1851 — May 2, steamer Webster Burns, MS Riv., Island No. 86, Kentucky Bend, KY–30-~40

–30-~40 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

–40->60 Bragg. Historic Names…Places on…Lower Miss. Riv. “Kentucky Bend,” 1977, p. 137.
— ~40 Daily Morning Press, Pittsburgh. “Burning of the Steamer Webster.” 5-5-1851, p. 3.
— 40 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994…Steamboats…MS River System. 1994, p. 482.
— 30-40 Daily Constitutionalist, August, GA. “Burning of a Steamer.” 5-8-1851, p. 6.
— ~30 Port Gibson Herald, MS. “Steamer Webster Burned.” 5-9-1851, p. 3.

* Blanchard estimated death toll. All of the sources we cite, other than the Port Gibson Herald (30) note 40 deaths, or about 40 deaths or 30-40 deaths or 40-60 deaths. In that we have seen very little reporting noting specific fatalities, we cannot identify a definitive death toll. Thus we choose to employ a range of 30 to about 40. We have seen no reporting of a death toll below thirty. The only source we have seen noting more than forty deaths is Bragg, who showed a range of 40 to about 60 deaths. Again, since we have been able to identity from sources only a small number of specific deaths, we do not think it appropriate to go beyond about 40 deaths in our estimated death toll.

Narrative Information

Bragg: “Kentucky Bend. Mile 518.0 AHP, Map 28….On May 2, 1851, there was a tragedy…at the head of Kentucky Bend, when the Cincinnati steamer Webster suddenly burst into flames. The fire spread so rapidly that panic struck both passengers and crew, and the boat was not run to the shore.

“J.A. Frazier of New York, a passenger on the ill-fated boat, gave a Vicksburg newspaper this graphic eyewitness account of the horrifying disaster.

‘Not one minute, seemingly, elapsed between the alarm ere the flames, beaten up by the wind, clung to and enveloped the whole boat. Some of those who escaped had to cling for hours to a snag—among them the writer of this account—with, unfortunately, no power to render assistance and doomed to be sad spectators to the terrible scent. Gracefully the burning boat, now completely on her own course, bore away with her the load of agitated victims, the flames bursting from her in every part, and through which, with a despairing scream, passenger after passenger plunged or was precipitated into the river.’

“Estimates of the number of deaths varied from 40 to ‘more than 60.’ The boat’s papers and cargo, as well as money and luggage belonging to the passengers, were all lost. Islands No. 86 and No. 87 were originally in Kentucky Bend, but both have retreated several miles inland and are now a part of the State of Arkansas.” (Bragg. Historic Names…Places on…Lower Miss. Riv. “Kentucky Bend,” 1977, p. 137.)

Way: “Webster…Cincinnati, Oh., 1848 [built]. 324 tons…Four boilers…Built to pass through the canal locks at Louisville. Burned in the head of Island 86, Mississippi River, about 4:00 p.m., May 2, 1851. Life loss was set at 40 persons, including her master, Capt. Sam Reno, whose body was located almost 100 miles below some days later. The large life loss was attributed to the burning boat having left the shore, floating out into midstream, after having been landed. The wreck was raised and returned to Cincinnati along in June, but was scrapped, including machinery.” (Way. Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…MS River System. 1994, p. 482.)

Newspaper

May 3: “Vicksburg, May 3. The steame4r Webster, Capt. Samuel Reno, took fire yesterday afternoon, May 2nd, and was burned to the water’s edge, at the head of Island 86, 110 miles above Vicksburg. The fire was first discovered and the alarm given about 3 o’clock, and almost instantly the boat was enveloped in flames. – The Pilot, Mr. Ruckman (to whom much credit is due, having charge of the wheel, immediately endeavored to run the boat ashore, in which he partly succeeded, until the flames finally drove him from his post, and the boat becoming unmanageable, floated again – thus depriving the passengers and crew from their first and last hope of safety.

“A the first alarm, a scene ensued which it is impossible to describe, mingled, as it was, with the burning boat, from which the flames issued in all directions – it became terrible in the extreme – many rushed into the flames, while others crowded by the side of the boat, clinging convulsively to it till driven away by the fire, when they finally threw themselves into the current. It was with difficulty that the females were saved – many of them being separated from their husbands and friends.

“About 12 or 15 of the passengers jumped from the boat, and, with difficulty, saved their lives by clinging to the snags, until relieved by the yawl and skiffs from shore.

“As soon as the fearful truth was known by the inhabitants on shore, 3 or 4 boats were quickly rowed to the scene, and they succeeded in saving the lives of several persons who were clinging to the boat and snags. They were taken on board the store boat Grey Eagle, Capt. J. L. Case, who did all that could be done to afford an asylum to the few women and children who were saved. The number of passengers and hands was about 100; of whom only about 60 can be found – the rest are supposed to have perished with the boat.

“The steamer New Orleans, from St. Louis, bound for New Orleans, hove in sight about an hour after the accident occurred, and stopped, and most kindly took on board all the surviving, and rendered all the assistance that could be wished for.

“The following are the killed and missing: Capt. Saml. Reno and wife; Mr. Henry Harrison and child; the wife of the Pilot; one child of Ruckman; George Bliss, chief Clerk; Jno. Campbell, 2nd Clerk; a child of Mr. Robwin of New Orleans; Mary Buckner; a colored chambermaid, name unknown; colored barkeeper, from Cincinnati; J. McCarty, Lynchburg; and a girl belonging to Mr. Marty. Several others are missing, whose names are unknown.

“The boat’s papers and money, are all lost. The above is a true statement as given us by the crew and passengers saved.” (Daily Morning Press, Pittsburgh. “Burning of the Steamer Webster.” 5-5-1851, p. 3.)

May 5: “New Orleans, May 5….The steamer Webster has buried over forty of the missing, including the captain, his wife, and child; also, both clerks, and the pilot’s wife and child.” (Madison Dollar Weekly Courier, IN. “From New Orleans.” 5-7-1851, p. 3.)

Sources

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

Daily Constitutionalist, August, GA. “Burning of a Steamer.” 5-8-1851, p. 6. Accessed 11-6-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/augusta-daily-constitutionalist-may-08-1851-p-6/

Daily Morning Press, Pittsburgh. “Burning of the Steamer Webster.” 5-5-1851, p. 3. Accessed 11-6-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/pittsburgh-daily-morning-post-may-05-1851-p-3/

Madison Dollar Weekly Courier, IN. “From New Orleans.” 5-7-1851, p. 3. Accessed 11-6-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/madison-dollar-weekly-courier-may-07-1851-p-3/

New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “Another Steamboat Accident.” 5-5-1851, p. 2. Accessed 11-6-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-albany-daily-ledger-may-05-1851-p-2/

Port Gibson Herald, MS. “Steamer Webster Burned.” 5-9-1851, p. 3. Accessed 11-6-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/the-port-gibson-herald-and-correspondent-may-09-1851-p-3/

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.