1866 – March 4, steamer R.J. Lockwood boiler explosion, MS Riv. below Memphis, TN –17-25

–17-25 Blanchard on estimated death-toll range.*

–40-50 Daily Commercial Register, Sandusky, OH. “The News.” 3-7-1866, p. 2, col. 2.**
–25-50 Christian Advocate, St. Louis, MO. “Miscellaneous.” 3-8-1866, p. 12, col. 4.
— 25 New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “Explosion of the Steamer Lockwood.” 3-5-1866, p.3, c.5.
— 25 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994: Passenger Steamboats…[MS Riv. Sys.]… 1999, p.384.
— 20 Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats. Report of… p. 287.
— 20 Fort Wayne Daily Gazette, IN. Mar 6, 1866, p. 2.
— 20 NYT. “Explosion of the Steamer Lockwood – Twenty Persons Killed…” 3-7-1866, p. 8.
— ~15 Chicago Tribune, IL. “The Latest River Horror.” 3-10-1866, p. 2, col. 8.
— 9-10 Bragg. Historic Names and Places on the Lower Mississippi River. 1977, 84-85.

*Blanchard estimated death toll. Given that we find none of the sources convincing as to their exactitude, we choose to employ a range of fatalities. If it were not for Bragg’s number of nine-to ten deaths we would use as the low-end of our range we use the number twenty noted in the report of the Sixth District of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats. While we personally are of the opinion that the most likely range is twenty to twenty-five, Bragg’s number gives us pause. Thus we have attempted to create a listing of likely deaths based on named fatalities at the time, unnamed fatalities noted in the plural, such as cabin crew, chambermaids, cooks, deck hands, deck passengers, and firemen. In that accounts below speak in the plural for these positions we assume at least two deaths (with the exception of chambermaids, which was noted as exactly two). To this we add the two named individuals for whom we have seen reporting as to their deaths due to injuries afterwards. Such a listing derives seventeen deaths. (See below, after Narrative Newspaper section and before Sources.)

For the high-end of our range we use the number twenty-five noted by Way in his Packet Directory of Passenger Steamboats. Way is generally a fairly reliable source, and we are thus uncomfortable with disregarding his account.

It is possible that there were more crew and passenger deaths as some sources claim. However, we have attempted a search of newspaper articles for several weeks beyond the explosion looking for notices of bodies coming to the surface or located along the banks downstream, without success. We do see death notices for two of those noted as badly injured in first reports. Perhaps there were other deaths from injuries, but we have not seen notices to that effect.

** Daily Commercial Register. This, apparently is based on the same Memphis dispatch of March 5 we see in the New Albany (IN) Daily Ledger, which, after noting twenty immediate deaths noted “A number of the cabin crew, cooks, and negro firemen were lost [and two chambermaids], but their names are not known…I think the number of killed amounts to forty or fifty, as the survivors state there were a number of deck hands and deck passengers on the lower deck who were killed by the explosion, and whose names are unknown.”

Narrative Information

Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats: “The boilers of the steamer Lockwood exploded February 3, 1866 [sic., March 4]; the loss of life 20, and of property $75,000.” (Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats. Report of Board of Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats. 10-24-1866, Report of Sixth Supervising District (Louisville), p. 287; in Annual Report of…Secretary of…Treasury on…State of…Finance for the Year 1866. Washington, 1866.)

Bragg: “In 1866 a fine new steamboat, the R. J. Lockwood, exploded and burned in Cow Island Bend [Current Islands No. 47 and No. 48, Mile 715.0 Above Head of Passes]. There were the usual rumors that a steamboat race had been under way shortly before the accident, and the usual vigorous denials. Nine or ten people lost their lives, and a contemporary eyewitness account of the accident described in graphic and painful detail how the boat sank with the charred bodies of some of the victims still on board.” (Bragg. Historic Names and Places on the Lower Mississippi River. 1977, 84-85.)

Way: R. J. Lockwood. Sternwheel, wood-hull packet, built in St. Louis in 1864 at 418 tons, measuring 210 x 34 x 5, with three boilers. “…On Mar. 4, 1866, exploded boilers at President’s Island below Memphis, Capt. Ben Howard in command. He and Capt. George Willard 9 a passenger) were seated at the cabin stove, about tea time, and were lifted to the roof and bruised. She was upbound from New Orleans and had but 20 cabin passengers. Life loss was set at 25….”

Newspaper

March 5, New Albany Daily Ledger, IN: “A Memphis dispatch says the steamer Lockwood exploded her boilers 20 miles from Memphis, and burned. Twenty-five lives are reported lost….”
(New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “Explosion of the Steamer Lockwood.” 3-5-1866, p. 3, c. 5.)

March 5, New Orleans Daily Crescent: “(Associated Press Dispatches.) Memphis, March 5….The steamer R. J. Lockwood, Capt. Ben Howard, en route from New Orleans to St. Louis, exploded her boilers last night at the foot of President Island, several miles below this city [Memphis] and in a short time was burned to the water, with a loss of about fifteen souls, as near as can be ascertained, the register being lost. It is estimated that there were about forty passengers aboard. The Lockwood had recently abandoned the Ouachita river trade, been repaired and inspected at New Orleans, and was to enter the Missouri river trade on reaching St. Louis. There was not much freight on board….

“The following are known to be killed: Oliver Graham, second engineer, of New York; George Casner, barkeeper, of St. Louis; James King, of Staten Island….” (New Orleans Daily Crescent. “Another Steamboat Explosion. Steamer R. J. Lockwood Destroyed.” 3-6-1866, p. 1.

March 5, NYT: “Memphis, Monday, March 5. The steamer Lockwood blew up and was burned last night about eighteen miles below here. There were twenty killed and twenty-five injured. She is valued at $60,000, and not insured. The names of the killed and wounded are not known yet.

Second Dispatch.

Cincinnati, Tuesday, March 6. A special dispatch to the Commercial gives some particulars of the disaster to the steamer Lockwood.

“The explosion tore away the cabin as far back as the centre of he boat, killing twenty persons instantly, and scalding and wounding twenty-five others.

“The boat took fire and burnt until she sunk.

“The steamer Mephom was going down the river at the time, and landed her bow at the stern of the Lockwood, and saved every persons not killed by the explosion.

“Among the killed are the following: James King, of Staten Island, N.Y., and Clem Graham, Second Engineer of New-York.” (New York Times. “Explosion of the Steamer Lockwood – Twenty Persons Killed…” 3-7-1866, p. 8.)

March 6, Fort Wayne Daily Gazette, IN: “New York, March 6.—The only additional news regarding the disaster to the Lockwood is contained in a dispatch from Memphis, which states that the steamer blew up and was burned on the night of the fourth instant, about eight miles below that city, there were twenty killed and twenty-five injured….” (Fort Wayne Daily Gazette, IN. Mar 6, 1866, p. 2.)

March 6, New Albany Daily Ledger, IN: “Special Dispatch to the Louisville Courier.

“Memphis, March 5 – P.M.
“The steamer R. J. Lockwood, bound from New Orleans to St. Louis, exploded about seven o’clock last evening, while eighteen miles below this city, and afterwards burned until she sank.

“This steamer had till recently been running in the Ouachita river trade, and was going to St. Louis to enter the Missouri river trade. She was inspected at New Orleans on last Wednesday, and pronounces seaworthy. After running a day or two her boilers were discovered to be in a leaky condition. Capt. Ben Howard proposed to the engineer to stop at Helena and repair, but the engineer thought it unnecessary till the boat should arrive at Memphis. Thus the delay proved fatal. The explosion tore away the cabin, as far back as the centre, killing twenty persons instantly, and scalding and sounding, or otherwise injuring about twenty-five others.

“Fortunately the M. S. Mepham was coming down at the time and rendered most timely and very fortunate aid to the distressed passengers and officers of the boat, as the Lockwood caught fire immediately. The Mepham rounded to and landed her bow against the stern of the ill-fated steamer, thus saving every persons not killed by the explosion.

“It is due to Captain Howard to mention that he ordered the steam reduced and the speed slackened after he had concluded to come to this port before repairing.

“The following is a list of the killed, wounded, and saved:

Killed.
Clem. Graham, second engineer.
Geo. Casner, bar-keeper, St. Louis.
Jas. King, Staten Island, New York
Dangerously Injured
A. McDougall, first engineer, [Died from injuries.]
Clark M. McLaughlin, striker.
John H. Robinson, first clerk, Jefferson City, Mo. [Died from injuries.]

Slightly Wounded and Survivors [We omit list of names.]

“A number of the cabin crew, cooks, and negro firemen were lost, but their names are not known. All the lady passengers, besides the two chambermaids, were saved.

“I think the number of killed amounts to forty or fifty, as survivors state that were a number of deck hands and deck passengers on the lower deck who were killed by the explosion and whose names are unknown.” (New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “Another Terrible Steamboat Disaster. 3-6-1866, p. 2, col. 6.)

March 7: “The steamer R. J. Lockwood exploded her boilers near Memphis, on Sunday night, killing forty or fifty persons and wounding as many more. The boilers had been ‘inspected’ four days before, and the captain knew they were leaking the day of the explosion. Will anybody be tried for murder this time?” (Daily Commercial Register, Sandusky, OH. “The News.” 3-7-1866, p. 2, col. 2.)

March 7: “Memphis, Mar. 7. Alexander McDougal, first engineer of the Lockwood, died of his injuries at Vicksburg yesterday. His body has been taken charge of by the Odd Fellows, and will be forwarded by them to his family in New Albany.” (New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “From Memphis. Death Alex. McDougal.” 3-7-1866, p. 3, col. 3.)

March 21: “St. Louis. – The Democrat, of Monday [19th], says….Captain Crawford, of the Henry Ames, left by rail, yesterday morning, for Jefferson City, having in charge the body of the young man Robinson, who died from injuries received by the explosion of the R. J. Lockwood….” (Cincinnati Commercial. “River and Steamboat News….Gleanings from our Exchanges.” 3-21-1866, p. 7, col. 2.)

Blanchard Attempt to Tally Fatalities From Description Above

1. George Casner, bar-keeper, St. Louis.
2. Clem. [Oliver] Graham, second engineer, of New York
3. James. King, Staten Island, New York
4. Alexander McDougall, first engineer, of New Albany. [Died from injuries.]
5. John H. Robinson, first clerk, Jefferson City, Mo. [Died from injuries.]
6. Unnamed cabin crew, 1 of at least 2.
7. Unnamed cabin crew, 2 of at least 2.
8. Unnamed chambermaid, 1 of 2.
9. Unnamed chambermaid, 2 of 2.
10. Unnamed cooks, 1 of at least 2.
11. Unnamed cooks, 2 of at least 2.
12. Unnamed deck hand, 1 of at least 2.
13. Unnamed deck hand, 2 of at least 2.
14. Unnamed deck passenger, 1 of at least 2.
15. Unnamed deck passenger, 2 of at least 2.
16. Unnamed firemen, 1 of at least 2.
17. Unnamed firemen, 2 of at least 2.

Sources

Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats. Report of Board of Board of Supervising Inspectors of Steamboats. 10-24-1866, Report of Sixth Supervising District (Louisville), p. 287. In: Annual Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the State of The Finance for the Year 1866. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1866. Accessed 9-18-2020 at: https://fraser.stlouisfed.org/title/annual-report-secretary-treasury-state-finances-194/report-secretary-treasury-state-finances-year-1866-5510/report-board-supervising-inspectors-steamboats-238234

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

Chicago Tribune, IL. “The Latest River Horror.” 3-10-1866, p. 2, col. 8. Accessed 9-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/chicago-tribune-mar-10-1866-p-2/

Christian Advocate, St. Louis, MO. “Miscellaneous.” 3-8-1866, p. 12, col. 4. Accessed 9-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/st-louis-christian-advocate-mar-08-1866-p-12/

Cincinnati Commercial. “River and Steamboat News….Gleanings from our Exchanges.” 3-21-1866, p. 7, col. 2. Accessed 9-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cincinnati-commercial-mar-21-1866-p-7/

Daily Commercial Register, Sandusky, OH. “The News.” 3-7-1866, p. 2, col. 2. Accessed 9-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sandusky-daily-commercial-register-mar-07-1866-p-2/

Fort Wayne Daily Gazette, IN. [Steamer Lockwood Explosion], 3-6-1866, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=41019291

New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “Another Terrible Steamboat Disaster. 3-6-1866, p. 2, col. 6. Accessed 9-19-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-albany-daily-ledger-mar-06-1866-p-2/

New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “Explosion of the Steamer Lockwood.” 3-5-1866, p. 3, c. 5. Accessed 9-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-albany-daily-ledger-mar-05-1866-p-3/

New Albany Daily Ledger, IN. “From Memphis. Death Alex. McDougal.” 3-7-1866, p. 3, col. 3. Accessed 9-18-2020 at: http://genealogytrails.com/ind/floyd/obits1860.html

New Orleans Daily Crescent. “Another Steamboat Explosion. Steamer R. J. Lockwood Destroyed.” 3-6-1866, p. 1. Accessed 9-18-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-orleans-daily-crescent-mar-06-1866-p-1/

New York Times. “Explosion of the Steamer Lockwood – Twenty Persons Killed…” 3-7-1866, p. 8. Accessed 9-18-2020 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1866/03/07/79802035.html?pageNumber=8

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.