1849 — March 31, Steamer Virginia boilers explode, sinks, Ohio river, Rush Run, OH-14-16

–14-16 Blanchard estimated fatality range.*

— 16 Blanchard list of fatalities identified in sources cited herein.
–14-15 Daily Wheeling Gazette, WV. “The Explosion of the Virginia. April 2, 1849, p. 2.
— 14 De Bow, Editor. De Bow’s Review. “Steamboat Explosion in the West.” V. 2, 1866, 308.
— 14 Fisher/McCord. “Steamboat Explosions…Fifty-Five Years.” In Scharf 1883, 1108.
— 14 Gould, E. W. Fifty Years on the Mississippi. 1889, p. 437.
— 14 Vincennes Gazette, IN. “Explosion of the Virginia.” 4-19-1849, p. 2, col. 5.
–10-13 Huntington Journal, PA. “Steamboat Explosions.” 4-10-1849, p. 3, p. 6. (Our numbers.)
–10 dead
— 3 missing, presumed dead
— 2 thought to be mortally wounded (but not included in our fatality range).
— 12 Prairie Du Chien Patriot, WI. “Explosion of Steamer Virginia.” April 18, 1849, p. 2.
— 2-12 Western Boatman (Vol. 1). “Steamboat Disasters.” 1848. p. 354.
–10-11 Journal…Franklin Institute. “Notice of the Explosion…Steamer Virginia.” 1849, 355.
— 10 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Pass. Steamboats…MS River System. 1994, 471.
— 8-10 Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, p. 246.
— 10 US Congress, House. Hearings. “Safety of Life and Property at Sea.” 1935, p. 235.
— 8-10 Zanesville Courier, OH. “Horrible Steamboat Explosion and Loss of Life.” 4-3-1849, 2.

* Blanchard estimated fatality range. While the sources we note show a range of fatalities from a low of 8 to a high of 15, our own attempt to put together a list of fatalities noted by sources cited herein, comes to a total of sixteen, not including several people noted as feared to be mortally wounded, but whose fate we have not been able to determine. Thus, we are of the opinion that the number of fatalities could well have been sixteen. In that this is our number and in that five sources show fourteen or fourteen to fifteen deaths, we choose to employ a range of fatalities, using fourteen as the low-end of our range and sixteen as the high-end.

Narrative Information

Franklin Institute: “From the Pittsburg Journal, April 2, 1849.

“By the politeness of the clerk of the steamer Zachary Taylor, we are furnished with a list of the killed, wounded, and missing, by the explosion of the boilers on board the steamer Virginia. She was employed as a regular packet between Wheeling and Steubenville, and, at the time of the accident, had landed to put off a passenger at Rush Run. The explosion occurred immediately on attempting to start the boat on her course.

The Zachary Taylor was on her way from this city to Wheeling, and was at the scene of the catastrophe in a few minutes after it occurred, and rendered every assistance in her power to the wounded. The officers are deserving of commendation for their efficient aid to the sufferers. The boat was literally blown to fragments, and, of course, is a total loss.

Killed, … 10
Wounded,…. 10
Scalded, … 3
Missing, …. 1

“The cause of the accident — whether from defective boilers or from carelessness on the part of the engineer, — has not yet been ascertained. Accidents of this nature are becoming lamentably frequent of late.

“The Virginia is represented as having been a small boat, but the opening of the spring business gave her a large passenger list. Her freight will be a heavy loss to small dealers.” (Journal of the Franklin Institute. “Notice of the Explosion of the Steamer Virginia.” 1849, p. 355.)

Lloyd: “On Saturday, March 31, 1849, at 5 o’clock, p. m., the steamer Virginia, plying as a daily packet between Wheeling, Va., and Steubenville, Ohio, was torn into pieces and sunk by the explosion of her boilers, at Rush Creek, ten miles above Wheeling. Eight or ten lives were lost, and about fourteen persons were wounded. The explosion took place when the boat was about to land a passenger, Mr. Roe, who was killed. As almost the whole of the upper part of the boat was reduced to fragments, and the hull sunk immediately, there can be no doubt that all of the crew and passengers who were missing, perished in the wreck.

“List of Killed. — Mr. Roe, Rush Creek; the chambermaid of the boat; William Ebert, Wheeling, Va.; a colored fireman, and eight or ten others, names unknown.

“Badly Wounded.—Mr. Boles and lady, Steubenville, Ohio; Mr. Collins, the pilot, one leg broken and otherwise badly injured; Henry Commons, Birmingham, Alleghany county, Pa.; John Taylor, first engineer, Wheeling, Va.; W. Barker, St. Louis; W. Althouse, Wheeling; the carpenter of the boat; James Zink, a boy, and A. Snyder, (both legs torn off,) Wheeling; and Mr. Atchison, Steubenville.

“Slightly Wounded. – Mrs. E. Coen, Wheeling; Capt. Dawson, Richetown; Mr. Beaty, Steubenville; and Mr. Burgess and lady, West Springfield, Ill.

“Mr. Roe, the passenger who was going on shore at the time of the explosion, was on the plank, and was cut in three pieces by fragments of the boiler.” (Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. 1856, p. 246.)

Way: “Virginia. SW p wh b [Sidewheel packet, wood hull, built] Elizabethtown, Pa., 1848. 60 tons. Came out May 1848 owned by George Ledlie, Pittsburgh, Capt. William T. Dawson. Was in Wheeling-Steubenville trade when she exploded her boiler at Rush Run, Mar. 31, 1849, with loss of ten lives. The Mount Vernon rendered aid.” (Way 1994, p. 471.)

Western Boatman: “Steamer Virginia ten miles above Wheeling, March 30th, 1849; 30 on board, 2 killed, 18 scalded, 10 missing.

“The Virginia, we are informed, was a Packet Boat from Wheeling to Steubenville, she had new boilers made at Pittsburgh by Mr. Wightman, said to be very good, cylinders sufficiently large to work all the steam. She was in the first place top-heavy and rolled very much; she afterwards, had her boilers lowered six inches and the cabin 15 inches. Her pumps worked well while under charge of the first Engineer. The captain was not satisfied with the first Engineer, as he thought the boat ought to run faster, he wanted …. [name left out of the original] of Wheeling to try her; the Engineer learning this, gave him the opportunity of employing…, and we have the result.

“We learn that after the second Engineer came on board the force pumps were frequently out of order. We do not know the man, but have only to say that when we enquired for the names of Engineers in good standing, at Wheeling, his name was not on the list.” (Western Boatman (Vol. 1). “Steamboat Disasters.” 1848. p. 354.)

Newspapers

March 31: “Steubenville, (O.) March 31, 1849. Our town was the scene of quite a melancholy disaster to-day, in consequence of the explosion of the boilers of the steamboat Virginia.

“Three persons have been killed, the son of the captain perhaps mortally wounded, and thirteen others missing. Whether the latter were thrown overboard and drowned, or that they have escaped and mingled with the excited crowd, I am unable to say.” (New York Herald. “Frightful Steamboat Disaster on the Ohio River, and Loss of Life.” 4-1-1849, p. 3, col. 2.)

April 2, Daily Wheeling Gazette: “By a statement made by Dr. James Sinclair of Steubenville and published as an Extra of the Steubenville News, dated four o’clock Saturday afternoon, March 31st., and other information which we believe to be authentic, we are enabled to give further particulars of the horrible catastrophe of the blowing up of the Virginia. We have not, however, been able to obtain as accurate and intelligible information from any source as we could desire, from the fact that the wounded and so many of the dead as could be found, were immediately removed from the scene of the disaster to different places, whilst the Captain and Clerk of the boat, are disabled by their injuries from making any statement of the number or names of those on board. The number is believed to have been twenty-five or thirty. Counting all the missing as dead, it is believed that there are some fifteen already dead.

“Mr. Andrew Snyder of this city, who had both his legs torn off, died on board the boat which was taking him to Steubenville, just as it reached Wellsburgh six miles from Rush Run where the explosion took place.

“Mr. G. R. Spencer from Connecticut, who was scalded and had a leg broken and was otherwise injured, died within six hours afterwards.

“Mr. J. R. Sturgeon of St. Clairsville, Ohio, died the same evening.

“Mr. W. Rowe [Roe?] and the Chambermaid were killed instantly. They are the only ones mentioned as dead in our hastily prepared account of Saturday morning.

“A Child, said to have been a child of the Chambermaid, was also killed.

“Samuel Nelson, a colored fireman, was literally torn into fragments.

“Joshua Everett and Washington Ehbert, young men of this city, were both killed. The body of neither has yet been recovered.

“Two Deck Hands, whose names are not given in Dr. Sinclair’s statement, also killed. Their bodies were taken out of the river Saturday morning.

“_____Wells, ______Kelliger and J. Sharp whose names are on the register of passengers, are missing and doubtless dead; the register having been found.

“A Mr. Lepper and Mr. John Taylor, the latter of whom, was taken to Warrenton, were very severely injured, and it is thought, will not survive. Young Zink of this city, is suffering severely but with a better prospect of recovering. The names of others of the wounded, as far as we can give them were contained in our account of Saturday.

“Mr. Snyder had been in this city but a few weeks. He had previously resided at Steubenville and was on his way thither for the purpose of removing his family to this city, when overtaken by the sad catastrophe. His mutilated remains were, on Saturday evening brought down from Steubenville, accompanied by the bereaved wife and six children, and taken to the home which he had prepared for them, to be taken thence to their last resting place.

“It was a matter of course in such a gentleman as Capt. Moore, of the Nelson, to refuse to receive any compensation for removing the family and their effects thither, though it was pressed upon him by a gentleman fellow-craftsman of the deceased.

“It is said that the widow and young children are left with but very little besides necessary household furniture and clothing, and that the widow is in a delicate state of health. We hope, therefore, that the generosity of Capt. Moore, may serve as an example to the generous ladies and gentlemen of the city, in the degree in which the wants of the widow and fatherless may require.” (Daily Wheeling Gazette, WV. “The Explosion of the Virginia. April 2, 1849, p. 2.)

April 3, Zanesville Courier: “The Steamer Virginia, plying as a daily packet between this city and Steubenville, Ohio, was torn into fragments, her hull sinking immediately, by the explosion of her boilers at Rush creek ten miles above this city, at five o’clock yesterday afternoon, and several, probably eight or ten killed, and seventeen more wounded! A portion of the wounded were brought to this city last evening by the Shenandoah, the clerk of which furnished us with the subjoined list of the killed, missing and wounded. We are also indebted to the Captain and Clerk of the Zachary Taylor which came down soon after, for particulars of the horrible catastrophe. From these gentlemen and two or three others, passengers, we gathered the facts of this article; which are all that they had been able to collect in reliable shape amid the excitement and confusion at the scene of the disaster, or from the survivors of the catastrophe. It is said that the Captain of the boat, Dawson, lost one of his eyes.

“As almost the whole of the boat above the hull, was torn in pieces and the hull so shattered that it sunk at once, there can be little doubt that all the missing are dead. Mr. Snyder of this city (glass blower), who lost both of his legs, it is said cannot possibly survive many hours.

“The explosion took place whilst the boat was landing Mr. Roe [of Rush Creek], one of the killed, who was up on the plank, going ashore at the time, and his body was cut into three pieces by the explosion…. – Wheeling Times, 31st.” (Zanesville Courier, OH. “Horrible Steamboat Explosion and Loss of Life.” April 3, 1849, p. 2.)

April 4: “The steamboat Virginia, a regular packet between Wheeling and Steubenville, exploded her boilers, on Friday last, about ten miles below Wheeling, while she was landing. The boilers were thrown upon the bank, and the boat is a total loss. There were thirty persons on board – two, the chambermaid and one passenger, were found dead – eighteen badly scalded, most of whom it is supposed will die. The balance of the passengers, ten in number, being missing, are thought to be lost.” (Madison Daily Banner, IN. “Steamboat Explosion and Loss of Life.” 4-4-1849, p.2, c.2.)

April 5, Zanesville Courier: “We extract below a paragraph from a communication from Dr. Jos. Sinclair, in the Steubenville Herald:

We repaired by lamp-light to view the wreck, and such a spectacle is not to be described with any accuracy. The hull was alone left, with but a small part of the after cabin, and that in a tottering condition. The beach and river bank were covered with splintered boards, broken cabin furniture, broken trunks, stoves, pieces of chimneys, pipes, flues and machinery; shoes, boots, ladies’ dresses and men’s apparel in every variety. Such an atomic scene, and in such variety as the atoms were spread about, is impossible to describe; a piece of human liver and a human kidney, the former side by side with a well smoked ham. So complete a wreck never was seen &. from so small a craft, such a quantity of material to have made such an extension over the beach, could not have been supposed possible. From the facts I could recollect, the explosion must have been the result of carelessness.

“Bad Business. – Soon after the explosion of the Virginia, the steamer Shenandoah stopped at the wreck. She had four medical men on board, of whom three volunteered their aid, without charge, and rendered valuable services. The other one, Dr. Hulliken or Hulliben of Wheeling, also attended upon the unfortunate sufferers, but subsequently, a fund for the benefit of the wounded having been subscribed by the passengers on the Shenandoah, Dr. Hulliken presented a bill for five dollars for his services, which was paid by the captain. On reaching Cincinnati, however, the passengers published the proceedings of a meeting held on board, and among other resolutions we find the following.

Resolved, That the disapprobation of this meeting is hereby expressed to Dr. Hulliken, of Wheeling, for his want of generous sympathy in making a charge for professional services to those who had lost their all, and barely escaped with their lives from this sad disaster.”

(Zanesville Courier, OH. “The Virginia Disaster.” April 5, 1849, p. 2.)

April 10: “The Pittsburg Commercial Journal of Monday last gives a heart rending account of the explosion of the Steamer Virginia, employed as a regular packet between Wheeling and Steubenville on the Ohio. The boat it is stated was literally blown to fragments. The following is the list of the killed and wounded:

“Killed – Wm. Rowe, Sr., Mr. Wells, Mr. Rellinger, J. K. Sturgeon, Mr. Sharp, J. R. Spencer. The Chambermaid, Mr. Hacker, Samuel Nelson, Andrew Snyder, both legs blown off, died in three hours.

“Missing – Joshua Everett, Washington Everett, Felix Vancy.

“Wounded. – Mr. Wm. Rowe, jr., slightly hurt.
Mr. R. Bowles and lady – lady badly wounded.
Mr. Lefar – badly scalded – from Cincinnati.
Mr. Osterhouse – thigh amputated – recovery doubtful.
Captain Dawson – slightly wounded.
Mr. Wm. Dawson – badly wounded.
Mr. Kennedy, Clerk – badly scalded.
Mr. Taylor, Engineer – badly scalded – recovery doubtful.
A boy – name unknown – mortally wounded – taken to Wheeling.
Mr. Rouse – leg broken in two places.
Mrs. Corn, of Wheeling – slightly wounded.
Miss Moore of Steubenville – head slightly cut.
Miss Cooley do [ditto] unhurt
D. Nugent and S. Nease, do [ditto]

“The boat had landed to put off a passenger at Brush Run; the explosion occurred immediately on attempting to start the boat on her course. The cause of the accident – whether from defective boilers, or from carelessness of the engineer, has not yet been ascertained.” (Huntington Journal, PA. “Steamboat Explosions.” 4-10-1849, p. 3, p. 6.)

April 18: “As the steamer Virginia was landing a passenger a few miles above Wheeling, her boilers exploded with a deafening noise, tearing away the whole upper works of the boat, and killing or wounding every soul on board. Two persons were found dead on the lower deck, ten were blown overboard and lost, and eighteen, being all that remained, were badly wounded; many of them being in a dying condition. The explosion is understood to be from some defect in the supply pipe, or force pump. The captain and one of the pilots escaped by swimming ashore. The boat was blown to pieces, and sunk in deep water, and with the cargo, is a total loss…. – Galena Jeffersonian.” (Prairie Du Chien Patriot, WI. “Explosion of Steamer Virginia.” 4-18- 1849, p. 2.)

Aug 21, Daily Wheeling Gazette: “Capt. Dawson, of the ill-fated steamer Virginia the disastrous explosion of which will be long remember in this region, was yesterday, (Monday) arrested in the city, by virtue of a true bill for manslaughter, which the Grand Jury of this county found against him last spring. He entered bail in the sum of $4000 for his appearance at the U. S. District court, to convene in this city next month.” (Daily Wheeling Gazette, WV. 8-21-1849, p. 2.)

Listing of Fatalities Identified in Sources Cited Herein

1. Ehbert (or Ebert, Ebbert or Everett), Washington Of Wheeling, WV
2. Everett, Joshua Wheeling, WV; missing.
3. Hacker, Mr.
4. Kelliger (or Kellinger), _____ Passenger; missing and presumed dead.
5. Nelson, Samuel. Fireman
Rellinger, Mr. (not counting as we think it possible this is mistaken spelling for Kellinger)
6. Rowe (or Roe), W., Sr. Rush Creek, [WV?]
7. Sharp, J. Passenger; reported as killed or missing.
8. Snyder, Andrew Wheeling, WV
9. Spencer, G. R. (or J. R.) Connecticut
10. Sturgeon, J. R. (or J. K.) St. Clairsville, OH
11. Vancy, Felix Missing.
12. Wells,_____ Passenger (noted as either dead or missing).
13. Unidentified woman Chambermaid
14. Unidentified child Child of the chambermaid.
15. Unnamed man Deck hand or fireman (body recovered from river).
16. Unnamed man Deck hand (body recovered from river).

Sources

Daily Wheeling Gazette, WV. [Explosion of the Virginia.] 8-21-1849, p. 2. Accessed at: http://wheeling.weirton.lib.wv.us/history/bus/river/virg1849.htm

Daily Wheeling Gazette, WV. “The Explosion of the Virginia. 4-2-1849, p. 2. Accessed at: http://wheeling.weirton.lib.wv.us/history/bus/river/virg1849.htm

De Bow, J. D. B. (Editor). De Bow’s Review. “Steamboat Explosions in the West.” Vol. 2. Nashville, New Orleans, New York: 1866. Accessed 11-4-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Debow_s_Review/-uUhxzTRWb0C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=steamboat+%22virginia%22+boiler+explosion+march+31+1849&pg=PA308&printsec=frontcover

Fisher, Captain S.L., and Captain James McCord. “Steamboat Explosions for Fifty-Five Years.” In Scharf, J. Thomas. History of Saint Louis City and County, From the Earliest Periods to the Present Day: Including Biographical Sketches of Representative Men. In Two Volumes, Illustrated. Volume II (Chapter XXVII. Navigation on the Mississippi River). Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts & Co., 1883. Digitized by Northern Illinois University, NU Libraries Digitization Projects at: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/cgi-bin/philologic/getobject.pl?c.4487:4.lincoln

Gould, E. W. Fifty Years on the Mississippi; or, Gould’s History of River Navigation. St. Louis: Nixon-Jones Printing Co., 1889, 750 pages. Digitized by Google. Accessed 2008 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=udyywXOVBvsC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Huntington Journal, PA. “Steamboat Explosions.” 4-10-1849, p. 3, p. 6. Accessed 11-4-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/huntingdon-journal-apr-10-1849-p-3/

Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania (Vol. 47). “Notice of the Explosion of the Steamer Virginia.” Philadelphia: Franklin Institute, 1849, pp. 355-356. Digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=rO85AQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Lloyd, James T. Lloyd’s Steamboat Directory and Disasters on the Western Waters. Cincinnati, Ohio: James T. Lloyd & Co., 1856. Digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=JlYqAAAAYAAJ

Madison Daily Banner, IN. “Steamboat Explosion and Loss of Life.” 4-4-1849, p. 2, col. 2. Accessed 11-4-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/madison-daily-banner-apr-04-1849-p-2/

New York Herald. “Frightful Steamboat Disaster on the Ohio River, and Loss of Life.” 4-1-1849, p. 3, col. 2. Accessed 11-4-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-york-herald-apr-01-1849-p-3/

Prairie Du Chien Patriot, WI. “Explosion of Steamer Virginia.” 4-18-1849, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=33443268

Scharf, John Thomas. History of Saint Louis City and County: From the Earliest Periods to the Present Day (Vol. 2). Philadelphia: Louis H. Everts & Co., 1883. Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=lIk6AQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Vincennes Gazette, IN. “Explosion of the Virginia.” 4-19-1849, p. 2, col. 5. Accessed 11-4-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/vincennes-gazette-apr-19-1849-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.

Western Boatman (Vol. 1). “Steamboat Disasters.” Cincinnati, OH: 1848. p. 354. Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=zyROAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Zanesville Courier, OH. “Horrible Steamboat Explosion [The Virginia] and Loss of Life.” April 3, 1849, p. 2. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=13910351

Zanesville Courier, OH. “The Virginia Disaster.” 4-5-1849, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=13910370