people at the time; the passengers were engaged in looking after their baggage, and numbers of citizens, hotel-runners, hackmen, etc., had pressed into the boat. There was a fearful loss of life, but the names and numbers of the killed are beyond the scope of inquiry, as many of the victims were strangers; the bodies of a large number blown overboard were not recovered from the water, and many of the dead were so shockingly disfigured or torn to pieces that all recognition was out of the question. Fragments of wood, iron, and dead bodies were thrown to a surprising distance.
“The shock of the explosion drove the steamer far out into the river, and immediately afterwards she took fire, the furnaces having been dismantled, and the burning fuel scattered over the decks. As the Glencoe floated down the stream, she presented a frightful spectacle. The whole forward part of the boat to the wheel-house, and down to the water line, had been swept away, all the after-part was a commingled mass of timbers, freight, and bodies heaped together in the wildest confusion. The fire burned fiercely and spread rapidly. The spectators on shore beheld men, women and children running, with frenzied gestures, from one part of the burning steamer to another, seeking some means of escape from the dreadful death which threatened them – some who had been caught between the falling timbers were writhing in agony, making ineffectual efforts to extricate themselves, imploring others to help them. Numbers of the crew and passengers were compelled by the advancing flames to throw themselves overboard, some of these succeeded in reaching the shore, but many of them were drowned.
“In the meantime several small boats were actively engaged in rescuing the drowning people, and a considerable number were saved in this manner. The wreck finally lodged at the foot of Poplar Street, where it burned to the water’s edge, and then sunk, carrying down with it the ashes and bones of the dead. Near the spot where the explosion took place many dead bodies and dying persons were extended on the levee. Thirteen mutilated corpses were soon after removed to the Office of the Board of Health, that being the most convenient place where they could be deposited. Twenty or thirty of the wounded were conveyed to the Sisters’ Hospital….The dead bodies of five persons who had been blown from the deck of the Glencoe were found on the steamer Cataract….The body of a woman was found on the levee stretched across a marble slab….
“The body of Mr. John Denny, first clerk of the Glencoe, was found on the hurricane deck of the steamer Western World….The body of a little girl, with the legs torn off, was recovered from the river. The dissevered leg of a man was picked up on the side walk in Commercial street; the boot which remained on the limb, led to the recognition thereof as part of the mortal remains of William Brennan, one of the engineers. Of the thirteen wounded persons who were sent to the hospital, three died during the night, and scarcely any of the others were believed to be curable.
“Capt. Lee, his lady and one of his children, left the boat as soon as she landed, and a very few minutes before the explosion. The Captain’s little son, ten years of age, who remained on board, was killed….
“List of the Killed. – John Denny, first clerk of the Glencoe; Henry Balsar, pilot; John Curtis Lee, son of the Captain, aged ten years; Edward McCarty, hack driver, St. Louis; Mrs. Schenil, passenger, Memphis, Tenn.;…John Grey, aged 12 years, a peddler boy, from Memphis; William Brennan, assistant engineer; a family, consisting of a man, his wife and three female children, names unknown; George W. Rolfe, runner at the American Hotel, St. Louis; David Cree, Belfast, Ireland; George Reeder and James Wile, runners at the Virginia Hotel; a woman, name unknown; and many others, whose bodies could not be identified; making a total of sixty killed.
“Badly Wounded…. [We omit list of fourteen named people.]
“Very few of those who were badly wounded lived twenty-four hours aver the accident. In addition to those mentioned in the foregoing list, some of the wounded were conveyed away by their friends, and their names were not ascertained.
“Two or three steamboats which lay near the Glencoe, were much damaged by the explosion. A lady from Illinois was killed in her state-room in the steamer Cataract, which lay next to the Glencoe.” (Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, pp. 274-276.)
Way: Glencoe. Sidewheel wood-hull packet built in New Albany IN in 1846 at 428 tons. “Ran St. Louis-New Orleans. Aon Apr. 4, 1852, just in from New Orleans, she landed at the foot of Chestnut Street, St. Louis, and exploded all three boilers. Forty or more lives were lost including a son of the captain, a clerk, a pilot, etc.” (Way and Rutter. Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats of the Mississippi River System Since the Advent of Photography in Mid-Continent America (Revised). 1999, p. 189.)
Newspapers
April 3: “St. Louis, April 3, 8 P.M. The steamer Glencoe arrived from New Orleans this evening, about 8 o’clock, and while making a landing, blew up with a terrible explosion, bursting all the boilers. About one hundred and fifty passengers were on board at the time, a large number of whom were killed.
“The steamers Cataract, Georgia, and Western World, laying alongside, sustained considerable damage. Several persons were killed on these boats. The number killed is not known, but supposed to be large. The boat took fire and burnt to the water’s edge.” (New Albany Daily Ledger, IA. “The Steamer Glencoe Blowed Up – A large Number of Passengers Lost!” 4-5-1852, p. 2.)
April 5: “From the St. Louis Times of Monday [Apr 5]. One of the most dreadful steamboat accidents that it has ever been our duty to record, occurred at the levee on last Saturday evening [Apr 3], at or near the hour of eight o’clock. The steamer Glencoe having on board a large number of passengers, had just arrived from New Orleans, and was effecting a landing at the levee, at the foot of Chestnut street, and before she had entirely succeeded in landing, and while the hands were hauling in the boat with the hawser at the capstan, two of her boilers exploded with terrific force, and tearing the boat almost into fragments. Such was the force of explosion that the whole front of the cabin as far back as the wheel, was literally torn to pieces, and fell with a crash on the deck below. The force of the explosion was such that large fragments and pieces of timber and smaller pieces fell in showers on the levee for some distance, and on the boats which were lying adjacent. – The steamer Cataract, which was lying along-side, and between which and the steamer Georgia, the ill-fated boat was making her landing, suffered severely, demolishing her upper works and a portion of the ladies’ cabin. The other boats in the vicinity were injured slightly by the force of the falling timbers. A portion of the flue of one of the boilers was thrown with considerable velocity, and penetrated the texas of the Western World.
“The number of passengers cabin and deck, as appears from the register which was picked up on the Western World was a little over a hundred, but as the boat had touched at one or two points below before she had succeeded in landing, the probability is that there were many who had availed themselves of the opportunity to get aboard, and who doubtless perished. To those who have witnessed a steamboat landing at our levee this suggestion is very probable, and it will be some days before we have the means of ascertaining who they were, or the number of those that were lost.
“A very short time after the explosion, the boat was discovered to be on fire, when the hawser which had been holding her to the Levee, was detached and she commenced floating down, while her decks, amid the glare of flames, revealed the horrible sight of human beings, who were eagerly revealing the still more horrible sight of the scalded and wounded, with outstretched arms imploring for help. – As she floated down many of her dick passengers filled the yawl and went ashore, while the yawls of other steamers were sent to their relief, and took off those who had not previously perished
“The following are the names of those who are lost and scalded, as far as can yet be ascertained,
“John Denny, clerk of steamer Glencoe, killed. His body found on hurricane deck of the steamer Western World, horribly disfigured.
“Miss Kent, on the steamer Cataract, killed.
“James Little, pastry cook of the Cataract, killed.
“McLane, bar-keeper of the Glencoe, blown ashore and dangerously wounded.
“Daniel Hinman, from Warrick county, Indiana, arm broken and badly scalded.
“….Georg Washington Raife [or Ralfe], hotel runner, dangerously wounded inside – right foot nearly severed from body – not expected to survive.
“Michael Dunn, arm broken and scalded.
“George Reeder and James Wiles, hotel runners, missing – supposed to have been lost.
“Mr. Straddiford, from Ohio, blown overboard – slightly bruised – saved.
“Edward McCary, a cab driver, dead.
“Four women, unknown, whose bodies were taken to the office of the Board of health, horribly mutilated.
“Two men, unknown.
“H. Balwer, the pilot, who was at the wheel died at the Hospital on Saturday evening about 9 o’clock.
“A leg of one of the engineers was found and identified as that of Wm. Breman, by a watchman on the boat.
“James Foley, an engineer – severely wounded.
“John Cura Lee, aged about ten years, the son of Captain Lee – dead.
“A deck passenger, by the name of Sheneile, who came aboard at Napoleon, in Arkansas, was seen standing with his family consisting of some seven or eight persons, just previous to the explosion, alongside the boilers. The probability is they all perished….
“Captain Lee, at the time of the explosion, was standing on the hurricane deck in front of the pilot house, and fell with the timbers and deck in the forecastle. – We are glad to learn that though severely bruised and injured, he is not dangerously hurt.
“….The following comprise a list of the scalded and those wounded, who were taken to the hospital:
“….Samuel Sleigh, a man who went on board after the boat arrived, probably mortally wounded.
“….James McLean, of Ohio. Flesh wound and badly scalded; recovery doubtful.
“Thomas Carroll, of Liverpool. Injured in the head and shoulder dangerously.
“Wm. Brethward – badly wounded. He will not survive. He is from Berchard, England…
“David Creed, a passenger from Belfast, Ireland. – Dangerously wounded….
“Thomas Donohue, of Dubuque – badly injured in the head and one eye….
“Michael Dunn, runner at the Pacific Hotel, George W. Rolf, do. [ditto] at the American Hotel – dead.
“Susan Mathews, dangerously hurt.
“Female, name not known – dead.
“The Glencoe, after she took fire, drifted slowly along the levee, and at one time, stopped against the steamer Planter for some moments, and passed on. In her course, she fired several wood boats with their contents, and finally, sunk near the foot of Mulberry street….” (Illinois Daily Journal, Springfield, IL. “Steamboat Explosion and Loss of Life.” 4-7-1852, p. 2.)
April 14: “….The killed and missing by this fearful explosion is set down at sixty, and the wounded at thirty-five, many of whom will not survive their injuries, and nearly all of whom were either officers, passengers, or hands on the Glencoe.” (New York Times. “The Explosion on Board the Glencoe.” 4-14-1852, p. 4.)
April 14: “Cynthe Shrill, another victim of the Glencoe explosion, died yesterday [April 14] at the Sister’s Hospital. This is the little girl who was blown from the ill-fated boat into the ladies’ cabin of the Cataract, and taken out from beneath the timbers so frightfully mangled that the physicians in attendance supposed she could not possibly live through the night. She has lingered on, suffering the most intense agony, until yesterday. Father, mother and five or six brothers and sisters were instantly killed, and she alone left to tell the name of this once numerous family, where they came from and where they were going. She is now dead, and the family is extinct. – (St. Louis Times. 15th.)” (Iowa Democratic Enquirer, Muscatine. 4-24-1852, p. 1.)
April 19: “John Ryan one of the assistant Engineers on the Glencoe made the following statement just before his death:
That on the evening of the arrival of the Glencoe at this port, himself and George Buchanan, first engineer of the boat, were on watch. Sometime before reaching port he (Ryan) tried the water in the boilers and found it very low, and called to B. and informed him of the fact, and received some evasive answer. He again tried the water, and again called to Buchanan, who tole him to mind his business, that thee was water enough in the boilers, and he would take her with it to St. Louis or to h_ll. Not satisfied, Ryan expostulated, and Buchanan told him in substance that it was his (Buchanan’s) watch, and that he (Ryan) had nothing to do with pumping up, and, moreover, that if he (Ryan) had his way he would have the water from the boilers running out at the tops of the chimneys. Subsequently Buchanan remarked that the boat was making good time, and he would take her into St. Louis kiting. This was perhaps the last remark made, and when the boat reached the wharf and commenced trying to effect a landing, Buchanan turned on the gage-cock and let on the water. The instant the cold water came in contact with the heated boiler now nearly dry, the explosion took place.”
(Quincy Whig, IL. “The Explosion on the Glencoe.” 4-19-1852, p. 1.)
April 22: “The recent explosions of steamboat boilers, and the great sacrifice of life consequent on them, have induced Congress to look again into the subject of regulating steamboats by law. Mr. John Davis, of Mass., has prepared an elaborate bill on the subject. Its object is to protect the lives of passengers as well as property. It contemplates a strict inspection of boilers. But supposing the boiler to be perfect, that is no protection against explosion. Nine times out of ten the explosion happens from the neglect of the engineer, as in the case of the Glencoe. But the 29th section of the bill holds the owners and masters of the steamboat liable for any destruction of life or injury to persons, or loss or damage of property from explosions, &c., occurring from carelessness, in breach of the regulations of the act. That section may be of some use if ever enforced.” (New York Daily Times. “Steamboat Explosions.” 4-22-1852, p. 4.)
Named or otherwise identified fatalities noted in sources above
1. Balsar [or Balwer or Bolsar], Henry. Glencoe pilot; died shortly afterwards at hospital.
2. Brennan, William. Glencoe assistant engineer. [Also reported as George Buchanan.]
3. Butler, James M., about 23, from KY. Died in hospital.
4. Cree, David. Belfast Ireland. (D. Caree, noted as an engineer, who died in hospital?)
5. Denny, John. First clerk of the Glencoe, blown to deck of the Western World.
6. Dunn, Michael. Runner for the Pacific Hotel, St. Louis.
7. Grey, John (Johnny), aged 12. Peddler boy from Memphis or New Orleans.
8. Jaolp, George. Died in hospital.
9. Kent, Miss. Killed by Glencoe debris in her state-room on the Cataract.
10. Lee, John Curtis, 10. Son of Captain Lee of the Glencoe. (Body blown onto Cataract.)
11. Little, James. Pastry cook on the Cataract.
12. McCarty [or McCary], Edward. St. Louis hack [cab] driver.
13. Reeder, George. Runner at the Virginia Hotel, St. Louis.
14. Rolfe [Rolf, or Raife, or Ralfe] George Washington. Runner, American Hotel, St. Louis.
15. Ryan, John; a Glencoe assistant engineer.
16. Shrill (or Schenil), Mr. Father of family of eight or nine. Killed by the explosion.
17. Shrill (or Schenil (or Schenile), Mrs., of Memphis, TN. Deck passenger on the Glencoe.
18. Shrill, child #1 of family of eight or nine. Killed by the explosion.
19. Shrill, child #2 of family of eight or nine. Killed by the explosion.
20. Shrill, child #3 of family of eight or nine. Killed by the explosion.
21. Shrill, child #4 of family of eight or nine. Killed by the explosion.
22. Shrill, child #5 of family of eight or nine. Killed by the explosion.
23. Shrill, Cynthe; little girl. Died in hosp. ~Apr 14; injuries when blown into Cataract ladies’ cabin.
24. Stockwell. Passenger from Mobile. (Mobile Tribune in Daily News, Savannah. 4-20-1852, 2.)
25. Wile [or Wiles], James, runner at the Virginia Hotel, St. Louis.
26. Williams. Passenger from Mobile. (Mobile Tribune in Daily News, Savannah. 4-20-1852, 2.)
27. Lady from Germany, name unknown, died in the hospital.
28. Body of unidentified girl found lying upon arm of Glencoe 1st clerk on Western World.
29. Body of unidentified woman found on levee, apparently thrown there by the explosion.
30. Body #1 of five thrown to deck of the Cataract – man.
31. Body #2 of five thrown to deck of the Cataract – boy.
Body #3 of five thrown to deck of the Cataract – girl.
Body #4 of five thrown to deck of the Cataract. (Capt. Lee’s son, aged 10.)
Body #5 of five thrown to deck of the Cataract. (Mrs. Schenile)
32. Body #1 of “several” thrown to deck of the Western World.
33. Body #1 of “several” thrown to deck of the Western World.
34. Unidentified little girl found in the river.
35. Unidentified woman in house on the levee killed by piece of boiler blown through roof.
36. Unidentified person #1 of three injured who died overnight of Apr 3-4 at the hospital.
37. Unidentified person #2 of three injured who died overnight of Apr 3-4 at the hospital.
38. Unidentified person #3 of three injured who died overnight of Apr 3-4 at the hospital.
39. Unidentified person #1 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
40. Unidentified person #2 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
41. Unidentified person #3 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
42. Unidentified person #4 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
43. Unidentified person #5 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
44. Unidentified person #6 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
45. Unidentified person #7 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
46. Unidentified person #8 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
47. Unidentified person #9 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
48. Unidentified person #10 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
49. Unidentified person #11 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
50. Unidentified person #12 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
51. Unidentified person #13 of thirteen “mutilated corpses…removed to…Board of Health…”
52. Unknown persons #1 of “large number blown overboard…not recovered.”
53. Unknown persons #2 of “large number blown overboard…not recovered.”
54. Unknown persons #3 of “large number blown overboard…not recovered.”
Sources
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