Originally published in 1892, it was the first ever book on the subject. Your name in the special thanks kickstarter partners of the. Hecker, indianapolis, 19, pages 169170 memphis, tn area sultana disaster book part 3 up memphis, tn area sultana disaster book part 5 add new comment. This is an extraordinary book about one of many little known events during the american civil war. This was the greatest maritime disaster in united states history. A few decades ago, a group of history sleuths started piecing together the longlost tale of americas worst maritime disaster. A book to teach disaster management would accomplish very little unless a broad spectrum of knowledge is imparted regarding effects of various types of disasters, their dimensions and. Apr 27, 2015 on april 27, 1865, a steamboat named the sultana exploded and sank while transporting union soldiers up the mississippi. Apr 27, 2020 the story of the sultana is personal to my family, for my paternal greatgreatgreat grandfather survived the disaster. This stone memorial pays tribute to a massive shipwreck which was sadly overshadowed by the death of john wilkes booth. When the steamboat sultana exploded and sank north of memphis on the. Sultana was a mississippi river sidewheel steamboat, which exploded on april 27, 1865. An association that publishes a newsletter and holds regular reunions for descendants and friends of the sultana can be accessed at a museum devoted to the sultana is now open to. It was also a treat to meet author alan huffman with anne, at right, whose book, sultana.
The titanic of the mississippi civil war books, prison life. On the mississippi river just above memphis at two oclock on the morning of april 27, 1865, the steamboat sultana. An estimated 1,600 of sultana s 2,400 passengers were killed when three of the ships four boilers exploded and sultana sank near memphis, tennessee. Louis and new orleans, and was frequently commissioned to carry troops. Five best books on the steamboat sultana, and americas.
He offers unprecedented details about the captains handling of the steamboat and corrects some longheld myths about the placement of the soldiers on the sultana and newspaper coverage of the disaster. History of a disaster where over one thousand five hundred human beings were lost, most of them being exchanged prisoners of war on their way home after privation and suffering from one to twentythree months in cahaba and andersonville prisons by berry, chester d. Jul 26, 2019 reverend chester berrys book on the sultana disaster is another historical masterpiece. What sets this book apart from all the others is that it is neither a firsthand narrative or a historical retelling of the events of the sinking of the sultana in 1865, it is both. Gene salecker wrote what most consider the definitive study in, disaster on the mississippi, the sultana explosion, april 27, 1865. Sultana and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Feb 11, 2018 explore larry2344s board steamer sultana disaster on. Then, on april 27, 1865, seven miles north of memphis, a series of three boilers exploded within seconds of one another. It was the steamboat sultana on the mississippi river and it could have. The story of the sultana is personal to my family, for my paternal greatgreatgreat grandfather survived the disaster. Thousands of union soldiers, released from confederate prisonerofwar camps, were to be transported home on the steamboat sultana. The sultana disaster has been the subject of numerous books, scholarly articles, television programs and a mural on the vicksburg floodwall. His book is a compilation of more than 100 stories collected from survivors during the 1880s.
The sultana disaster is rarely mentioned in history books. In this section of the book there is a good drawing of the sultana after the explosion and the survivor accounts are chilling. The most terrible steamboat disaster in history was probably the loss of the sultana in 1865. Most of the passengers who survived did so by floating on pieces of the boat until they made it to shore. On april 27, 1865, a steamboat named the sultana exploded and. The explosion and sinking of the riverboat sultana. The lucky passengers were flung into the water as chunks of the sultana blasted apart. This book, composed by chester berry, one of the survivors, is unique in that it gives firsthand account from well over 100 of the survivors of the tragedy in their own words. Potter focuses on how greed, indifference, gross stupidity, and criminal misconduct reaching as far as the white.
The steamboat sultana was a mississippi river paddlewheeler, destroyed in an explosion on 27 april, 1865. An estimated 1,800 people died, but few today have heard of this disaster. Sultana disaster museum marion 2020 all you need to. Aug 31, 2018 few books have been written about sultana, and its rarely commemorated or even mentioned. I had never heard of the sultana before checking trip advisor for something to do for a couple.
Alia national simultaneous storytime 2020 australian. There are many errors in the spelling of a names in this book. Michigan men on the sultana list of exchanged prisoners on the boat. The disaster was overshadowed in the press by events surrounding the end of the american civil war, including the killing of president. Without warning, an explosion ripped through the boilers, scalding steam burst out, and a.
The sultana was a 260footlong wooden steamboat, built in cincinnati in 1863, which regularly transported passengers and freight between st. The search for a photo of the man behind the sultana disaster. This disaster was overshadowed in the press by other recent events. The sultana explosion, april 27, 1865 gene eric salecker published 1996 by naval institute press isbn 10. An estimated 1,800 of the 2,400 passengers were killed when three of the ships four boilers exploded almost at once and the sultana sank into the mississippi near memphis. He cites potter, among other works that only mention the sultana. The loss of the sultana and reminiscences of survivors, by chester d berry this 430 page book was published in 1892. The same is true with regard to company and regiment on some.
The worst maritime disaster in american history wasnt the titanic. Mar 27, 2015 the sultana disaster killed an estimated 1,700 or more of the passengers a death toll higher than caused by the sinking of the titanic half a century later. Potter does not believe that sabotage was the likely cause of the explosion, but does talk about the memphis article, which he called the strongest support for the sabotage. His name was daniel garber, a private in the 102nd ohio volunteer infantry. Hecker, indianapolis, 19, pages 163164 memphis, tn near disaster of the sultana, apr 1865 up memphis, tn area sultana disaster book part 2 add new comment. An estimated 1,800 of its 2,427 passengers died when three of the ships four boilers exploded and it sank near memphis. The sultana disaster killed an estimated 1,700 or more of the passengers a death toll higher than caused by the sinking of the titanic half a century later.
The sultana tragedy remembered the waterways journal. Sultana was a mississippi river sidewheel steamboat. Every year a picture book, written and illustrated by an australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, preschools, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the. In potters book, william lugenbeal, a union soldier and prisoner of war from. They can be electronic, but books must also be available in print. The worst maritime disaster in american history, the sinking of the sultana is a forgotten tragedy lost in the turmoil of the timesthe wars end, the assassination of president lincoln, the pursuit of john wilkes booth. That dismal distinction goes to the ss sultana, a mississippi river paddlewheel steamer which exploded and sank on april 27, 1865 at the close of the civil war.
Remember the sultana documentary by mark marshall kickstarter. One man survived by floating almost 10 miles on the back of a dead mule. The fire caused by the explosion was swept astern by the winds. Most of the passengers who survived did so by floating on pieces of the boat until they made it to shore or could be rescued. In his book, he builds a strong case against the boats captain and. Sultana was a mississippi river sidewheel steamboat, which exploded on april 27, 1865, in the worst maritime disaster in united states history. The loss of the sultana was the greatest maritime disaster in u. Even more amazingly, people barely cared about the disaster when it occurredit didnt even make it. Sultana was a mississippi river sidewheel steamboat, which exploded on april 27, 1865, in the worst maritim e disaste r in united states history constructed of wood in 1863 by the john litherbury boatyard in cincinnati, she was intended for the lower mississippi cotton trade. The shipwreck that led confederate veterans to risk all.
Acknowledged by congressional resolution as the greatest maritime disaster in united states history, nearly 1,200 of the more than 2,100 passengers and crew were killed in the explosion and fire which sank the sultana near marion, arkansas, across the river from memphis. Even more amazingly, people barely cared about the disaster. Memphis, tn area sultana disaster book part 4 submitted by gendisasters no emergency calling for it, and especially so great a number of men who were so reduced in strength that they were not able to do much for themselves in case of an accident. In 2009, alan huffman wrote a book on the sultana disaster. Mar 30, 2015 this is also the story that will be investigated in the sultana documentary, remember the sultana, that will premiere on april 27th to mark the 150th anniversary of the tragedy. The mississippi river steamboatpaddlewheeler, ss sultana, was destroyed in an explosion on april 27, 1865. Alan huffman presents this harrowing story in gripping and vivid detail and paints a moving portrait of four individual. Apr 27, 2015 a few decades ago, a group of history sleuths started piecing together the longlost tale of americas worst maritime disaster. In the early hours of april 27th, 1865, mere days after the end of the civil war, the sultana burst into flames along the mississippi river. View all restaurants near sultana disaster museum on tripadvisor.
From deck crew to captainmaster, your contributions supports the sultana disaster museum by the acquisition of exhibit artifacts, archival documents, rare books, and manuscripts, and support of historical research of the sultana disaster and the remarkable stories of her 2,200 passengers. The shipwreck that led confederate veterans to risk all for. National simultaneous storytime nss is held annually by the australian library and information association alia. The early newspapers carry stories about major events occurring around the time of the sultana disaster including president lincolns funeral, the capture of john wilkes booth, the capture of jefferson davis, and the surrender of confederate general johnston which many newspapers called the last act of the civil war. She was designed with a capacity of only 376 passengers, but she was carrying 2,8 when three of the boats four boilers exploded and she burned to the waterline and sank near memphis. In addition, those who died are identified as are those who were buried in memphis national cemetery. Apr 27, 2011 blog entry posted on april 27, 2011 by jd thomas. Steamer ss sultana disaster documents2,544 pages of documents related to the explosion of the steamer ss sultana on the morning of april 27, 1865, the greatest maritime disaster in united states history. It was the steamboat sultana on the mississippi river and it could have been prevented. Ss sultana was a mississippi river sidewheel steamboat that exploded on april 27, 1865 in the greatest maritime disaster in united states history. Chelf about two oclock in the morning of april the 27t the boiler of the boat exploded. On april 27, 1865, a steamboat named the sultana exploded and sank while transporting union soldiers up the mississippi.
May 28, 2014 gene salecker wrote what most consider the definitive study in, disaster on the mississippi, the sultana explosion, april 27, 1865. Reverend chester berrys book on the sultana disaster is another historical masterpiece. In 1865, the civil war was winding down and the country was reeling from lincolns assassination. On april 27, 1865, the sultana steamboat carrying an estimated. Considered by most one of the best books on the subject. This is a book of about 25 case studies that discuss accidents, pandemics and natural disasters that influenced emergency management and. On april 27, 1865, the sultana, a 260foot, woodenhulled steamboatsmaller than the titanic but carrying more passengersexploded on the mississippi river near memphis, tennessee. Cahaba prison and the sultana disaster by william o. Apr 05, 2020 the sultana disaster has been the subject of numerous books, scholarly articles, television programs and a mural on the vicksburg floodwall.
The sultana, a civil war era sidewheel steamboat, exploded and burned on the mississippi river on april 27, 1865. An estimated 1,800 of the 2,400 passengers were killed when three of the ships four boilers exploded almost at once and the sultana sank into the. On april 27, 1865, the boat exploded in the worst maritime disaster in united states history. This resulted in the greatest maritime disaster in. A case for sabotage seven miles out of memphis, at 2.
Michigan men on the sultana michigan family history network. Why nobody remembers americas worst maritime disaster. The sultana steamed north up the mississippi, but the severe overcrowding and faster river current caused by the spring thaw put increased pressure on its newly patched boilers. Sultana is a thorough, but different take on the history of this terrible disaster. Sultana disaster museum marion 2020 all you need to know. John wilkes booth, president lincolns assassin, was killed.
Alan huffman presents this harrowing story in gripping and vivid detail and paints a moving portrait of four individual soldiers who survived the civil wars final hell to make it back home. This is also the story that will be investigated in the sultana documentary, remember the sultana, that will premiere on april 27th to mark the 150th anniversary of the tragedy. The flow of the swollen mississippi that april was wide, swift, and cold, and the sultana struggled to make the journey. William o bryant this is the story of the littleknown prisonerofwar camp on the banks of the alabama river near selma where 5,000 union soldiers were interned during the latter part of the civil war.
Sultana memorial knoxville, tennessee atlas obscura. Louis or new orleans or mississippi and sultana disaster or sultana explosion and ss sultana gets about 24 results in books. The steamer registered 1,719 tons and normally carried a crew of 85. First it is well written, so the story reads easily. Shortly after leaving memphis, tennessee on april 27th, the overstrained boilers exploded, blowing apart the center of the boat and starting an uncontrollable fire. In his book berry collected stories first hand from survivors of the disasters including. Surviving the civil war, prison, and the worst maritime disaster in american.
Why nobody remembers americas worst maritime disaster history. Ss sultana explodes carrying 2,400 released union prisoners. This month, the arkansas town opens its firstever exhibit on the disaster that is the. In a bit of geographical schizophrenia, alan splits time between his exceedingly quiet and lovingly restored old home in rural mississippi, and an. Potter is a lawyer, huffman is a freelance journalist. A framable print of james hances original artwork honoring the lives lost in the sultana disaster, as seen at the top of the kickstarter page. He follows two men from jefferson county, indiana through their experiences, first as pows, then as rescued from the mississippi river after the sultanas explosion and burning, then as soldiers returning home as. Aug 1, 2012 worse than ss titanic, ss sultana was a mississippi river steamboat paddlewheeler that exploded on april 27, 1865 in the greatest maritime disaster in united states history. An engraving of the sultana explosion, published in harpers weekly, may 20, 1865. Eventually the current swung the sultana around and the wind swept the fire down the bow. The story is only a story because of the boiler explosion and without it, the sultana would be only a few lines in history books. It simply says sultana on the side of a vessel whose hull is shown to extend only about one metre above water level. Early in the morning of april 27, 1865 approximately 1,700 people, both soldiers and c.
Jan 27, 2019 the fire caused by the explosion was swept astern by the winds. Loss of the sultana and reminiscences of survivors. A large portion of the book covers rescue attempts, both successful and failed, and the aftermath of the disaster as it affected those involved. Few books have been written about sultana, and its rarely commemorated or even mentioned.
Gene was our guide for the weekend, taking us to the site of camp fisk, where former union pows from cahaba and andersonville, midwesterners, were processed for parole. Huffmans book on the tragic events leading up to and including the explosion of the str. Surviving the civil war, prison, and the worst maritime. Potter is a thoroughly researched book that details the terrible tragedy of the explosion and sinking of the sultana a 260 ft woodenhulled steamer on april 27, 1865 outside of memphis on the mississippi river. Surviving the civil war, prison,and the worst maritime disaster in american history, features annes ancestor, romulus tolbert of the 8 th indiana cavalry. Gene has written an excellent book about the worst freshwater maritime disaster in history. He enlisted in 1862, was captured in 1864, and then sent to the cahaba prison camp in alabama. This disaster was overshadowed in the press by other. His name is listed in saelekers book, disaster on the mississippi as wyatt baley.
529 406 1300 189 526 1106 415 876 751 1442 1131 379 275 251 218 1298 1298 287 1520 1576 369 408 662 1151 1340 15 886 1203 477 64