- Pennsylvania (steamboat)
The steamboat "Pennsylvania" was a side wheeler
steamboat which suffered a boiler explosion in theMississippi River and sank at Ship Island nearMemphis, Tennessee , onJune 13 ,1858 .Construction and career
Built in
1854 , the "Pennsylvania" was capable of carrying a full 486 tons ofcargo . On November 26, 1857, she was struck by the steamer "Vicksburg" while 28 miles north ofNew Orleans, Louisiana . This collision put her out of service until February 17, 1858. Subsequently, she continued her service on the river until destroyed by a boiler explosion on June 13, 1858.Employment of Samuel L. Clemens
Her most heralded crew member was Samuel L. Clemens (later known as
Mark Twain ) who served as a cub pilot from September 27, 1857 until June 5, 1858, with a two month break during the repairs from the "Vicksburg" collision. The end of Twain's service on the "Pennsylvania" was brought about by his stormy relationship with its pilot, William Brown, which is described in "Life on the Mississippi ". Just prior to his departure, he arranged a post for his brother, Henry on the steamship as "Mud Clerk".Final voyage and sinking
On
June 13 ,1858 , the "Pennsylvania" was steaming near Ship Island, just belowMemphis, Tennessee when its boiler exploded. Estimates at the time put the passenger manifest at 450 with an initial loss of life of 250. [cite web
title = THE EXPLOSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
work = The New York Times
publisher = The New York Times Company
date =1858-06-16
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E06E4D8153CEE34BC4E52DFB0668383649FDE
format = HTML
accessdate = 2008-03-20 ] The first vessel on site was the "Imperial", which picked up several passengers and transported them to New Orleans. The "Diana" took many others to Memphis. Several of these were seriously injured and the death toll continued to climb. Among this group was Henry Clemens, whose skin and lungs were so badly scalded that he succumbed to his wounds on June 21. Eyewitness testimony was given to the fact that the engineer was not at his post in the engine room just prior to the explosion, instead being in the company of some women. [cite web
title = CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
work = The New York Times
publisher = The New York Times Company
date =1858-06-26
url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9E0DE6D91331EE34BC4E51DFB0668383649FDE
accessdate = 2008-03-20 ]References
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