THE DISASTER

THE DISASTER, AFTERMATH, & CAUSE

THE DISASTER...
April 27, 1865 - At approximately 1:00 AM, Sultana was finally finished loading coal and headed back upstream. Several survivors stated in their diaries or writings that all seemed peaceful and well. All observed that Sultana appeared to be running well without problem.

2:00 AM - Suddenly a loud peculiar hissing sound in the main steam exhaust pipes woke the men sleeping nearby. Then came other unusual noises coming up from below that surely meant something was wrong in the engine room.
The second engineer, who was on duty, recognized a condition of what he believed to be of the boilers having too much water and not enough steam and immediately opened the valves and evacuated some water to compensate. Deciding it wasn’t enough, he evacuated water a second time, at which point alarm whistles went off indicating a sudden jump to dangerous levels of steam pressure. A few seconds later, the boilers exploded.

EXPLOSION & FIRE! Three of Sultana’s boilers exploded in quick succession of each other. Sleeping men in the immediate vicinity of the boilers were violently thrown upward and outward. Those who were not instantly killed by the force of the explosion were killed when they fell back down on the boat deck or were knocked unconscious and drowned in the cold river water. Others were scalded to death by the blast of boiling water & steam, or later died of horrible scald burns. Hundreds found themselves suddenly awakened from sleep and floundering in the cold water. Fires immediately started from the suddenly exposed furnaces and hundreds more died as they found themselves unable to get away from the flames, extreme heat and thick choking smoke.

DEADLY EVENTS! The force of the blast and resulting fires caused another deadly event. The structure and restraints that held up the tall main smokestacks were destroyed causing one to fall to one side over the water crushing many who were in the water. The other fell directly forward crushing the crowded men on the bow of the boat under its weight and forcing others to jump overboard to avoid being crushed who later died anyway by drowning or from exposure.

INTO THE WATER... The spreading, advancing fire left many hundreds more no choice but to jump into the water. Those left onboard who were able made every effort to throw any and everything into the water for those in danger of drowning to hang on to. The press of so many men in the water around the boat was so thick that many were forced under the water and drowned by others who were themselves drowning. Even among those who somehow managed to catch onto a board or log or other floating item, many later died from exposure to cold and trauma as they floated down the river in the swift current.

Many more who were eventually rescued died of their wounds or burns or exposure in Memphis hospitals. To add to the unspeakable horror of it all is the fact that the paroled prisoners were in poor health and weakened physical condition to begin with from their months or years in Confederate POW camps.

THE AFTERMATH...
Sultana began drifting back downriver after the explosion and finally sank near the shore on the Arkansas side very close to the town of Helena. There was much heroism and sacrifice, and as much selfishness and cowardice displayed that night. Shortly after the explosion, a group of Sultana's deckhands commandeered the boat's small patrol skiff and escaped without any attempt to help anyone. Later, those who could be found were arrested and charged with dereliction of duty.

Sultana's only lifeboat was immediately lowered into the water, upon which dozens of men tried to climb onboard. The lifeboat overturned several times under the press of men trying to get in it, and eventually sank without saving a single soul.

The stories of sacrifice include even the few women who were on board. A mother and child were found later on after sun up dead in the water floating next to a log that had snagged them, the mother's arms still folded around her child.

THE DEATH TOLL... Capt. James Cass Mason, whose greed and reckless need for money led him to take the deal from Captain Hatch to overcrowd his already crippled steamboat, lost his life in the disaster. Of 70 civilian passengers only 21 survived, of 85 crew members only 28 lived. Of the contingent of 22 guards assigned to Sultana only 6 survived, and only 913 ex-prisoners-of-war survived out of 1,960.

NO JUSTICE... Captain Hatch never actually stood trial, but Captain Speed was not so lucky. The least guilty of all three men mainly responsible for overcrowding Sultana was the only one to be brought up on charges, but was eventually acquitted.

DERELICTION OF DUTY... During several rounds and levels of investigations in Memphis, Vicksburg, and Washington DC there was much in the way of finger pointing, blame-shifting, political positioning, outright lying and false accusations among those who were being investigated and those in upper general command who repeatedly shirked their duty in the days preceding the disaster.

Any one of the general officers in charge of the Quartermaster’s division or the Adjutant General’s division in Vicksburg could have prevented the horrendous loss of life if they had merely attended to their supervisory duties over their junior officers. But the war was ending and most were focused on the terrible news of Lincoln’s death and personal concerns. Foremost on everyone's minds was to be done with the messy business of war and to get back home to loved ones and normal life in general.

The stories of heroism are many of the people in the immediate surrounding areas who heard or saw the disaster and risked their own lives to rush to the scene of the disaster to do what they could to help.
The horror stories are also many of the men, women, and children who were found dead for days after the explosion and fire, some being found miles below Memphis swept downstream by the cold current, their bodies ravaged by carrion birds and small scavengers.
Many more died in Memphis hospitals of terrible wounds, hypothermia, and trauma. As many more lived after rescue, but were physical & emotional cripples for the rest of their lives.

THE CAUSE...
No single definitive cause of the disaster has been ever been identified. Its more likely that a ‘perfect storm’ of multiple factors combined to cause the explosion and resulting disaster.

_ Was the boat inhumanely overloaded? Most definitely.
_ Was one of the boilers in poor repair? Definitely.
_ Was proper general upkeep of boilers not maintained? Probably.
_ Did general operating practices of Sultana's officers sometimes ignore safety considerations? Definitely.
_ Was human error of an engineer a factor in the explosion? Very likely.
_ Was boiler design a factor? Later similar problems with two other explosions on other steamboats of their tubular boilers proved yes.
_ Were the boilers themselves constructed of materials not suited for boilers? Even though the boiler plate in common use at the time was the best to be had, later tests and practical experience proved yes.

WHAT IF... Several versions of ‘What if…’ scenarios can be considered as to cause and effect, each with a likely result that if any one factor or perhaps two, were eliminated the disaster could possibly have been avoided.

REMEMBER THE SULTANA... Sultana has been called America’s Titanic. Her story is one that stands alone in American history as one of the most tragic on the inland waters of our great nation with almost as much loss of life as Titanic, and in some ways perhaps more.

"They sleep the sleep of death, and the Father of Waters is their
shroud, their coffin, and their grave." -Cpl. Winfield Colvin
...Remember the Sultana.

To include your stories and other information in this site,
Email us at Webmaster.

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additional info are
always welcomed.,
Please contact: Webmaster
Nova Development Art Explosion



	THE DISASTER, AFTERMATH, & CAUSE
	THE DISASTER... April 27, 1865 - At approximately 1:00 AM, Sultana was finally finished loading coal and headed back upstream. Several survivors stated in their diaries or writings that all seemed peaceful and well. All observed that Sultana appeared to be running well without problem. 2:00 AM - Suddenly a loud peculiar hissing sound in the main steam exhaust pipes woke the men sleeping nearby. Then came other unusual noises coming up from below that surely meant something was wrong in the engine room. The second engineer, who was on duty, recognized a condition of what he believed to be of the boilers having too much water and not enough steam and immediately opened the valves and evacuated some water to compensate. Deciding it wasn’t enough, he evacuated water a second time, at which point alarm whistles went off indicating a sudden jump to dangerous levels of steam pressure. A few seconds later, the boilers exploded. EXPLOSION & FIRE! Three of Sultana’s boilers exploded in quick succession of each other. Sleeping men in the immediate vicinity of the boilers were violently thrown upward and outward. Those who were not instantly killed by the force of the explosion were killed when they fell back down on the boat deck or were knocked unconscious and drowned in the cold river water. Others were scalded to death by the blast of boiling water & steam, or later died of horrible scald burns. Hundreds found themselves suddenly awakened from sleep and floundering in the cold water. Fires immediately started from the suddenly exposed furnaces and hundreds more died as they found themselves unable to get away from the flames, extreme heat and thick choking smoke. DEADLY EVENTS! The force of the blast and resulting fires caused another deadly event. The structure and restraints that held up the tall main smokestacks were destroyed causing one to fall to one side over the water crushing many who were in the water. The other fell directly forward crushing the crowded men on the bow of the boat under its weight and forcing others to jump overboard to avoid being crushed who later died anyway by drowning or from exposure. INTO THE WATER... The spreading, advancing fire left many hundreds more no choice but to jump into the water. Those left onboard who were able made every effort to throw any and everything into the water for those in danger of drowning to hang on to. The press of so many men in the water around the boat was so thick that many were forced under the water and drowned by others who were themselves drowning. Even among those who somehow managed to catch onto a board or log or other floating item, many later died from exposure to cold and trauma as they floated down the river in the swift current. Many more who were eventually rescued died of their wounds or burns or exposure in Memphis hospitals. To add to the unspeakable horror of it all is the fact that the paroled prisoners were in poor health and weakened physical condition to begin with from their months or years in Confederate POW camps. THE AFTERMATH... Sultana began drifting back downriver after the explosion and finally sank near the shore on the Arkansas side very close to the town of Helena. There was much heroism and sacrifice, and as much selfishness and cowardice displayed that night. Shortly after the explosion, a group of Sultana's deckhands commandeered the boat's small patrol skiff and escaped without any attempt to help anyone. Later, those who could be found were arrested and charged with dereliction of duty. Sultana's only lifeboat was immediately lowered into the water, upon which dozens of men tried to climb onboard. The lifeboat overturned several times under the press of men trying to get in it, and eventually sank without saving a single soul. The stories of sacrifice include even the few women who were on board. A mother and child were found later on after sun up dead in the water floating next to a log that had snagged them, the mother's arms still folded around her child. THE DEATH TOLL... Capt. James Cass Mason, whose greed and reckless need for money led him to take the deal from Captain Hatch to overcrowd his already crippled steamboat, lost his life in the disaster. Of 70 civilian passengers only 21 survived, of 85 crew members only 28 lived. Of the contingent of 22 guards assigned to Sultana only 6 survived, and only 913 ex-prisoners-of-war survived out of 1,960. NO JUSTICE... Captain Hatch never actually stood trial, but Captain Speed was not so lucky. The least guilty of all three men mainly responsible for overcrowding Sultana was the only one to be brought up on charges, but was eventually acquitted. DERELICTION OF DUTY... During several rounds and levels of investigations in Memphis, Vicksburg, and Washington DC there was much in the way of finger pointing, blame-shifting, political positioning, outright lying and false accusations among those who were being investigated and those in upper general command who repeatedly shirked their duty in the days preceding the disaster. Any one of the general officers in charge of the Quartermaster’s division or the Adjutant General’s division in Vicksburg could have prevented the horrendous loss of life if they had merely attended to their supervisory duties over their junior officers. But the war was ending and most were focused on the terrible news of Lincoln’s death and personal concerns. Foremost on everyone's minds was to be done with the messy business of war and to get back home to loved ones and normal life in general. The stories of heroism are many of the people in the immediate surrounding areas who heard or saw the disaster and risked their own lives to rush to the scene of the disaster to do what they could to help. The horror stories are also many of the men, women, and children who were found dead for days after the explosion and fire, some being found miles below Memphis swept downstream by the cold current, their bodies ravaged by carrion birds and small scavengers. Many more died in Memphis hospitals of terrible wounds, hypothermia, and trauma. As many more lived after rescue, but were physical & emotional cripples for the rest of their lives. THE CAUSE... No single definitive cause of the disaster has been ever been identified. Its more likely that a ‘perfect storm’ of multiple factors combined to cause the explosion and resulting disaster. _ Was the boat inhumanely overloaded? Most definitely. _ Was one of the boilers in poor repair? Definitely. _ Was proper general upkeep of boilers not maintained? Probably. _ Did general operating practices of Sultana's officers sometimes ignore safety considerations? Definitely. _ Was human error of an engineer a factor in the explosion? Very likely. _ Was boiler design a factor? Later similar problems with two other explosions on other steamboats of their tubular boilers proved yes. _ Were the boilers themselves constructed of materials not suited for boilers? Even though the boiler plate in common use at the time was the best to be had, later tests and practical experience proved yes. WHAT IF... Several versions of ‘What if…’ scenarios can be considered as to cause and effect, each with a likely result that if any one factor or perhaps two, were eliminated the disaster could possibly have been avoided. REMEMBER THE SULTANA... Sultana has been called America’s Titanic. Her story is one that stands alone in American history as one of the most tragic on the inland waters of our great nation with almost as much loss of life as Titanic, and in some ways perhaps more. "They sleep the sleep of death, and the Father of Waters is their shroud, their coffin, and their grave." -Cpl. Winfield Colvin ...Remember the Sultana.

		To include your stories and other information in this site, Email us at Webmaster.
Comments, suggestions, additional info are always welcomed., Please contact: Webmaster