1872 –Apr 11, steamer Oceanus boiler explosion/fire, Miss. River, ~Brook’s Point, IL-34-40

–34-40 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

— ~80 Ohio Democrat, New Philadelphia, OH. “River Horror,” April 19, 1872, p. 2, col. 5.
— 70 U. S. Central Publishing Co. Important Events of the Century: 1776-1876, p. 169.
–60-70 Chicago Tribune. “Another Sad Calamity. Explosion…Boiler…Oceanus…” 4-12-1872, p. 1.
–60-70 New York Times. “The Oceanus Explosion,” April 13, 1872, p. 1, col. 1.
— ~40 Atlantic Almanac. “Notable Events and Deaths from Nov 1, 1871, to Nov 1, 1872,” 60.
— 40 Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 45, June-Nov, 1872, p. 153.
— 40 Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine. “Every Day’s Record,” April 1889, p. 613.
— 40 Lossing. Harper’s Encyclopedia of U.S. History from 458 A.D. to 1902. 1902, p. 453.
— 40 Simonds. The American Date Book. 1902, p. 101.
— 40 U.S. Congress, House. Hearings. “Safety of Life and Property at Sea.” 1935, p. 247.
— 40 Vincent. Haydn’s Dictionary of Dates (Revised for American Readers). “Wrecks.” 1883, p758.
— 34 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…[MS Riv. Sys.]… 1999, p352.
— 32 The Republican, Henry, IL. “The Late Steamboat Accident on the Mississippi.” 4-18-1872, p1.

* Blanchard estimated death toll. We choose to use 34-40 as an estimated death toll so as to include Way (34), usually a reliable source, as well as the forty used by a number of almanacs and periodicals popular at the time. While frequently unreliable individually, their sheer number gives us reason to suspect that there might well have been a more or less accurate report of 40 deaths at the time, though we have not been able to locate what appears to be an original source. We have seen no evidence to support the alarmist, mostly survivor-based, reporting of sixty to eighty deaths.

Narrative Information

Harper’s: “The steamer Oceanus, from Red River for St. Louis, when twenty miles above Cairo, April 11, exploded her boilers, wrecking the boat and scalding or drowning upward of forty persons.” (Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 45, June-Nov, 1872, p. 153.)

Way: Oceanus. Sternwheel wood-hull packet, built in 1870 in California, PA, at 365 tons, and measuring 180 x 40-5 x 5.5, with three boilers. “….She was upbound 20 miles above Cairo in Dog Tooth Bend near Brook’s Point at 4:00 A.M. Apr. 11, 1872, the boilers exploded with loss of 34 lives. The John Lumdsen…was moored two miles below cooled down. Her pilot Thompson manned a yawl and rescued many. The Belle St. Louis came up, assisted, and delivered survivors to Grand Tower, Ill. Capt. Alhambra Reeder was master, native of Glasgow, Mo., and originally an engineer, married and no children. He lost his life, as did first clerk Henry M. Worsham, 40 years resident of St. Louis, and Charles Worsham (son), 2nd clerk. The wreck burned, taking the life of Harry Tripp, pilot, from Memphis, and also lost was George Wiggins, New Orleans, the Red River pilot. Four lions belonging to James Robinson’s Circus were lost. The wreck lay in the middle of the river.” (Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats of the Mississippi River System…(Revised). 1999, p. 352.)

Newspapers

April 11: “Cairo, Ill., April 11. – Steamer Oceanus, from Red River to St. Louis, when near Brook’s Point, 30 miles above here, at 4 o’clock this morning, exploded her boil4r, blowing her upper-works almost entirely away, immediately after which the wreck took fire, burning to the water’s edge. Pilot Thompson, of the steamer John Lumsden, lying a few miles below, on seeing the light from the burning wreck, manned the yawl, and proceeded up the river to ascertain the cause. He found a small party of survivors on Head Island, but passed on to relieve those on the wreck. Ten or twelve were clinging to the wheel, but it dropped before he reached there, and all but four were lost. He found a deck passenger, name unknown, near the shore, badly scalded, who died before his arrival at Cairo. Steamer Belle St. Louis, bound up, took nearly all the survivors. Mr. Thompson rescued Pilot Harris. The latter states that Wiggins, their Red River pilot was drowned. Harry Triff, the pilot on watch, also Captain Reeder, were buried in the debris, and were heard calling despairingly for help, but the fire gained such headway that they could not be reached and were buried. Fisher, the carpenter of the ill-fated steamer, reached here on the Shreve. He was not seriously hurt. He states that the second engineer, Alex. Kennedy, was terribly scalded, was helpless and blind. Fisher put him on a stage plank with others. The stage soon capsized, drowning several, including Kennedy. Geo. Kenthley, first engineer, is supposed to be lost. Henry M. Worsham, first clerk, was not seen after the explosion. He expected to go through from Cairo by rail, but was seen on the boat after leaving here. Chas. Worsham, second clerk, Jules Dempewolf, steward, and Charley Muvay, cabin-boy, were found dead floating in the river, all with life-preservers on, and brought here by the steamer Shreve, supposed to be chilled to death.

“There were five lady passengers, all supposed to be lost. The bodies of four ladies were seen floating past Watson’s Landing today, but were not recovered. Fisher thinks Pilot Harris and himself are the only employes of the boat saved, though the Belle St. Louis may have picked up some. The officers of the Shreve state that there were about forty cabin and thirty-five deck passengers, making a total of about one hundred souls, about eighty of whom are supposed to be lost. The greater portion of the survivors being on the Belle St. Louis, no names of the passengers nor any reliable estimate of the loss can be obtained, except from her books.

“Fisher describes the effects of the explosion as terrific beyond conception, the whole upper works being lifted bodily, and falling on the boat and in the water completely shattered. He saved himself by securing a plank and floating until rescued by a yawl of the Lumsden. He was in bed at the time, and, though covered by debris, was only slightly bruised.

Later.

“The steamer Grand Tower, just arrived, reports the First Engineer and Mate saved; also thirty two other persons on the Belle of St. Louis. The Second Engineer was saved, but died of his injuries….

“The steamer Lumsden saved Jno. Meeker, Chas. Teasdorf, and John Martin. Wiggins, the Red River pilot, and Tripp, are both dead. Captain Worsham, first clerk; Captain Reeder, Colonel Malder, the steward, C. F. Huff, passenger of the Covington, and many others are missing. It is thought from sixty to seventy persons are lost.” (Chicago Tribune. “Another Sad Calamity. Explosion /of the Boiler of the Steamer Oceanus, near Cairo.” 4-12-1872, p. 1.)

April 12: “St. Louis, April 12. The steamer Belle of St. Louis arrived here this morning with twenty-eight of the survivors of the Oceanus disaster, and the bodies of seven who died on the way up. The books and papers of the steamer were lost. A complete list of the passengers and crew cannot therefore by given. The following is a list of the killed and missing and saved as far as is known:

“(The list as given comprises: Killed – passengers, 3, crew, 4. Missing – passengers, 6, crew 19. Saved – passengers 17, crew, 13. Many of the saved were badly, some probably fatally, injured or burned.)….

“It was stated that it was the middle boiler that exploded. The engineer said that he went on watch but a few moments before the explosion, and tried six gauges, in all of which he found plenty of water. He then waled back to get a cup of coffee and in five minutes the explosion occurred.

“George Keightly, the first engineer, who was on watch when the explosion occurred, says the boat had just struck a bar. The engines had been stopped, and Mr. Keightly just glanced at his watch to note the time when the explosion occurred, and with terrible force one of he boilers was blown back to the cylinders, and the whole forward part of he boat, including the pilot-house, texas and forward state rooms, were scattered right and left. The boat took fire instantly, and the startled and half-nude passengers that were not killed awoke to a terrible reality. But one boat was left, and that was badly broken. The officers did all they could to assist the passengers. Capt. Reeder and Clerk M. Worsham gathered together the life-preservers that were left in the back part of the cabin, and distributed them to the half-distracted passengers. There were but two females on board – Mrs. Constable and the chambermaid, named Wallace.

“Various statements have been made during the day by survivors of the Oceanus disaster, but they relate almost entirely to personal experiences, and throw little or no light on the cause of the explosion. The bodies brought up by the steamer Bell of St. Louis will be held for inquest. Those of the wounded not able to take care of themselves have been taken charge of by the city and sent to the hospitals. Most of the passengers remain her. One of he pilots states that it would have been impossible for the steamer to ground at the point the explosion took place, as asserted by George Keightley [sic.], the first engineer.” (The Republican, Henry, IL. “The Late Steamboat Accident on the Mississippi.” 4-18-1872, p. 1.)

April 14: “The inquest on the bodies of the victims by the explosion of the steamer Oceanus closed on the 14th. The jury’s verdict states that they were unable to determine the cause of the explosion.” (Edwardsville Intelligencer, IL, “The West,” 4-25-1872, p. 2, col. 2.)

Oct 19: “Washington, Oct. 19. – The Supervising Inspector General of Steamers, having examined the evidence in the case of he steamer Oceanus, reports that no action seems necessary in view that the boat was burned to the water’s edge, sunk in thirty-five feet of water, and all her licensed officers drowned except the Chief Engineer, who was exonerated from all blame. The immediate cause of the explosion was caused by the boat striking on a bar. Mr. Rogers, Supervising Inspector at New Orleans, who conducted the investigation, presents valuable information in regard to boiler explosions on the western rivers, and means for their prevention. The first general cause stated being an accumulation of mud sediment in the boilers, causing the fire [unclear] surfaces to be burned, thus weakening the strength of the plates. The second general cause, as stated, is the strain due to a change in the bearing of the boiler, resulting from a change of forms. These subjects will engage official attention.” (Daily Quincy Herald, IL. “Washington…Oceanus Investigation.” 10-20-1872, p. 1, col. 3.)

Sources

Atlantic Almanac. “Notable Events and Deaths from Nov 1, 1871, to Nov 1, 1872,” 60. Accessed 10-11-2020 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=VmkkAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Chicago Tribune. “Another Sad Calamity. Explosion /of the Boiler of the Steamer Oceanus, near Cairo.” 4-12-1872, p. 1. Accessed 10-11-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/chicago-tribune-apr-12-1872-p-1/

Daily Quincy Herald, IL. “Washington…Oceanus Investigation.” 10-20-1872, p. 1, col. 3. Accessed 10-11-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/quincy-daily-herald-oct-20-1872-p-1/

Edwardsville Intelligencer, IL, “The West,” 4-25-1872, p. 2, col. 2. Accessed 10-11-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/edwardsville-intelligencer-apr-25-1872-p-2/

Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, Volume XLV [45], June to November, 1872. NY: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1872. Digitized by Google. Accessed 10-11-2020 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=Bg4wAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Lippincott’s Monthly Magazine. “Every Day’s Record,” April 1889, p. 613. Accessed at: Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1889. Accessed 10-11-2020 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=nLURAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

Lossing, Benson John (Editor). Harper’s Encyclopedia of United States History from 458 A.D. to 1902. NY: Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1902. Digitized by Google. Accessed 10-11-2020 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=fnwQAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

New York Times. “The Oceanus Explosion,” April 13, 1872, p. 1, col. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=19717250

Ohio Democrat, New Philadelphia, OH. “River Horror,” April 19, 1872, p. 2, col. 5. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=16223383

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

The Republican, Henry, IL. “The Late Steamboat Accident on the Mississippi.” 4-18-1872, p. 1. Accessed 10-11-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/henry-republican-apr-18-1872-p-1/

United States Central Publishing Co. Important Events of the Century: 1776-1876. NY: U.S. Central Pub. Co., 1876. Google preview accessed 1-22-2018 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=OGZt1HGsgmEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

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

Vincent, Benjamin. Haydn’s Dictionary of Dates (Revised for American Readers). “Wrecks.” New York: Harp4re & Brothers, Franklin Square, 1883. Accessed 10-11-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Haydn_s_Dictionary_of_Dates_and_Universa/Eqs-AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=steamboat+%22oceanus%22+boiler+explosion+fire+mississippi+river+april+11+1872&pg=PA758&printsec=frontcover

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.