1864 – Sep 5, steamer Washoe boiler explodes, Sacramento Riv., ~10m above Rio Vista, CA-51-103

–51-103 Blanchard death toll range.*

— 121 Rego. “Days Gone By: 1864: Paddle-wheeler Washoe’s boilers explode…” 5-22-2014.
–54 Dead (bodies recovered)
–67 Missing
— 117 Blanchard on CA State Lands Comm’n. A Map and Record Investigation… 1988, p. 37.*
— 103 California State Lands Commission. A Map and Record Investigation… 1988, p. 37.*
— >100 Sacramento Daily Union. “Steamboat Catastrophe!…Steamer Washoe.” 9-7-1864, p. 3.
— 100 Chicago Tribune. “Our San Francisco Letter [dated Sep 20].” 10-28-1864, p. 3.
— >100 Shasta Courier, Shasta, CA. “Terrible Catastrophe.” 9-10-1864, p. 2, col. 2.*
— ~87 Valley Community Newspapers, CA. “Steamers were plentiful on river during 19th century.”*
— 85 California State Lands Commission. A Map and Record Investigation… 1988, p. 117.*
— ~75 Sacramento Daily Union. “The Steamboat Disaster.” 9-7-1864, p. 2. Writes “at least.”
— >75 San Francisco Alta California. 9-6-1864; reprinted in Missouri Republican, St. Louis, 10-10-1864.*
— 75 Weekly Union Record, Oroville, CA. “Steamboat Catastrophe…Washoe.” 9-10-1864, 2.
–50-75 Placer Herald, Auburn, CA. “Explosion of the Steamer Washoe.” 9-10-1864, p. 4, c. 3.*
— 70 California State Lands Commission. A Map and Record Investigation… 1988, p. 200.*
— 51 U.S. Supervising Inspector of Steamboats. Report of… 1865, p. 209.
— 50 New York Times. “From the Pacific Coast.” 9-8-1864, p. 8. (100 more injured.)
— <20 California State Lands Commission. A Map and Record Investigation… 1988, p. 153* * Blanchard death toll range of 51-103: We must admit that we find the range of fatality estimates a bit confounding – from low of 20 to high of 121. Indeed, in one document alone (State of California Lands Commission, 1988), we find four different death toll estimates – 20, 70, 85, and 103, depending on the page in the document. And, if we read the sentence stating 103 fatalities accurately, there would actually have been 117 deaths. We have not been able to resolve this “confusion” by locating a more definitive death-toll estimate. Thus, we find it necessary to rely on a range. In that the estimate of about twenty deaths in the CA State Lands Commission document we reference (one of four estimates in the document), is so far below all other sources cited, we choose to dismiss this number. Instead, for the low-end of our estimated death toll we choose to use the Supervising Inspector of Steamboats Annual Report (51). We are of the opinion, however, that this number may very well not take into account the missing/resumed dead, nor perhaps the deaths from injuries, if such occurred more than a few days out from the explosion. For the high end of our estimated death toll, we feel we are on less firm ground. We choose not to use Riga’s estimate of 121 deaths -- 54 more or less immediate deaths and 67 missing/presumed dead. We are skeptical of 67 missing and presumed drowned. While this may well have been an initial fear, we have failed in our attempts to locate reporting of missing bodies being found and recovered later – which often happens when victims are blown overboard. Neither did we find accounts of bodies recovered when the Washoe was later raised. Additionally, we are not absolutely certain we are on solid ground in interpreting page 37 in the California State Lands Commission document to mean 117 rather than 103 deaths (103 deaths, 11 missing, and 3 deaths from injuries later). Given that the estimate of 103 deaths is in a California State government document and is close to the three newspapers we cite which note in the neighborhood of one hundred deaths, we choose to use 103 deaths as the high-end of our estimated death toll. My own attempt to better define the death toll through a compilation of names mentioned as fatalities was not successful, in that I was able to find only 29 names in this effort, plus a note of four unnamed female deaths. Thus the range 51-103. * Blanchard on CA State Lands Commission, p. 37: If, as stated, 103 people were killed, 11 were missing and presumed drowned and 3 died of injuries later, the total would be 117. *CA State Lands Commission, p. 37: “When the Washoe exploded, 103 lives were lost, 11 unaccounted for were presumed drowned, 80 others injured, 3 of which would die later.” *CA State Lands Commission, p. 117. “Washoe. Blew up thirty five miles down from Sacramento. Killed 85 people. 5 September 1864.” *CA State Lands Commission, p. 153. “On September 5, 1864, the Washoe, Yosemite and Antelope were racing on the Sacramento – the swift Antelope as usual had pulled ahead, and the Yosemite and Washoe were neck and neck. Five miles above Rio Vista the starboard boiler of the Washoe burst and she immediately began filling with water. The Antelope turned back, and making her way slowly in the fog, found the Washoe burning out of control. She then ferried the injured to Sacramento. When a final tally was made, nearly twenty passengers had died and scores were wounded. It was the worst accident on the Sacramento.” *CA State Lands Commission, p. 200. “The Washoe exploded on September 5, 1864 near Steamboat Slough killing 70 passengers.” *Placer Herald: Just the missing. Does not note the number of deaths (bodies recovered). *San Francisco Alta California: “It is impossible to tell…how many lives have been lost; but it seems at least 75 have been killed or fatally injured.” *Shasta Courier: “…it is thought that the number killed and mortally wounded cannot be less than 100.” *Valley Community Newspapers: “…about half of its [Washoe] 175 passengers were killed as a result of a boiler explosion on this steamer, and about half of the survivors were severely injured.” Narrative Information Rego: “….Of the 176 passengers and 29 crew members, 54 were killed, 19 were seriously injured, 23 had minor injuries and 67 were reported missing. About a month later, the coroner’s jury blamed the disaster on the Washoe’s two engineers: Anderson, who died in the disaster, and the second engineer, William L. Phillips….” US Supervising Inspector of Steamboats: “First Supervising District – Pacific Coast. During the year ending August 31, 1865….Three accidents have occurred to passenger steamers of quite a serious character. The first of these, the explosion of the starboard boiler of the high-pressure steamer Washoe, occurred on the Sacramento river, about forty miles below Sacramento, while on her regular trip from San Francisco. By this accident forty-five passengers lost their lives, also the chief engineer and fived of the crew. The Washoe was a new side-wheel steamer of 385 tons, and had four cylinder boilers 32 feet long and forty inches diameter, each containing five flues; these were set on deck, in the same manner usual on the Mississippi and other western rivers. These boilers were made of iron five-sixteenths of an inch in thickness, and stamped as required by law, and were considered when inspected first-class boilers. It was found on examination after the explosion that the shell of the boiler had opened over the furnace for a length of six feet, while the flues remained uninjured. It was testified by one witness connected with the boat, that on other trips he had on three occasions seen the gauge-cocks tried without finding water – showing the most criminal negligence on the part of the engineer in charge, who it appears entrusted the keeping up the supply of water to firemen, without giving the matter sufficient personal attention. There is no evidence, however, that there was a deficiency of water at the time of the explosion, and the cause is somewhat shrouded in mystery; but the local inspectors at San Francisco are on opinion that it resulted from the negligence of the engineer, as above referred to. I must say, however, that I entertain a somewhat different opinion. That the engineer was negligent in the performance of his duties there can be no doubt, but there is another fact which cannot be lost sight of. These boilers had been in use but three months, and although the iron was considered to be of the best quality, certainly as good as it was possible to procure, yet it was found in use that several of the sheets exposed to the direct heat of the furnaces were laminated in their structure, so that they became blistered and cracked, and had to be patched or altogether removed, and new ones substituted, depending on the extent of the injury. From the position of the ruptured portion, as also the fact that the flues remained uninjured, I incline to the opinion that a crack in the sheet had occurred, probably from the boiler not having been properly cleared of scale, and the boiler, thus weakened, was burst simply by the contained pressure extending this crack longitudinally. I believe this is not an unusual cause of the explosion of boilers of this class, where the great shell of the boiler, every part of which is subjected in use to a very severe tensile strain, is directly exposed to the action of the fire; for although the boiler so arranged may withstand any reasonable hydrostatic test when cold, or at moderate temperatures, defects may be developed by the application of extreme temperatures, or under such circumstances a local injury may occur from the adherence of scale to the iron, which will endanger the whole structure. For the reasons above stated, I consider the above class of boilers among the most objectionable now in use; and I think it is to be regretted that in the navigation of some of our rivers the character of the water sems to prevent their present abandonment.” (Supervising Inspector of Steamboats. Report of the Supervising Inspector of Steamboats. 1865, pp 209-210 in Report of the Secretary of the Treasury.) Newspapers (at the time) Sep 6: “San Francisco, Sept. 6. – The opposition steamboat Washoe exploded her boiler in Sacramento River last night. Her upper works were shattered and her stern blown off. 150 passengers were killed and wounded, and fifty persons are dead or will soon die. The boat was running at a high rate of speed.” (Daily Age, Philadelphia. “Explosion of a Steamer – Great Loss of Life.” 9-8-1864, p. 2, col. 5.) Sep 6: “Sacramento, Sept. 6. -- ….She had on board 150 passengers, a large number being females, only about ten of whom are saved…The Washoe sunk near shore, a complete wreck….Besides those found dead a number is supposed to have been drowned, as the Washoe careened over and sank her stern under water. “Dr. Fry, who has just come from the Antelope, reports a few dead on board and 60 cases of severe injuries – of these at least 30 will die, they having inhaled steam. He estimates that about 150 persons have been wounded or killed, of whom about 50 are dead or will die. Only two women escaped injury…. “It is impossible to tell, as we write, how many lives have been lost; but it seems that at least 75 have been killed or fatally injured….The number blown overboard, killed and remaining in the lower cabin cannot, of course, be at present ascertained…. “The following is a list of killed and injured as far as known: “Killed. – Father James Cullan, San Leandro, Miss.; L. Likie, Cork, Ireland; Mary A. Geddens, Cork, Ireland; Albert H. Myers, Sacramento; Val Landigham, Idaho Territory; W. Simpson, fireman; Dr. Boss Ditchman of Greenwood; H. Clark, Auburn; J.C. Turner, London, England; Thos. Anderson, San Francisco. “Badly Injured….” [We omit.] (Boise News, ID. “Steamboat Disaster.” 9-17-1864, p. 1.) Sep 10: “The well known but ill-fated opposition steamboat Washoe, met with a terrible accident at the mouth of the ‘slough,’ about 11 o’clock on Monday night [Sep 5], while on her up trip to Sacramento, by the explosion of a boiler, or the bursting of a connection pipe, which caused a sorrowful destruction of life to her passengers. “The crew and passengers aboard numbered between 175 and 200, and so far as is known the persons saved, and those that were killed or have since died, amount to 123 – leaving as still unaccounted for between 50 and 75, who are believed to have been thrown over board or sunk with the vessel…. “A number of citizens of Placer county were on the boat, and we regret to say several have lost their lives. Among them are James H. Clark, the proprietor of the Auburn and Michigan Bluff stage line; W. N. Haskell, of Donner Lake;¬ ------ Bennett, Spring Garden; Justin Hoag, Spring Garden; and E. Jacobs, Dutch Flat. Those badly injured are Bartholomew Gillespie, Rock Creek; E. Jackson, Dutch Flat; W. T. Williams, Forest Hill; Conrad Grants, Deadwood… “The Washoe although badly wrecked in her upper works, is believed to be sound in the hull, and it is the intention of Captain Kidd to raise her immediately, and repair her for service. “There is much surmise as to the cause of the explosion, but as the machinery is yet under water, no satisfactory conclusion can be arrived at. Anderson, chief engineer, who died from his injuries, says the cause was ‘rotten iron in the boilers.’ An anonymous writer says an examination will show that ‘the texture of the iron has been destroyed by the application of a chemical fluid to the boilers.’ If either of these assertions are true, it looks as if the Washoe, and the unfortunates who are now sleeping in their graves, have been the victims of a hellish conspiracy. “The Washoe was a new boat throughout, and had been but a few months in service, yet from some untoward circumstances she was compelled frequently to haul off for repairs – and on two occasions to repair extensive damages inflicted upon her by the Yosemite, of the old line. The boilers needed frequent repairing, and although they passed inspection, the Bay papers broadly insinuated that they were dishonestly made by the Sacramento workmen….” (Placer Herald, Auburn, CA. “Explosion of the Steamer Washoe.” 9-10-1864, p. 4, c. 3. Sep 10: “On Monday night, about 10 o’clock, on the trip from San Francisco to Sacramento, one of the boilers of the steamer Washoe exploded, killing and wounding a large majority of those on board. The disaster occurred at the mouth of the Slough, about ten miles above Vio Vista [Rio Vista], and thirty-five miles below Sacramento city. It has not yet been ascertained how many were killed, but it is thought that the number of killed and mortally wounded cannot be less than 100. The steamer started from San Francisco with 153 passengers. Others got on board at Benicia and Rio Vista, which, with the officers and crew, will swell the number of those on board to 175 to 200. The steamer Antelope came up an hour after the explosion, and took the dead and wounded on board and started for Sacramento, where she arrived at 5 o’clock on the following morning. Her officers, passengers and crew rendered every assistance in their power in rescuing the bodies of the dead and alleviating the sufferings of the wounded.” (Shasta Courier, Shasta, CA. “Terrible Catastrophe.” 9-10-1864, p. 2, col. 2.) Sep 10: “A terrible disaster occurred at half past nine o’clock, on Monday evening, September sixth [Monday was 5th], at the mouth of the slough, about thirty five miles below Sacramento, and ten miles above Rio Vista, by which seventy five people, including four ladies were killed outright, and a large number badly wounded, besides many that sustained trifling damage. The list of killed and wounded cannot be said to be complete as yet, as the passenger list was lost, and the exact number aboard at the time, remains unascertained. The scene on board, after the catastrophe, is described as harrowing in the extreme. The floor of the cabin and portions of the deck were covered with the dead and wounded. The bedding of the boat was brought into requisition, and some forty sufferers were stretched out, some of them enduring great agony, and others being too badly injured to be conscious of their condition. Many subsequently died on being removed. To the best recollection of the clerk of the boat there were one hundred and fifty-three passengers on board on leaving San Francisco, and several others came aboard at Benicia and Rio Vista. With officers and crew, the total number on board, at the time, could not have been less than one hundred and seventy-five persons. “Passengers who escaped uninjured, describe the scene, at the time of the catastrophe, as heart-rending. The lights were, of course, extinguished by the shock. The report of the boiler was followed by the crashing of the fragments of the boat, and the groans and cries of the wounded. Assistance was promptly dispatched from Sacramento….Taken altogether this is the most appalling disaster that has occurred since the introduction of steamboats on the Sacramento….” (Weekly Union Record, Oroville, CA. “Steamboat Catastrophe…Washoe.” 9-10-1864, p. 2.) Named Fatalities 1. Anderson, D. M. (Thomas? ) Washoe engineer San Francisco, CA 2. Bennett, Mr. Passenger Spring Garden, Placer County, CA 3. Brickett, Edward Passenger San Francisco, CA 4. Brom, Manuel M. Passenger Drytown, Amador County, CA 5. Clark, James H. (Henry? ) Passenger Auburn, Placer County, CA 6. Connovan, Mrs. P. Passenger San Francisco, CA 7. Cullen (Callan? ), Rev. James. Passenger San Leandro, formerly of Newark, NJ 8. Davis, David Passenger ? 9. Farran, E. Passenger San Jose, CA 10. Geddens, Mary A. (or Mary J. Godens ). Passenger Cork, Ireland 11. Grush, Samuel W. Washoe steward Nevada 12. Haskell (or Haskill ), W. N. Passenger Donner Lake, CA 13. Hoag, Justin Passenger Spring Garden, CA 14. Jacobs, E. (Edwin ) Passenger Dutch Flat, CA 15. King, Emanuel Passenger Drytown, Amador County, CA 16. Leckie, Mrs. L. Passenger Cork, Ireland; wife of S.F. policeman 17. Ludley, D. Gray Passenger Sacramento, CA 18. Marshall, C. Washoe porter ? 19. Moffit, Charles ? ? 20. Myers, Albert H. Washoe chief cook Sacramento, CA 21. Myers, Henry F. A. Sacramento, CA; native of Germany 22. Ross, Dr. Passenger Greenwood, Ed Dorado Co., CA 23. Salameneti, Nicholas Washoe deckhand Austria 24. Simons, John ? ? 25. Simpson, W. Washoe fireman Sacramento, CA 26. Turner, John C. Passenger London, England 27. Vallandigham, Mr. and Mrs. Brown. Passengers Idaho Territory. 28. Van Landingham, G. C. Passenger Salem, OR (died of injuries). 29. Williams, W. S. ? ? 30. Unnamed woman passenger, one of four. 31. Unnamed woman passenger, two of four. 32. Unnamed woman passenger, three of four. 33. Unnamed woman passenger, four of four. Sources Brooklyn Daily Eagle, NY. “Miscellaneous News.” 9-16-1864, p. 1. Accessed 12-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brooklyn-daily-eagle-sep-16-1864-p-1/ California State Lands Commission. A Map and Record Investigation of Historical Sites and Shipwrecks Along the Sacramento River Between Sacramento City and Sherman Island. 1988. Accessed 12-22-2020 at: https://www.slc.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/1988-SacRiverShipwrecks.pdf Chicago Tribune. “Our San Francisco Letter [dated Sep 20].” 10-28-1864, p. 3. Accessed 12-22-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/chicago-tribune-oct-28-1864-p-3/ Daily Age, Philadelphia. “Explosion of a Steamer – Great Loss of Life.” 9-8-1864, p. 2, col. 5. Accessed 12-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-age-sep-08-1864-p-2/ New York Times. “From the Pacific Coast.” 9-8-1864, p. 8. Accessed 12-22-2020 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1864/09/08/78992476.html?pageNumber=8 Placer Herald, Auburn, CA. “Explosion of the Steamer Washoe.” 9-10-1864, p. 4, c. 3. Accessed 12-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/auburn-placer-herald-sep-10-1864-p-4/ Rego, Nilda. “Days Gone By: 1864: Paddle-wheeler Washoe’s boilers explode on S.F.-Sacramento trip.” Mercury News, San Jose, CA, 5-22-2014. Accessed 12-21-2020 at: https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/05/22/days-gone-by-1864-paddle-wheeler-washoes-boilers-explode-on-s-f-sacramento-trip/ Missouri Daily Republican, Saint Louis, MO. “News From California. The Late Terrible Steamboat Disaster on the Sacramento River – Seventy-five Persons Killed or Badly Injured.” 10-20-1864, p. 3. Accessed 12-22-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/saint-louis-daily-missouri-republican-oct-20-1864-p-3/ Sacramento Daily Union. “Steamboat Catastrophe! Explosion of a Boiler of the Steamer Washoe.” 9-7-1864, p. 3. Accessed 12-22-2020 at: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDU18640907&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 Sacramento Daily Union. “The Steamboat Disaster.” 9-7-1864, p. 2. Accessed 12-22-2020 at: https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SDU18640907.2.5&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1 Shasta Courier, Shasta, CA. “Terrible Catastrophe.” 9-10-1864, p. 2, col. 2. Accessed 12-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/shasta-courier-sep-10-1864-p-2/ United States Secretary of the Treasury. Report of the Secretary of the Treasury of the State of the Finances for The Year 1865. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1865. Accessed 12-21-2020 at: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/annual-report-secretary-treasury-state-finances-194/report-secretary-treasury-state-finances-year-1865-5509/report-supervising-inspector-steamboats-302219 Valley Community Newspapers, CA. “Steamers were plentiful on river during 19th century.” 5-23-2013. Accessed 12-22-2020 at: https://www.valcomnews.com/steamers-were-plentiful-on-river-during-19th-century/ Weekly Trinity Journal, Weaverville, CA. “Adding Insult to Injury.” 9-17-1864, p. 1, col. 4. Accessed 12-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/weaverville-weekly-trinity-journal-sep-17-1864-p-1/ Weekly Union Record, Oroville, CA. “Steamboat Catastrophe – Explosion of a Boiler of the Steamer Washoe.” 9-10-1864, p. 2. Accessed 12-21-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oroville-weekly-union-record-sep-10-1864-p-2/