20th Century – Page 352 – Deadliest American Disasters and Large-Loss-of-Life Events (2024)

–11-14 Blanchard estimated death toll.*

— 16 News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI. “3 Boats Lost…Crew Was Drowned.” 4-23-1907, 1.
— 16 Richmond Palladium, IN. “Crew Thrown Overboard….Arcadia Founders.” 4-23-1907, 6.
–10-15 Diamond Drill, Crystal Fall, MI. “Down With All Hands.” 4-27-1907, p. 2.
— 14 Burlington Evening Gazette, IA. “Ship With All On Board Lost.” 4-23-1907, p. 1.
— 14 Lincoln Daily Star, NE. “Barge Is Lost With All Hands.” 4-22-1907, p. 9, col. 2.
— 14 Northeast Michigan Oral History…Historic Photograph Archive. Alpena County Library.
— 13 The Mail, Hagerstown, MD. “Floating Corpse Pickup Up On Lake.” 4-26-1907, p. 3.
— 12 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 234.
— 12 U.S. Bureau of Navigation. Merchant Vessels of the United States…1908, p. 381.
— 11 U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. Annual Report 1907, p. 13.
— 4-10 Swayze. Shipwreck!….Directory of…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 25.

* Blanchard estimated death toll. Most reporting at the time which we have reviewed notes there were 14 aboard and that all were lost. We have cited only a small sampling of these accounts. However, in that the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service notes 11 deaths and the U.S. Bureau of Navigation notes 12 deaths, we choose to employ a range of deaths from 11-14. We are not convinced of reports of fewer than eleven deaths or more than fourteen.

Narrative Information

Berman: “Arcadia. St.s. [steam screw]. 1888 [built]. Apr 13 1907. Foundered. Big Sable, Mich. All lives (12) lost.”

Swayze: Arcadia. Wooden bulk freight steamer of 230 t. and 118 ft., launched at Milwaukee in 1888.

“Lake Michigan: Several contradictory reports exist concerning the loss of this steamer in a storm at Big Sable Point, Michigan, in 1907. The number of lives lost is reported as 4, 9, or 10, the date as April 11, April 23 or sometime in January, and the ship is said to have either foundered or gone aground and broken up in place.”

U.S. Bureau of Navigation: “Arcadia…235 [tons]. 1888 [built]. 12 [on board]. 12 [lives lost]. Foundered. April 13, 1907. Big Sable, MI.”

U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service “…the steamer Arcadia [foundered] on the east shore of Lake Michigan, on April 13, 1907, by which 11 lives were lost.” (Annual Report 1907, p. 13.)

Newspapers

April 22: “Manistee, Mich., April 22. – The wooden lumber barge Arcadia which left this port April 12, for Two Rivers with a cargo of hardwood, has undoubtedly been lost in Lake Michigan with her captain and owner, Harry May, his wife and a woman cook and a crew of about eleven men. Marine men here would not be surprised to hear her wreck was caused by a boiler explosion. Some hold the theory that she went down as the result of the storm of April 14.

“Wreckage has been found along the beach from Pentwater north to Little Point Sable and part of it has been identified as the cargo of the lost craft. Portions of her cabins and bulwarks have also been found on the beach near Pentwater.” (Lincoln Daily Star, NE. “Barge Is Lost With All Hands.” 4-22-1907, p. 9, col. 2.)

April 23: “Manistee, Mich., April 23. – The wooden lumber barge Arcadia, which left this port April 12 for Two Rivers with a cargo of hard wood, undoubtedly has been lost in Lake Michigan with her captain and owner Harry May, and about thirteen others….

“The known list of persons on board the Arcadia was:

Captain Harry May.
Mrs. Harry May.
A young woman, cook, name unknown here.
Otto Chavalia, sailor, Manistee.
Harry Powers, sailor Manistee.
[Charles McIntyre, coal passer, Manistee.]
There were about eight more members of the crew.

“The wreckage had been found along the beach from Pentwater, north to Little Point Sauble [sic], part of it has been identified as the cargo of the lost craft. Portions of her cabins and bulwarks also has been found on the beach near Pentwater.

“The Arcadia was 119 feet in length, 26 feet beam, 9-foot draft, registering 230 tons, and was built in Milwaukee in 1888.” (Burlington Evening Gazette, IA. “Ship With All On Board Lost.” 4-23-1907, p. 1.)

April 23: “….While it has been impossible to learn absolutely how many persons were on the wrecked barge, it is generally believed that the number was between ten and fifteen with a majority of the reports agreeing on fourteen. The Arcadia left Manistee April 12. April 13 and 14 Lake Michigan was swept by such a severe storm that navigation was almost completely tied up. It was during this storm that the Arcadia was probably lost….” (Fort Wayne Sentinel, IN. Lumber Barge Sinks with a Crew of Fourteen.” 4-23-1907, p. 1.)

April 23: “Pentwater, April 23 – The steamer Arcadia, carrying a captain, mate and crew of 14 hands, was sunk off of this port this morning and all on board are supposed to have perished. The distress signals of the boat were seen just before dawn and boats put out from shore immediately. Three boats were launched but the oarsmen had hard work making any headway against the high sea and by the time the life boats reached a distance where they could be of help the boat sunk. The boat, it is thought, struck an uncharted rock.” (News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI. “3 Boats Lost…Crew Was Drowned.” 4-23-1907, p. 1.)

April 23: “Pentwater, Mich., April 23. – The steam barge Arcadia, loaded with 141,000 feet of lumber, foundered off port with a crew of sixteen, according to advices from Manistee. She struck a leak and before the life saving crew could reach er, she lurched, throwing the crew overboard. Sailors were seen clinging to the rigging. However, waves prevented reaching them.” (Richmond Palladium, IN. “Crew Thrown Overboard. Steam Barge Arcadia Founders.” 4-23-1907, p. 6.)

April 24: “Ludington, Mich., April 24. – Fishermen today discovered the body of a young woman floating in Lake Michigan on one of the life preservers of the lost steamer Arcadia about it. The woman was undoubtedly cook of the Arcadia. She was only partially dressed, the clothing bearing evidence it was donned in great haste.” (Rock Island Argus, IL. “Is Cast Up By the Waves.” 4-24-1907, p. 10, col. 2.)

Sources

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

Burlington Evening Gazette, IA. “Ship With All On Board Lost.” 4-23-1907, p. 1. Accessed 11-12-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/burlington-evening-gazette-apr-23-1907-p-1/

Diamond Drill, Crystal Fall, MI. “Down With All Hands.” 4-27-1907, p. 2. Accessed 11-12-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/the-diamond-drill-apr-27-1907-p-2/

Fort Wayne Sentinel, IN. Lumber Barge Sinks with a Crew of Fourteen.” 4-23-1907, p. 1. Accessed 11-12-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fort-wayne-sentinel-apr-23-1907-p-1/

Lincoln Daily Star, NE. “Barge Is Lost With All Hands.” 4-22-1907, p. 9, col. 2. Accessed 11-12-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-daily-star-apr-22-1907-p-9/

Northeast Michigan Oral History and Historic Photograph Archive. Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library. Accessed 11-12-2020 at: http://www.nemoha.org/2903217/data

Richmond Palladium, IN. “Crew Thrown Overboard. Steam Barge Arcadia Founders.” 4-23-1907, p. 6. Accessed 11-12-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/the-richmond-palladium-and-sun-telegram-apr-23-1907-p-6/

Rock Island Argus, IL. “Is Cast Up By the Waves.” 4-24-1907, p. 10, col. 2. Accessed 11-12-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/rock-island-argus-apr-24-1907-p-10/

Steubenville Herald-Star, OH. “Body Found.” 4-25-1907, p. 1. Accessed 11-12-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/steubenville-herald-star-apr-25-1907-p-1/

Swayze, David D. Shipwreck! A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Boyne City, MI: Harbor House Publications, Inc., 1992.

The Mail, Hagerstown, MD. “Floating Corpse Pickup Up On Lake.” 4-26-1907, p. 3. Accessed 11-12-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/hagerstown-mail-apr-26-1907-p-3/

United States Bureau of Navigation, Department of Commerce and Labor. Fortieth Annual List of Merchant Vessels of the United States…For the Year Ended June 30, 1908. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1908. Digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=kF0uAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=editions:LCCNsn88028129#v=onepage&q=&f=false

United States Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector General, Steamboat-Inspection Service to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1907. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1907. 374 pages. Digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=slcpAAAAYAAJ

Winona Daily Republican Herald, MN. “Body of Woman Found.” 4-26-1907, p. 2, col. 5. Accessed 11-12-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/winona-republican-herald-apr-26-1907-p-2/

–14 Shelak, Benjamin J. Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan. Big Earth Publishing, 2003, p. 154.
–14 Swayze. Shipwreck!…Directory of…Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. 1992, p. 26.

Narrative Information

Shelak: “The same month that the Arcadia disappeared, the schooner barge Argo was driven ashore just north of Manistee. The number lost is uncertain, but it appears that 14 may have perished in the wreck.” (2003, p. 154.)

Swayze: “Argo. Lumber schooner of 68 ft.
“Lake Michigan: The Argo was a sailing vessel reported to have stranded and broken up on the beach between Big Sable Point and Manistee, Michigan, in April of 1907. Fourteen lives were lost.”

Sources

Shelak, Benjamin J. Shipwrecks of Lake Michigan. Big Earth Publishing, 2003. Partially digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=4CBCcye0n6IC

Swayze, David D. Shipwreck! A Comprehensive Directory of Over 3,700 Shipwrecks on the Great Lakes. Boyne City, MI: Harbor House Publications, Inc., 1992.

–~76 Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.

— 51 World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V12, N. 5, May 1907, p. 554.[1]

Summary of State Breakouts Below:

Ohio ( 32) Especially Athens

Pennsylvania (~26) Especially Pittsburgh

West Virginia ( 18) Especially Wheeling

Breakout of Flood-Related Fatalities by States and Localities:

Ohio ( 32)

–32 Statewide. Ohio Historical Society. “March 14-18, 1907: Floods Sweep Southern Ohio.”

–32 Schmidlin and Schmidlin. Thunder in the Heartland. 1996, p. 172.

–12 Athens.

— 2 Chillicothe

— 2 Circleville.

— 2 Marietta.

— 3 Nelsonville.

— 1 Sabina.

— 6 Steubenville.

— 4 Zanesville.

Pennsylvania (~26)

— ~26 Blanchard tally: Allegheny/1, Glen Osborne/2, Harmorsville/3, McKeesport/6, Pittsburgh/~14.

— 1 Allegheny, Mar 15. NYT. “Pestilence Feared in Pittsburg,” March 17, 1907, p. 3.

— 2 Glen Osborne, March 13. Towboat Cruiser hits dam abutment; thrown by flood water.[2]

— 3 Harmarville, Mar 14. Titusville Herald, PA. “Floods…Vicinity of Pittsburg,” 3-14-1907.[3]

— 5 McKeesport, Mar 14. NYT. “Pittsburg Losses Now $25,000,000,” March 16, 1907, p. 2.

— 6 “ Mar 15. NYT. “Pittsburg Losses Now $25,000,000,” March 16, 1907, p. 2.

— 2 Pittsburg, Mar 13. Titusville Herald, PA. “Towboat Wrecked…Sunk in River,” 3-14-1907.

— 4 “ Mar 14. Titusville Herald, PA. “Flood Records of Pittsburg Broken,” 3-15-1907.

–6-12 “ By Mar 15. Brooklineconnection.com. “Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle – 1907.”[4]

–6-12 “ By March 16. Historicpittsburgh.org. “Pittsburgh Flood of 1907.”

— <12 “ Pittsburg Post-Gazette. “Record flood inundates Pittsburgh in 1907.” 3-13-2013.[5]

— 14 “ by March 15. Tyrone Daily Herald, PA. “Flood at Pittsburg.” 3-15-1907, 1.[6]

— 14 “ Mar 14. World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. [U.S.].” May 1907, p. 554.

— ~20 “ Mar 13-15. NYT. “Pittsburg Losses Now $25,000,000,” March 16, 1907, p. 2.

West Virginia ( 18)

— 4 Wheeling, Mar 15. Titusville Herald, PA. “Wheeling Cut Off by Raging Waters,” 3-16-07.

–18 “ March 16 report of known dead as well as others missing and reportedly dead.[7]

–1 Simon Allis, 2.[8]

–1 Ed Collins found at Alley 19 and Main Street.

–1 Philip Cusman, 43.[9]

–1 Mrs. Cusman, 41.

–4 Cusman children.

–1 John Festicci.[10]

–1 Bradley George, 10 months.

–1 Rosa Luswic.[11]

–1 Alton Petries, 19-months, found at Twenty-fifth and Main.

–1 Mike Petries (or Betries), 30.[12]

–1 Mrs. Peter Satti, 24, found near body of Ed Collins.

–1 Badray Tomhas, 5.

–1 Effie Tomhas, 3.

–1 Annie Yesbitt, 20.[13]

–1 Unknown foreigner.[14]

–18 Wheeling, March 16. NYT. “18 Die in Flood, Fleeing From Fire,” March 17, 1907, p. 3.

Ohio Rivers Flooded: Pennsylvania Rivers Flooded

Hocking River, OH Allegheny, PA

Miami River, OH Clarion, PA

Muskingum River, OH Juniata, PA

Ohio River, OH Kiskiminetas, PA

Scioto River, OH Monongahela, PA

Ohio, PA Youghiogheny, PA

Ohio

Ohio Historical Society: “All rivers flowing southward into the Ohio River reached flood stage during March 14-17, 1907. More than 4 inches of rain fell across the southern third of Ohio during March 12-14, with the heaviest rain, 5 to 6 inches, in a band from Cincinnati eastward to Athens and Noble County. There were 32 deaths reported in Ohio. Dozens of homes in Athens were swept away, overturned, or lifted off their foundations by the raging Hocking River. There were 15 deaths along the Hocking River at Athens and Nelsonville. At Waverly, the Scioto River washed out every railroad leading into the city. Six hundred people were forced from their homes in Zanesville. The Miami River reached flood stage from its upper reaches at Sidney downstream through Dayton, Miamisburg, and Hamilton, causing major damage in many neighborhoods.

“As the flood waters moved into the Ohio River, a flood extended downstream from Pittsburgh past Cincinnati. Six people drowned at Steubenville. At Marietta, the Ohio River rose 30 feet in two days, reaching the highest level since 1884 and leaving 5,000 homeless. Portsmouth was inundated by the flood, but with temperatures reaching 70 degrees on Sunday March 17th, ‘thousands took advantage of the fine weather to row about the city’s streets’.” (Ohio Historical Society, “March 14-18, 1907: Floods Sweep Southern Ohio”)

Pennsylvania

March 13, Indiana, PA: “The heavy rains during the past few days, together with the melting of the five inches of snow which fell Sabbath, have caused a flood stage in the streams about Indiana. The water reached its highest point this morning. Paper Mill run in the West End was bank full. At several places where the banks are low the surrounding fields were under water. March Run, on the other side of town was also at flood stage….

“Traffic on the West Penn Division of the P.R.R., is tied up on account of high water. Word has been received that a bridge was taken away at Hammerville, which caused a serious wreck this morning….” (Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA. “Heavy Rains Seriously Impede Railway Traffic in this Vicinity.” 3-13-1907, p. 1.)

March 13, Pittsburgh: “Pittsburg, March 13.— The Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers are rising rapidly tonight. A stage of twenty-three feet has been reached in this city and by tomorrow twenty-seven feet is anticipated. This stage is five feet over the danger mark and will inundate the lower portions of the city. Reports from up-river points are alarming. A greater part of many towns in the Monongahela valley are submerged and many persons narrowly escaped with their lives. The property damage is heavy.

“Tonight it is raining heavily all over western Pennsylvania. The present high water, while not unexpected, came so rapidly that little time was given persons in the flood districts to prepare for it. Basem*nts were flooded, destroying thousands of dollars’ worth of perishable goods; a bridge at Harmorsville collapsed, precipitating a freight, train into the water and drowning three trainmen; residents in the flood districts were rescued from their homes in skin’s and thousands of men are idle owing to the suspension of work in the coal mines along the river.” (Titusville Herald, PA. “Floods are Heavy in the Vicinity of Pittsburg,” March 14, 1907, p. 1.)

March 13-14, Pittsburgh: “Pittsburg, March 13 – Swept with terrific force by the swollen current against the pier at lock No. 3, the towboat Cruiser, owned by the Monongahela River Consolidated Coal and co*ke company, was wrecked and sunk, sending two of her crew to death. Two others were rescued, exhausted and almost frozen, a mile below the scene of the accident, after they had been in the water an hour. Three of the crew, clinging to the bow of the submerged boat, were saved after a hard fight with the heavy ice which fills the stream….”

“Pittsburg, March 14. – With an estimated property damage of $10,000,000, the enforced idleness of over 100,000 persons, almost the complete suspension of Pittsburg’s world famous manufacturing plants, the sacrifice of four lives which will probably be increase to twenty deaths, train service annulled, trolley service out of commission, telegraph and telephone lines crippled, between twenty and thirty thousand persons homeless, hundreds of homes undermined and ready to collapse, theaters closed, guests marooned on hotels, thousands of families living in the second story of their homes, and nearly all the down town section of Pittsburg under waster, is the record established by a sudden rise in the Monongahela, Allegheny, Ohio, Youghiogheny, Kiskiminetas and Clarion rivers, which were swollen abnormally by the combination of warm weather, melting snows and general rain throughout western Pennsylvania and West Virginia during the past forty-eight hours.

Greatest in History.

“The record of the greatest flood in the history of Pittsburg, which was in 1832, was passed at midnight, with the rivers still rapidly rising at a foot an hour. A stage of water reaching at least thirty-seven feet is expected in this city. According to a statement issued at the United States weather bureau at midnight, it was stated, the crest of th flood is expected at 3 a.,. It is added, however, that this statement is conservative. App predictions, prophesies and guesses have already been shattered and the fact alone remains that every stream in western Pennsylvania and West Virginia is on the rampage and the extend of the flood at this time is very uncertain.

“To add to the confusion here tonight numerous small fires have occurred on the flooded territory and the firemen, some of whom are quartered in the hotels, had had great difficulty in reaching them. In addition to this, most of the fire engines are engaged in different sections of the city assisting in keeping electric light plants free from the water in order that lights at least many not fall….

“Conditions in this city are the worst ever recorded. The whole lower down town district is under water and the people are moving about in wagons and skiffs. Duquesne way, Penn avenue and liberty street, running parallel with the Allegheny river, are submerged to a depth of several feet. Hundreds of business houses located in this section are flooded. In a number of instance the water is almost up to the second floor…

“The Gayety, Belasco, Alvin and Bijou theaters are surrounded by water and will be unable to open for several days. Water has destroyed or greatly damaged the power plants of all four theaters. The guests in the Colonia, Lincoln, Annex and Anderson hotels are either marooned or compelled to use skiffs to and from the hotels. Trolley service between Pittsburg and Allegheny was suspended early today and tonight the scenes at the Union depot of the Pennsylvania railroad are almost beyond description.

“Electric light plants in many down town buildings are out of commission and candles or gas light is being used.

“Within the last thirty-six hours four fatalities directly due to the flood have occurred….

“All the railroads entering Pittsburg are crippled. Train schedules have been annulled….”

“Huntingdon, Pa., March 14 – Juniata valley is witnessing the most disastrous flood since the memorable one of 1889. The melting snow, combined with torrents of rain, has raised the Juniata river seventeen feet above low water mark. (Titusville Herald, PA. “Flood Records of Pittsburg Broken,” 3-15-1907.)

March 14, Pittsburgh, World Today: “Floods.–March 14.–Floods cause damage in Pittsburg estimated at $10,000,000 and the loss of fourteen lives. Nearly all the down-town section of the city under water. Manufactories suspended business, theaters closed. Many places in Ohio, western Pennsylvania and West Virginia likewise suffering.” (World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V. 12, No. 5, May 1907, p. 554.)

March 15: “Pittsburg, March 15 – This city tonight lies wet, dark, and scorched. It has been a day of suffering and of terror, and though the floods are receding now all danger is by no means past. The rivers early today reached the unheard of point of 36-8 feet, certainly the highest point in 100 years. The floods broke some of the water mains yesterday and the main feeding the high Mount Washington district was among the first to go. This placed that part of town practically at the mercy of fire. At daybreak fire started there and before it could be gotten under control a block of twenty-six houses had been destroyed. It was necessary to use dynamite to break the path of the flames, else all the Mount Washington district might have been destroyed….There were numerous other smaller fires….

“It is likely that twenty lives have been lost. Coroner Armstrong cannot get reports from the outlying districts owing to broken telephone connections.

“Chaos has reigned throughout the city for the last twelve hours. The street car system stopped early this morning completely. There were no electric lights, no telephones, and no water where it was most needed….The city presented a dismal appearance. Every basem*nt in the downtown district is filled with water. The sidewalks are piled high with perishable goods. Every railroad entering Pittsburg, except the Pennsylvania from the east, was out of business….Business was practically suspended today, and reports of crimes were many….

“It is reported that five men were drowned at Sewickley while trying to cross the Ohio in a yawl….Six persons were drowned in the night and today at McKeesport. Five were drowned there yesterday. Mayor Coleman of McKeesport announced that the Relief Committee of that city had 25,000 persons to feed and take care of and that a bread and mild famine seemed certain.

“In Allegheny, matters are most serious. Hundreds of families are being held on the second or third floor of their houses, where food is being handed them from skiffs by the police. The Riverside Penitentiary is flooded, and the convicts were today all removed from the first floor….” (New York Times. “Pittsburg Losses Now $25,000,000,” March 16, 1907, p. 2.)

March 15: “Pittsburg, March 15 – With the rapid receding of the waters in the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio rivers, which is taking place here tonight, conditions are fast assuming normal proportions and the greatest and most destructive flood in the history of the city is at an end….Ten square miles were inundated….Thirty large blast furnaces in this city are out of commission on account of the flood….” (Titusville Herald, PA. “Pittsburg Conditions… Improving Rapidly,” 3-16-1907.)

March 16: “Pittsburg, March 16 – The floods which for some days have held greater Pittsburg in a state of terror have gone, but conditions, according to the medical authorities, have not bettered a particle….The receding waters in Allegheny today uncovered the lifeless body of Mrs. Frank Carr, who had hanged herself in her little home rather than leave it when the waters rose. Ten days ago the husband of Mrs. Carr was killed in a street fight.” (New York Times. “Pestilence Feared in Pittsburg,” March 17, 1907, p. 3.)

March 18: “Pittsburg, March 18.–This city is just recovering from the most disastrous flood in its history. The famous ‘pumpkin flood’ of 1832, which has long been considered the daddy of them all, has been driven into seclusion by the flood of 1907, unadorned as it was by floating cow feed. The 1832 flood record of 35 feet was surpassed by one foot and two-tenths.

“The two most costly features of the flood were the lack of warning and preparation and the unusually large quantity of sediment deposited by the yellow deluge. The loss is almost beyond computation. Many merchants were unable to do anything to save goods stored in cellars because the flood came unheralded in the night and when morning came goods were already submerged.

“Pittsburg newspapers, after carefully canvassing the flooded districts, place the damage between $15,000,000 and $20,000,000. Many industries were closed down. The Allegheny County Light Co. and other public service concerns were practically put out of business. The telephone service was badly crippled, and in the flooded district there was neither electric light nor gas. Thousands of work people were thrown out of employment for a week and many a longer period. Of the many theaters but three were not obliged to close….

“Of the big business houses Joseph Horne & Co., being in the heart of the flooded district in Pittsburg, probably suffered the most, notwithstanding the fact that their new building had been especially designed to repel floods. The water exceeded in height all calculations, and the expensive equipment provided was practically useless.

“From all towns on the Allegheny, Monongahela and Kiskiminetas rivers comes the same story of unpreparedness and heavy loss. As nearly all manufacturing plants in the Western Pennsylvania district are situated on the banks of streams where the flood compelled their closing, the losses will be heavy. The Westinghouse plants on Turtle creek suffered heavily, the official estimate of their loss being $50,000.” (Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA. “Coated With Slime.” 3-18-1907, p. 3.)

West Virginia

March 15: “Parkersburg, W. Va., March 15 – Thousands of people are homeless. Mayor Leonard today appointed a large number of special policemen. The county and the city jails are under water and no arrests are made. A number of the residences in Beechwood and Riverside have been washed down the fast current of the Ohio river. The Little Kanawha river is falling.” (Titusville Herald, PA. “Report From Parkersburg,” March 16, 1907, p. 1.)

March 15: “Wheeling, W. Va., March 15 — With the marks here showing almost fifty feet and the rate of rise decreasing to one inch per hour, the maximum height of the worst flood the Wheeling district has had since 1884 is near at hand. The city and surrounding towns on both sides of the river are completely cut off from the world by railroad or steamers. Every foot of Wheeling island is submerged and its 70,000 inhabitants have been driven to upper floors and in hundreds of cases to higher ground on the city side of the river. Conditions are nearly as bad in East Wheeling, South Side, the east of town submerged and the Ohio side towns of Martin’s Ferry, Bellaire and Bridgeport. It is estimated 5,000 homes are flooded, affecting 25,000 people. The property loss will reach half a million dollars, including the loss in wages at the half hundred industrial plants in the district.

“Only one fatality is reported. Dan Cowl of Wheeling island is missing since last midnight, when he was in a skiff. He is supposed to have been drowned by the overturning of the boat.

Extortion in Flooded District.

“Extortion is rampant in the flooded district. A woman stood in a second floor window in a foot or water with a babe in her arms and begged men in passing skiffs to take her out, but as she had no money her appeals went unheeded until sue was rescued by a passing police boat.

“There have been several small fires owing to trouble with the natural gas…The water works…may go out of commission tonight as the water is in the pumping plant. The city electric lighting plant is flooded and the city is in entire darkness tonight, this adding to the terrors of the flood and making rescue work extremely perilous….

“During the day a score or more of houses passed down the river, including two three-story dwellings and a school house….

“Tonight at midnight an explosion of gas at the Warwick pottery in South Wheeling destroyed the greater part of the plant and threatened many houses in the vicinity occupied mostly by Syrians. A panic set in and frantic cries for rescue made the night hideous. The police requisitioned all the skiffs they could find and a hundred or more people were taken out of the houses, which were surrounded by twelve feet of water. All were rescued excepting three little Syrian children who fell into the flood and were drowned.” (Titusville Morning Herald, PA. “Wheeling Cut Off by Raging Waters,” 3-16-1907, p. 1.)

March 16: “Wheeling, West Va., March 16 – Panic-stricken as a result of an explosion and fire at the Warwick Pottery Works, in the flooded district early today, many persons jumped from the windows of their houses in the neighborhood or took refuge in boats, and eighteen are known to have been drowned.

“Because of the flood it was impossible for the fire apparatus to reach the fire. The firemen pressed into service all the boats that could be secured, and carried lines of hose to the burning building by this means. They did heroic work, and not only fought the fire but assisted in rescuing many persons. All the police that could be spared were rushed to the scene to assist in the work of rescue. The crew of a boat that was moored across the river from the building manned a yawl and rescued about 100 persons. At times the big yawl was filled to overflowing, and it was with difficulty that the rivermen prevented the frantic refugees from upsetting the craft. The screams for help of those in the buildings could be heard as far as the steel bridge, a mile north, where thousands of persons, unable to lend any assistance, watched the blaze.

“The work of rescuing the bodies of those who were drowned has been going on all day. The current has been very swift, and the impression is that more bodies will be recovered when the flood subsides. Following is a partial list of those who were drowned…[9 names, including four children ages 19 months to 7 years old] Had the drowned persons remained in their homes none of them would have met death. The buildings were not touched by the flames. The explosion that started the fire is what terrified the people living in the vicinity. No sooner had the report of the explosion occurred than people commenced leaping from the windows. Not all of those who met death were drowned by jumping into the water. Five of them were drowned by the upsetting of a boat that was carrying them to a place of safety.

“Most of the persons living in the vicinity are Syrians, and after the fire they refused to return to their homes. They are being taken care of in the City Hall and county jail. There is scarcely a family that did not lose a member, and the survivors are frantic.” (New York Times. “18 Die in Flood, Fleeing From Fire,” March 17, 1907, p. 3.)

March 16: “Again the Ohio River by its conduct forcibly reminds us of the folly of timber destruction. No other cause than the devastation of the forests could have given the Ohio Valley such a deluge following the fall of so comparatively slight a volume of water.

“Twenty years ago two inches of rain would have done little else than make a big river. Today it caused the second largest flood in the history of the valley. The barren hillsides are responsible for it. There is nothing to hold the water back. The river have become little more than a sewer.

“It is a story, however, that is familiar to Wheeling citizens. There is not much use of dwelling upon it because the answer is inevitable “what are you going to do about it?” The timber is gone; it cannot be replanted and re-grown within the life of the present generation — but for the sake of posterity some action should be taken. France has a law which requires the replanting of a tree for every one cut. If the United States had had such a law Wheeling would have been out of water today.” (The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “Floods and Timber” [Editorial]. 3-16-1907, Flood Special Edition.)

Sources

Brooklineconnection.com. “Pittsburgh’s Golden Triangle – 1907. The Year of the Big Flood.” Accessed 7-7-2019 at: http://www.brooklineconnection.com/history/Facts/Flood1907.html

Historicpittsburgh.org. “Pittsburgh Flood of 1907.” Accessed 7-7-2019 at: https://historicpittsburgh.org/islandora/object/pitt:MSP388.B012.F01.I03

Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA. “Coated With Slime.” 3-18-1907, p. 3. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indiana-evening-gazette-mar-18-1907-p-3/

Indiana Evening Gazette, Indiana, PA. “Heavy Rains Seriously Impede Railway Traffic in this Vicinity.” 3-13-1907, p. 1. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/indiana-evening-gazette-mar-13-1907-p-1/

Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “Flood Damage Will Be Enormous Along Youghiogheny, Especially in Connellsville and New Haven.” 3-14-1907, p. 1. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/uniontown-morning-herald-mar-14-1907-p-1/

Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “Two Drown When Big Boat Sinks in the Ohio River in the Vicinity of Pittsburg.” 3-14-1907, p. 1. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/uniontown-morning-herald-mar-14-1907-p-1/

New York Times. “18 Die in Flood, Fleeing From Fire,” 3-17-1907, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=56797979

New York Times. “Pestilence Feared in Pittsburg,” 3-17-1907, p. 3. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: https://www.nytimes.com/1907/03/17/archives/pestilence-feared-in-pittsburg.html

New York Times. “Pittsburg Losses Now $25,000,000,” 3-16-1907, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=56797941

Ohio Historical Society. “March 14-18, 1907: Floods Sweep Southern Ohio.” Severe Weather in Ohio. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: http://ohsweb.ohiohistory.org/swio/pages/content/1907_floods.htm

Pittsburg Post-Gazette. “Record flood inundates Pittsburgh in 1907.” 3-13-2013. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: https://newsinteractive.post-gazette.com/thedigs/2013/03/13/record-flood-inundates-pittsburgh-in-1907/

Schmidlin, Thomas W. and Jeanne Appelhans Schmidlin. Thunder in the Heartland: A Chronicle of Outstanding Weather Events in Ohio. Kent State University Press, 1996, 362 pages. Partially digitized by Google at: http://books.google.com/books?id=QANPLARGXFMC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “42 Feet or over.” 3-14-1907, pp. 1 & 9. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: http://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/wheeling-history/3133

The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “47 or 48 Feet Here To-day. Worst Flood Since Great One of 1884.” 3-15-1907, p. 1. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: http://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/wheeling-history/3134

The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “Floods and Timber” [Editorial]. 3-16-1907 (Flood Special Edition). Accessed 7-7-2019 at: http://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/wheeling-history/3138

The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “River Is Yielding Up Its Dead.” 3-16-1907, p. 1. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: http://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/wheeling-history/3136

The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “South Siders in Toils of Flood.” 3-15-1907, p. 6. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: http://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/wheeling-history/3135

The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “The City A Scene Of Desolation.” 3-16-1907, 6 P.M. edition. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: http://www.ohiocountylibrary.org/wheeling-history/3137

Titusville Herald, PA. “Flood Records of Pittsburg Broken,” 3-15-1907, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=104630634

Titusville Morning Herald, PA. “Floods are Heavy in the Vicinity of Pittsburg,” 3-14-1907, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=104630630

Titusville Herald, PA. “Report From Parkersburg,” 3-16-1907, p. 1. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/titusville-herald-mar-16-1907-p-1/

Titusville Morning Herald, PA. “Towboat Wrecked and Sunk in River,” 3-14-1907, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=104630630

Titusville Morning Herald, PA. “Wheeling Cut Off by Raging Waters,” 3-16-1907, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=104630639

Tyrone Daily Herald, PA. “Flood at Pittsburg.” 3-15-1907, 1. Accessed 7-7-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/tyrone-daily-herald-mar-15-1907-p-1/

World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V. 12, No. 5, May 1907, p. 554. Google preview accessed 7-5-20019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=cZjNAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[1] After reporting fourteen lives in Pittsburg March 14, writes: “March 15.–Thirty-seven lives lost at points in Ohio and West Virginia. The flood in Pittsburg decreasing. At Parkersburg and Wheeling it was on the increase.”

[2] “Pittsburg, Mar. 13.–Within five minutes after she had struck the abutments of the new government dam at Glen Osborne the towboat Cruiser, one of the largest boats out of the local harbor, was sunk in 25 feet of water and two members of the crew of 22 were drowned….The Cruiser was coming up stream…Pilot Swaney said that the heavy flood threw the boat against the abutments and it was too late for him to turn her around…The men who drowned were Jack Kenneth, a deck hand, and a man by the name of Sesso, a cook.” (Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “Two Drown When Big Boat Sinks in the Ohio River in the Vicinity of Pittsburg.” 3-14-1907, p. 1.)

[3] “Three employees of the West Penn Railroad drowned in the Allegheny River…” (Pittsburg Post-Gazette. “Record flood inundates Pittsburgh in 1907.” 3-13-2013.) Another account: From Pittsburg comes the report that three men met death on the West Penn railroad near Harmarville by the engulfing of a train in swollen Deer creek when a bridge gave way.” (Morning Herald, Uniontown, PA. “Flood Damage Will Be Enormous Along Youghiogheny, Especially in Connellsville and New Haven.” 3-14-1907, p. 1.)

[4] Brookline in a Pittsburgh neighborhood.

[5] Notes additionally the three employees of the West Penn Railroad who drowned in Allegheny River.

[6] Writes “the sacrifice of 14 lives…will probably be increased to 20 deaths…”

[7] The Intelligencer, Wheeling, WV. “River Is Yielding Up Its Dead.” 3-16-1907, p. 1. Cite “police authorities.” Note named victims were “mostly Syrians residing on Main street between Papermill alley and Twenty-second street.”

[8] “Simon Allis and Bradley George, two infants, were swept out of a boat while their mothers were jumping into it from a second story window.”

[9] “It was reported at noon today that the entire family of Philip Cusman, consisting of father, mother and four children, perished in the current sweeping down Main street during the fire panic in Papermill alley shortly after midnight this morning….the family had crowded into a small johnboat. A weighty woman tried to get into the boat, upturning it…all the family were swept away in the water.”

[10] “John Festicci, an Italian living on Main street in the Sixth ward, fell of a raft early last evening. His body is said to have drifted out into the swollen river at once.

[11] “Rosa Luswic and Mrs. Petar Sutti, who resided on Main street below Papermill alley, are said to have fallen from capsized boats and perished before any help could arrive.”

[12] Last name spelled two different ways in article. Writes: “Mike Bretreis, in the plain view of Detective Kelly, who was rushing to his rescue in a skiff, leaped from a second story window of a foreign boarding house with his infant child in his arms. He disappeared…A search was made for the bodies, but in vain.”

[13] “Annie Yesbit is said to have been drowned while being towed on a raft from a flooded house down Main street.”

[14] “An unknown foreigner, wearing hip boots and dressed like a merchant, attempted to wade across the creek bridge by walking alongside the railing. He stepped into a deep hole near one of the new B. & O. piers at the north end of the bridge and disappeared. This accident happened before 7 o’clock this morning.”

— 12,670 U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, pp. 35 and 94.

15 registration states: CA/CO/CT/IN/ME/MD/MA/MI/NH/NJ/NY/PA/RI/SD/VT; some cities in non-registration states.

Summary of State and Local Breakouts from below:

Alabama, Mobile ( 19) U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

California ( 545) “

Colorado ( 400) “

Connecticut ( 209) “

Delaware, Wilmington ( 44) “

District of Columbia ( 111) “

Florida (2 cities ( 83) Jacksonville/59 and Key West/24. Census. Mortality Statistics. 314.

Georgia (2 cities) ( 164) Atlanta/110 and Savannah/54. Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 314.

Illinois (8 cities) ( 438) Chicago especially/372. Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. P. 314.

Indiana ( 948) U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

Kansas (2 cities) ( 23) “

Kentucky (4 cities) ( 225) Louisville esp./156. Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. P. 314.

Louisiana (New Orleans)( 177) U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 314.

Maine ( 127) U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

Maryland ( 520) Baltimore especially/232. Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. p316.

Massachusetts ( 398) U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

Michigan ( 594) “

Minnesota (5 cities) ( 145) Minneapolis/St. Paul esp./110. Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 318

Missouri (3 cities) ( 119) St. Louis esp./108. Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. p. 318.

Nebraska (2 cities) ( 46) Lincoln/16, Omaha/30. “

New Hampshire ( 52) “ p. 312.

New Jersey ( 424) Newark/Trenton esp./71 each.“ pp. 312 and 320.

New York. (1,702) NYC esp./740 Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. pp. 312, 320.

North Carolina (2 cities) ( 30) “ Page 320.

Ohio (20 cities) ( 523) Esp. Cincinnati/161, Cleveland/90, Toledo/60, Columbus/57. 322.

Oregon, Portland ( 37) US Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 322.

Pennsylvania (3,538) Esp. Philly/890, Pittsburgh/502, Allegheny/143, Scranton/92. 312

Rhode Island ( 55) US Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

So. Carolina, Charleston ( 29) “ “ p. 324.

South Dakota ( 92) “ “ p. 312.

Tennessee (2 cities) ( 137) Memphis/50, Nashville/87. Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 324

Texas (2 cities) ( 58) Galveston/15, San Antonio/43. Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. P.324.

Utah, Salt Lake City ( 58) US Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 324.

Vermont ( 38) “ “ p. 312.

Virginia (5 cities) ( 149) Alexandria/10, Lynchburg/24, Norfolk/55, Richmond/46, Petersburg/12

Washington (3 cities) ( 161) Seattle/90, Spokane/43, Tacoma/28. Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 324.

West Virg., Wheeling ( 44) U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 324.

Wisconsin (7 cities) ( 111) “ “ p. 326.

Breakout of 1907 Census-recorded Typhoid Fever Deaths by State and Locality

— 19 Alabama, Mobile. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

— 545 California. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

— 8 Alameda

— 8 Berkeley

— 10 Fresno

— 56 Los Angeles

— 44 Oakland

— 1 Pasadena

— 24 Sacramento

— 7 San Diego

–119 San Francisco

— 8 San Jose

— 5 Stockton

— 400 Colorado. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

–103 Denver

— 18 Pueblo

— 209 Connecticut. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

–12 Bridgeport

–18 Hartford

–37 New Haven

–10 Norwalk

–16 Waterbury

— 44 Delaware, Wilmington. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, 312.

— 111 District of Columbia U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 314.

— 59 Florida, Jacksonville U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 314.

— 24 “ Key West. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 314.

— 110 Georgia, Atlanta. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 314.

— 54 “ Savannah. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 314.

— 438 Illinois (eight cities). U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 314.

— 5 Aurora

— 8 Belleville

–372 Chicago

— 3 Decatur

— 5 Jacksonville

— 3 Ottawa

— 8 Quincy

— 34 Springfield

— 948 Indiana. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

–23 Evansville

–17 Fort Wayne

–15 Hammond

–67 Indianapolis

–10 Jeffersonville

–28 New Albany

–26 Terre Haute

— 23 Kansas (two cities) U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p.314.

— 7 Leavenworth

–16 Wichita

— 225 Kentucky (four cities) U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 314

— 27 Covington.

–156 Louisville.

— 23 Newport.

— 19 Paducah.

— 177 Louisiana, New Orleans. US Census Bureau. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 314.

— 127 Maine U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

–11 Portland Page 316.

— 525 Maryland Rohrer. “MD’s An. Typhoid Prob.” MD Med. Jour., 55/3, Mar 1912, p59.[1]

— 520 “ U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

— 1 Annapolis Page 316.

–230 Baltimore Rohrer. “MD’s Annual Typhoid Prob.” MD Med. Jour., 55/3, Mar 1912.

— 30 Cumberland Page 316.

— 4 Frederick Page 316.

— 8 Hagerstown Page 316.

— 398 Massachusetts. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

–64 Boston Page 316.

–19 Fall River Page 316.

–23 Lawrence Page 316.

–11 Lowell Page 316.

–14 Lynn Page 316.

–11 New Bedford Page 316.

–12 Somerville Page 316.

–23 Springfield Page 316.

–19 Worcester Page 318.

— 594 Michigan. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

— 17 Bay City “ page 318.

–104 Detroit “ “

— 27 Escanaba “ “

— 33 Grand Rapids “ “

— 145 Minnesota (5 cities) U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 318.

–29 Duluth. “

— 4 Mankato. “

–74 Minneapolis. “

–36 St. Paul. “

— 2 Winona. “

— 199 Missouri (3 cities) US Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 318.

— 74 Kansas City. “

— 17 St. Joseph. “

–108 St. Louis. “

— 16 Nebraska, Lincoln. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 318.

— 30 “ Omaha. “

— 52 New Hampshire. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

— 424 New Jersey. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

–11 Atlantic City “ Page 318.

–19 Camden “ “

–18 Hoboken “ “

–34 Jersey City “ “

–71 Newark “ Page 320.

–13 Paterson “ “

–71 Trenton “ “

–1,702 New York. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

— 21 Albany “ Page 320.

–113 Buffalo “ “

— 21 Cohoes “ “

— 10 Corning “ “

— 12 Dunkirk “ “

— 11 Elmira “ “

— 10 Mt. Vernon “ “

–740 New York City “ “

— 48 Bronx “ “

–275 Brooklyn “ “

–369 Manhattan “ “

— 36 Queens “ “

— 12 Richmond “ “

— 10 Newburg “ “

— 37 Niagara Falls “ “

— 14 Oswego “ “

— 30 Poughkeepsie “ “

— 31 Rochester “ “

— 19 Syracuse “ “

— 21 Troy “ “

— 13 Utica “ “

— 12 Watertown “ “

— 30 North Carolina (2 cities) “ “

–19 Raleigh. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 320.

–11 Wilmington. “

— 523 Ohio US Census Bureau. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, pp. 320, 322.

— 3 “ Ashtabula. “ Page 320.

— 7 “ Bellaire. “ “

— 26 “ Canton. “ “

— 10 “ Chillicothe. “ “

–161 “ Cincinnati. “ “

— 90 “ Cleveland. “ Page 322.

— 57 “ Columbus. “ “

— 34 “ Dayton. “ “

— 6 “ Findlay. “ “

— 9 “ Hamilton. “ “

— 13 “ Ironton. “ “

— 9 “ Lima. “ “

— 5 “ Marietta. “ “

— 1 “ Middletown. “ “

— 4 “ Newark. “ “

— 19 “ Portsmouth. “ “

— 2 “ Tiffin. “ “

— 60 “ Toledo. “ “

— 25 “ Youngstown. “ “

— 37 Oregon, Portland. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 322.

–3,538 Pennsylvania. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

–143 Allegheny. “ Page 322.

— 22 Allentown “ “

— 28 Altoona “ “

— 29 Braddock “ “

— 48 Erie “ “

— 28 Harrisburg “ “

— 35 Johnstown “ “

— 43 McKeesport “ “

— 28 Newcastle “ “

–890 Philadelphia. “ “

–502 Pittsburgh. “ “

— 43 Reading “ “

— 92 Scranton. “ “

— 28 Wilkes Barre “ “

— 55 Rhode Island. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 312.

— 29 SC, Charleston. “ Page 324.

— 92 South Dakota. “ Page 312.

— 58 Tenn., Memphis. “ Page 324.

— 87 “ Nashville. “ “

— 15 Texas, Galveston. “ “

— 43 “ San Antonio. “ “

— 58 Utah, Salt Lake City. “ “

— 38 Vermont. “ Page 312.

— 149 Virginia U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 324.

–10 Alexandria “ “

–24 Lynchburg “ “

–55 Norfolk “ “

–12 Petersburg. “ “

–46 Richmond. “ “

— 161 Washington U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 324.

–90 Seattle “ “

–43 Spokane “ “

–28 Tacoma “ “

— 44 WV, Wheeling. U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 324.

— 111 Wisconsin U.S. Bureau of the Census. Mortality Statistics 1907. 1909, p. 326.

— 2 Beloit “ “

— 2 Eau Claire “ “

— 6 Green Bay “ “

— 2 Madison “ “

–83 Milwaukee “ “

–10 Superior “ ` “

Narrative Information

Census Bureau: “There were 12,670 deaths from typhoid fever in the registration area during the year 1907, a decrease of 490 from the number shown for the preceding year (13,160). The death rate for 1907 from this disease was 30.3 per 100,000 of population as compared with 32.1 for 1906….

“The mortality of the United States from typhoid fever is much higher than that of the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and a number of other European countries, and should be subject to marked decrease in future years, when greater attention shall be paid to the removal of the causes contributing to typhoid infection….

“…typhoid fever is more fatal in small town than in large cities.

“The registration area as a whole and each of its subdivisions, except registration cities in other states, had a decreased rate from typhoid fever for 1907 as compared with the preceding year. This was true also of all of the registration states except Colorado, New Jersey, and New York. The death rates from this disease for any of the past five years were lowest in 1907 in Vermont (10.8), Rhode Island (11), New Hampshire (11.9), Massachusetts (12.9), Maine (17.7), Michigan (22.7), and Indiana (34.6). Only 2 states, Colorado (63.7) and Pennsylvania (50.3), showed death rates over the limit chosen for this disease (50).

“Among the cities of over 100,000 of population 7 showed death rates of 50 or over per 100,000 of population from typhoid fever for 1907. These, in order of mortality, were Pittsburg, Pa. (130.8); Allegheny, Pa. (96.9); Scranton, Pa. (75.8); Louisville, Ky. (67.9); Denver, Colo. (67.1); Philadelphia, Pa. (60.7); and New Orleans, La. (55.5). In the following cities the death rates from typhoid fever were higher for 1907 than for any other of the five years shown: Scranton, Pa. (75.8); Louisville, Ky. (67.9); New Orleans, La. (55.5); Baltimore, Md. (41.3); Detroit, Mich. (28.3); Newark, N.J. (24); New York, N.Y. (17.5); and St. Joseph, Mo. (14.1).

“In 7 cities the death rate from typhoid fever was lower for 1907 than for any other of he years shown. These cities were as follows: Providence, R.I. (8.2); Boston, Mass. (10.5); Jersey City, N.J. (14); St. Louis, Mo. (16.3); Indianapolis, Ind. (29.4), Washington, D.C. (35.5); and Allegheny, Pa. (96.9)….

“The case and death rates for typhoid fever in the District of Columbia in 1907 were lower than those recorded for any previous year. The improvement in the typhoid fever situation within certain limits should go on from year to year. The price of such improvement, however, will be well directed and unceasing efforts on the part of the local authorities, with the cooperation of the medical profession. The water must remain of good quality,[2] the market milk must be improved, and a greater regard must be had for the contagious nature of the disease.” (35-36.)

“The question naturally arises, ‘Why is the typhoid death rate so much lower in western Europe than in the United States?’ There are many reasons for it. Surface waters used without filtration are less frequent abroad. In Germany, for instance, the filtration of surface waters is required by law, and rigid restrictions are in force as to the efficiency necessary to be obtained by the filters. Probably, too, less water is used as a beverage. In Europe milk is more often boiled before using, and oysters are not as much eaten as with us. Better water and safer milk having materially reduced the disease, the secondary causes, such as contagion and carriage by flies, decrease as a matter of course… (p. 37.)

“The very large number of municipalities in which typhoid fever is continuously or nearly continuously prevalent with high mortality is clearly indicated…[in table on p. 38]. The highest death rates for the year 1907 among the cities of this group were those of Escanaba, Mich. (220.2); Sharon, Pa. (195.5); Jacksonville, Fla. (155.1); Cumberland, Md. (148.5); and Braddock, Pa. (146.4)….” (Census Bureau, 1909, p. 37.)

Abbot on Typhoid in Philadelphia in 1907: “In typhoid fever there is a marked decrease of 2,809 in the number of cases reported; this decrease I attribute to a greater area of the City receiving filtered water.” (Abbott, A.C., MD. “Annual Report of the Division of Contagious Diseases for the Year 1907.” Philadelphia, January 1, 1908. Page 115 in City of Philadelphia.)

On Typhoid Fever

CDC: “Typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever are life-threatening illnesses caused by Salmonella serotype Typhi and Salmonella serotype Paratyphi, respectively. Most people in the United States with typhoid fever or paratyphoid fever become infected while traveling abroad, most often to countries where these diseases are common….” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Typhoid Fever and Paratyphoid Fever. Page last reviewed 8-22-2018.)

McCarthy: “Typhoid is a virulent micro-organism that attacks the intestinal tract. It can be contracted by hand to hand contact or contaminated food, but in most cases the disease spreads when the excreta of an ill person get into the water supply. The disease is hard-hitting: patients usually experience vomiting and diarrhea that can cause serious dehydration, which in turn can lead to seizures and comas. Fevers as high as 106 degrees also contribute to the complications that in severe cases are fatal. Children were considered more susceptible, but it was by no means only a childhood disease….” (McCarthy, Michael P. Typhoid and the Politics of Public Health in Nineteenth-Century Philadelphia. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1987.)

NY State Dept. of Health: “Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection of the intestinal tract (bowels/gut) and occasionally the bloodstream caused by the Salmonella Typhi bacteria. This strain of bacteria lives only in humans….People with typhoid fever carry the bacteria in their bloodstream and intestinal tract (bowels/gut). In addition, a small number of people, called carriers, recover from typhoid fever but continue to carry the bacteria. Both ill persons and carriers shed Salmonella Typhi in their feces (poop). You can get typhoid fever if you eat food or drink beverages that have been handled by a person who is shedding Salmonella Typhi or if sewage contaminated with Salmonella Typhi bacteria gets into the water you use for drinking or washing food. Therefore, typhoid fever is more common in areas of the world where hand-washing is less frequent and water is more likely to be contaminated with sewage….

“Symptoms may be mild or severe and may include fever, headache, constipation or diarrhea (loose stool/poop), rose-colored spots on the trunk of the body, and an enlarged spleen and liver. It is common for symptoms to go away and then appear again. Death occurs in less than 1 percent of those who get antibiotic treatment. Symptoms generally appear one to two weeks after exposure to the bacteria….

“Typhoid fever is treated with antibiotics. Resistance to multiple antibiotics is increasing among the Salmonella bacteria that cause typhoid fever, complicating treatment of infections. People who do not get treatment may continue to have fever for weeks or months, and as many as 20% may die from complications of the infection.

“Most infected people may return to work or school when they have recovered, if they carefully wash hands after using the toilet. Children in daycare and health care workers must obtain the approval of the local or state health department before returning to their routine activities. Food handlers may not return to work until three consecutive negative stool cultures are confirmed….

“People can be reinfected if they come into contact with the bacteria again….

“A vaccine is available for people traveling to developing countries where significant exposure may occur. For more information about vaccination, speak to your health care provider. It is equally important to pay strict attention to food and water precautions while traveling to countries where typhoid is common. When drinking water in a developing country, you should buy it in a sealed bottle, boil it, or chemically treat it. When eating foods, avoid raw fruits and vegetables that cannot be peeled and washed, undercooked foods, and foods from street vendors. Additionally, food handlers may not work while sick with typhoid.” (New York State Department of Health. “Typhoid Fever,” Sep 2017 last review.)

Sources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Typhoid Fever and Paratyphoid Fever. Page last reviewed 8-22-2018. Accessed 8-7-2019 at: https://www.cdc.gov/typhoid-fever/index.html

City of Philadelphia. First Annual Message of John E. Reyburn, Mayor of the City of Philadelphia with the Annual Reports of the Departments of Public Health and Charities, Supplies, Public Education, Law, City Controller, City Treasurer, Commissioners of the Sinking Funds, Receiver of Taxes, and Board of Revision of Taxes for the Year Ending December 31, 1907 (Vol. III). Philadelphia: Dunlap Printing Co., 1908. Google digitized. Assessed 12-5-2012: http://books.google.com/books?id=0ihNAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Lumsden. L. L. “Report on an Outbreak of Typhoid Fever at Omaha, Nebr. – (1909-1910).” Hygienic Laboratory Bulletin No. 72, November 1910. U.S. Treasury Department, Public Health and Marine-Hospital Service of the United States. Washington: GPO, 1910. Accessed 12-24-2019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=ECdDAAAAYAAJ&ppis=_c&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

McCarthy, Michael P. Typhoid and the Politics of Public Health in Nineteenth-Century Philadelphia. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, 1987. Partially Google digitized at:

http://books.google.com/books?id=GAuEpdBXH3QC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

New York State Department of Health. Thirty-Eighth Annual Report of the State Department of Health of New York For the Year Ending December 31, 1917 (Vol. 1). Albany: J. B. Lyon Co., 1918. Google preview accessed 6-3-2018 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=XE49AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

New York State Department of Health. “Typhoid Fever,” Sep 2017 last review. Accessed 6-26-2018 at: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/typhoid_fever/fact_sheet.htm

Rohrer, C. C. G., M.D. “MD’s Annual Typhoid Problem.” Maryland Medical Journal, Vol. LV, No. 3, March 1912. Accessed 12-24-2019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=VY9FAAAAYAAJ&ppis=_c&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

United States Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce and Labor. Mortality Statistics 1907 (Eighth Annual Report). DC: GPO, 1909. Google digitized at: http://books.google.com/books?id=THe3AAAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[1] Cites: Dr. James Bosley, Health Commissioner of the city of Baltimore.

[2] A sand filtration system had been put in the year before.

–13-16 Blanchard estimated death-toll.*

–15-20 Kemper Herald, Scooba, MS. “Boat Explosion Kills Many.” 12-27-1906, p. 1.
–13-17 Blanchard listing of fatalities identified in sources cited herein.
— 16 Biloxi Daily Herald, MS. “Sixteen Killed in River Disaster.” 12-20-1906, p. 1.
— 16 Insurance Engineering, “Recent Boiler Explosions,” Vol. 13, No. 2, Feb 1907, p. 169.
–10-16 Washington Post. “Steamer Blows Up.” December 20, 1906, p. 1.
— 14 Breckenridge News, Cloverport, KY. “River Boat Wrecked.” 12-26-1906, p. 4, col. 1.
— 14 Galveston Daily News, TX. “The Scovell Explosion.” 12-21-1906, p. 4.
— 13 American Marine Engineer. “News’ Brevities.” Vol. II. No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 21.
— 13 Bryan Morning Eagle, TX. “May Never Be Known.” 12-23-1906, p. 3.
— 12 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 196.
— 12 Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Explosion Tears Steamer to Bits.” 12-20-1906, p. 2.
— 10 U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. Annual Report 1907, p. 13.
— 10 Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994…Steamboats…MS River System. 1994, 477-478.

* Blanchard estimated death-toll. We employ a range of deaths in that there is no consensus on an exact number of deaths — not surprising in that from the beginning of reporting it was said that an exact death-toll would never be known, in that the boat roster and passenger manifest were destroyed and it is was not known exactly how many people were onboard.

Our own attempt to compile a listing of fatalities from sources cited herein comes to a range of 13 to 17, with the difference explained by one source noting four definite fatalities of black deck hands, while another source wrote that there were eight to nine unidentified black deck hand deaths.

In that the low-end of our range from our listing is thirteen, and in that a number of sources note thirteen or more deaths, we note thirteen as the low-end of our estimated death-toll range.

We note sixteen as the high-end of our estimated death-toll, even though the high-end of our attempt to create a fatality listing is seventeen, because sixteen is the highest number of deaths reported by our sources, with the exception of the Kemper Herald of Scooba, MS of Dec. 27, which noted a range of death of 15-20.

Narrative Information

Insurance Engineering: Sixteen dead, 10 injured. (“Recent Boiler Explosions,” Vol. 13, No. 2, Feb 1907, p. 169.)

U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service: “…the explosion of the boilers of the steamer W.T. Scovell at Vicksburg, Miss., [resulted] in the loss of 10 lives…” (Annual Report 1907, p. 13.)

Way: “W. T. Scovell. Stw p wh b [Sternwheel packet, wood hull, built] Jeffersonville, Ind…. 1895….She exploded her boiler Dec. 20, 1906, with loss of ten lives….Accident happened at Gold Dust Landing, LA.” (Way’s Packet Directory, 1848-1994…Steamboats…MS River System. 1994, 477-478.)

Newspaper

Dec 19: “Vicksburg, Miss., Dec. 19. — One of the most disastrous accidents in the history of the Mississippi River occurred at 10 minutes past 11 o’clock this morning, when the steamer W. T. Scovell, plying in the Vicksburg and Davis Bend trade, was destroyed by the explosion of her boiler. Owing to the large number of her boiler…. officers of the boat who arrived here to-night state that no less than ten nor more than sixteen were killed. The probabilities are that a like number were injured….

The accident occurred at Gold Dust Landing about seventeen miles south of Vicksburg. The Scovell was at the landing taking on freight, when suddenly a terrific explosion occurred and the boat was blown practically to atoms. Many of the timbers of the boat were thrown hundreds of yards and come of those aboard were blown almost as far. The pilot house and front part of the cabin were blown to splinters, and some parts of the boat were so badly damaged that she began to sink immediately. When the Scovell left here late this afternoon she was listing to heavily and her cargo of a thousand sacks of cotton seed and fifty bales of cotton will be lost….

The story of the accident, as told by J. I. Bruce, the engineer of the boat, is as follows:

We were lying at Gold Dust Landing this morning taking on a cargo, when I noticed a small quantity of water coming through the boiler. I suspected that something was wrong, and proceeded to make an examination. About this time the Scovell broke her head lines and drifted, so that I did not have time to make a thorough examination. As soon as I got her back to the bank I crawled on top of the boiler and proceeded with the investigation I had just got down from the boiler when the explosion occurred….

“It is said the accident was caused by a defective boiler plate….” (Washington Post. “Steamer Blows Up.” December 20, 1906, p. 1.)

Dec 20: “Disaster on Mississippi. Majority of the Victims Negroes and the Exact Number of Dead May Never Be Known – Of the List of Passengers and Crew One-Half Are Missing.

“Vicksburg, Miss., Dec. 20. – The steamer W. T. Scovell, plying in the Vicksburg and Davis Bend trade, was destroyed by a boiler explosion. On account of the large number of negroes on board it I impossible to ascertain the actual number of dead and injured….

“The number of dead and injured negroes can not be stated at this time, but of a crew and passenger list of about 50, about half are missing. The negro dead were cared for at the place where the accident occurred, as were some of the injured. About five of the injured negroes were brought to Vicksburg on the steamer Senator Cordill, with the white dead and injured.

“The white dead are as follows: Captain John Quackenboss, master of the boat, Vicksburg, Miss.: Clerk Wade Quackenbush, Vicksburg, Miss.; Lavell Yerger, cottonseed salesman, Jackson, Miss.; Clerk Joseph Smith [Schmitt], Yazoo City, Miss.” (Daily Crescent-News, Defiance, OH. “River Boat Destroyed.” 12-20-1906, p. 1, col. 5.)

Dec 20: “New Orleans, La., Dec. 20. – Specials from Vicksburg tonight still place the dead and missing from the explosion on the steamer W. T. Scovell at fourteen. The first accounts showing the probable fate of those missing, including the captain and his son, were given by Charles McKenna, one of the Scovell’s passengers, today after he had been revived from the semi-conscious state produced by his burns and injuries. McKenna says that those missing were probably scalded to death or drowned, being carried down with the boat and that he believes also that some of them were killed outright by he fierce explosion, It is thought that many of the missing bodies will be found in the steame4r’s cabin, which is now under water. A large party will leave here tomorrow morning with the necessary tackle to raise this part of the steamer….It is feared, however, that not all the missing will be found in the sunken boat. The fact that Capt. Quackenboss’ coat was found floating about 200 yards from thee scene of the explosion makes it appear that some of those on board were blown into the river.” (Galveston Daily News, TX. “The Scovell Explosion.” 12-21-1906, p. 4.)

Dec 21: “Vicksburg, Miss., Dec. 21. – The list of those who are known to have been killed in the wreck of the steamer W. T Scovell has reached thirteen. It is learned that in addition to those already mentioned as dead, the following are also: Mack Clark, negro porter; his son, John Clark; William Hall, negro; two roustabouts and four negroes, deck passengers, whose names are unknown.

“It is probable that it will never be known how many people were killed and injured in the explosion. It is believed that the crew register and the passenger list were destroyed in the explosion. A number of negroes were blown into the river and their bodies sunk. Others were taken into the country, and those who were able to walk made their homes among the negroes in the Gold Dust landing and vicinity….

“The boiler was blown about 200 feet from the boat and landed in an old field. The overcoat of Captain Quackenboss, the master of the boat, was blown several hundred feet inland, and lodged in a tree. It has no blood stains on it, and it is believed that Captain Quackenboss was not wearing it when the accident occurred….The force of he explosion was so great that the heavy iron safe of the Scovell was blown out on the bank.” (Bryan Morning Eagle, TX. “May Never Be Known.” 12-23-1906, p. 3.)

Dec 27: “…The news of the explosion first reached this city [Vicksburg] by telephone to A. G. Russell, who heard of the steamer blowing up from Ashwood Landing [MS]. Mr. Russell telephoned to Ashwood, and there John G. O’Kelly, a prominent citizen, said that he had seen cotton floating down the river and he would send a man on horseback at once to Gold Dust landing, which was eight miles away.

“Gold Dust gin is twenty miles south of Vicksburg, on the Louisiana side of the Mississippi river. The Scovell left here in her trip to Davis Bend and was returning when the accident occurred….
(Kemper Herald, Scooba, MS. “Boat Explosion Kills Many.” 12-27-1906, p. 1.)

Listing of Fatalities Noted By Sources Cited Herein

1.Clark, JohnSon of porter Mack Clark
2.Clark, MackPorter
3.Hall, WilliamBlack man not identified as passenger or crew
4.Quackenbush, John Captain of the W.T. Scovell; from Vicksburg, MS
5.Quackenbush, WadeClerk of the boat and son of Capt.; from Vicksburg, MS
6.Schmitt, JosephClerk; from Yazoo City, MS
7.Yerger, LavellPassenger; cottonseed salesman from Jackson, MS
8.Unnamed roustabout #1 of 2.
9.Unnamed roustabout #2 of 2.
10.Unnamed black deck passenger #1 of 4.
11.Unnamed black deck passenger #2 of 4.
12.Unnamed black deck passenger #3 of 4.
13.Unnamed black deck passenger #4 of 4.
14.Unnamed black deck passenger #5 of 8 or 9.
15.Unnamed black deck passenger #6 of 8 or 9.
16.Unnamed black deck passenger #7 of 8 or 9.
17.Unnamed black deck passenger #8 of 8 or 9.

Sources

American Marine Engineer. “News’ Brevities.” V.2, N.1, Jan 1907, p. 21. Accessed 11-5-2020 at: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_American_Marine_Engineer/Kv1YAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=scovell

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

Biloxi Daily Herald, MS. “Sixteen Killed in River Disaster.” 12-20-1906, p. 1. Accessed 11-5-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/biloxi-daily-herald-dec-20-1906-p-1/

Breckenridge News, Cloverport, KY. “River Boat Wrecked.” 12-26-1906, p. 4, col. 1. Accessed 11-6-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cloverport-breckenridge-news-dec-26-1906-p-4/

Bryan Morning Eagle, TX. “May Never Be Known.” 12-23-1906, p. 3. Accessed 11-5-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bryan-morning-eagle-dec-23-1906-p-3/

Daily Crescent-News, Defiance, OH. “River Boat Destroyed.” 12-20-1906, p. 1, col. 5. Accessed 11-5-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/defiance-crescent-news-dec-20-1906-p-1/

Insurance Engineering. Vol. 13, No’s 1-6, Jan-June 1907. New York: The Insurance Press, 1907. Digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=3xHOAAAAMAAJ&dq=editions:OCLC2161581&source=gbs_navlinks_s

Kemper Herald, Scooba, MS. “Boat Explosion Kills Many.” 12-27-1906, p. 1. Accessed 11-6-2020 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/scooba-kemper-herald-dec-27-1906-p-1/

Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Explosion Tears Steamer to Bits.” 12-20-1906, p. 2. Accessed 11-5-2020 at: https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1906-12-20/ed-1/seq-2/ocr/

United States Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector General, Steamboat-Inspection Service to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1907. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1907. 374 pages. Digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=slcpAAAAYAAJ

Washington Post. “Steamer Blows Up.” December 20, 1906, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=5233859

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.

–18-20 Blanchard estimated range.[1]

— 60 Baltimore Sun Almanac for 1907. 1-1-1907, p. 172.[2]

–15-20 AP. “Clifton May Never Rebuild. Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-7-1906, p. 1.

— 18 Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Clifton is Swept by Big Flood.” 12-5-1906, p. 1.

— 18 AP. “Details From Clifton Flood.” Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-6-1906, p. 1.

— 18 Briggs. History of the Copper Mountain (Morenci) Mining District…[AZ]. 2016, p. 34.[3]

— 18 ComeToClifton.com. “Floods.” 2018. Accessed 7-6-2019.[4]

— 18 Western Mining History. “Clifton, Arizona,” 2010.

— 14 Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “The First Report.” 12-6-1906, p. 1.

— 14 The World Today. “The Calendar of the Month,” Vol. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109.

Narrative Information

Hjalmarson: “A larger flood [than one in 1891] occurred on December 3, 1906… Eighteen lives were lost, and damages were estimated at $1 million. Some of the loss of life and damage was from flooding along Chase Creek.” (p. 30)

The World Today: “December 4 – By the breaking of the Detroit dam, fourteen lives lost at Clifton, Arizona.” (The World Today. “The Calendar of the Month,” Vol. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109.)

Western Mining History: “The greatest flood occurred on December 4, 1906, when it rained continuously for thirty hours. This gave the people forewarning of what might happen and most of them took refuge on higher ground. Nevertheless, eighteen people were killed by this flood.” (Western Mining History. “Clifton, Arizona,” 2010.)

Newspapers

Dec 3: “Phoenix, December 4.–Continuous rains in the watershed during the past week have resulted in a flood coming down Salt river. It is supposed that the crest is passing the Roosevelt dam site, seventy miles above Phoenix, late this afternoon, with a volume of 20,000 feet per second. Twenty-five miles above Phoenix the Verde river is adding 14,000 feet a second….

“By telephone reports the contractors were well warned and are prepared to repress the flood. The machinery all has been removed from the canyon and the only damage feared will be loss of time necessary to get the water and debris from the excavation after the flood and to rebuild the crest of the cofferdam, which has been swept away.” (Associated Press. “Heavy Rains Cause Flood.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. 12-4-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 3: “Several inches of rain fell in Globe during the forty-eight hours ending last evening, but so far but little damage has been reported, owing probably to the steadiness of the downpour. Last evening at about sunset the heavy gray clouds which hung over the city for two days broke for the first time and the sun shone for a few minutes. Superintendent Mallard of the G.V.G. & N. railway reports that the track in some places has been softened by the rain, but no damage has been done, so far as know. It was expected that considerable damage must have been done at Roosevelt, but it was impossible to secure telephone connection with that place yesterday afternoon or last evening.” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Heavy Rains, But No Damage Reported Yet.” 12-4-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 4: “El Paso, December 4.–A special to the Herald from Morenci, Ariz., says: Eight lives are reported to have been lost in a great flood at Clifton last night. The Detroit Copper company’s concentrator dam broke, sending a wall of water down Chase creek. Wires are down between Morenci and Clifton and no definite new can be obtained until messengers return to Morenci from Clifton. The central telephone station at Clifton has been abandoned, having been pronounced unsafe.” (Associated Press. “Clifton is Swept by Big Flood…Eighteen Thought Dead.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. 12-5-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 4: “Phoenix, December 4.–It is reported here tonight that fifty people have been drowned in the floods at Clifton Ariz. Attempts to confirm have been futile, as all wires are down.” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Cannot Confirm Report.” 12-5-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 4: “Special to the Silber Belt. Phoenix, Ariz., December 4.–Sixty people are reported to have lost their lives in the flood which has swept over Clifton, in Graham county. Superintendent Bicknell of the Maricopa & Phoenix railroad received this report this afternoon. Fully half of the city is reported destroyed. Many of the finest buildings are reported to have been swept away….

“In addition to the foregoing dispatches, the Silver Belt received information through the Western Union Telegraph company that the operator at Solomonville, who had communication with Clifton by telephone for a while yesterday, stated that according to reports he had received, eighteen lives had been lost in the flood at Clifton. He was unable to ascertain the names of any of those drowned, nor the extent of the property damage done to the city. He reported, however, that almost the entire business portion of Clifton had been devastated by the flood.

“It is believed that the reports of heavy loss of life as contained in the dispatches from Phoenix were considerably exaggerated and that the figures give at Solomonville are correct. Up to 4 o’clock this morning the Silver Belt was unable to receive further information from Clifton, but it is expected that full details will be received today….” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Reports Sixty Drowned.” 12-5-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 5: “El Paso, Texas, December 5.–A special to the Herald from Clifton gives the first authentic news of the flood. It says that the river is now receding rapidly and the weather clearing. No further damage is apprehended. Two bodies have been recovered from the wreckage in Chase creek. The number of deaths cannot yet be told. Joseph Bhron, who was rescued from the flood after his wife had lost her life, was taken to the hospital in a critical condition, but will probably recover.

Looters Fatally Shot

“Three Mexicans who were caught in the act of looting and who refused to surrender to the officers when called upon, were shot and fatally wounded.

One House Escapes

“The flood in Chase creek was caused by the breaking of the Detroit Copper company’s dam, impounding a vast amount of tailings, which came down with a seven-foot breast of water. Only one big house in Chase creek escaped and many were entirely destroyed. The property loss is appalling.

North Clifton Wrecked

“North Clifton is badly wrecked and nearly all of the residences in that section were destroyed or badly damaged. The Becker-Franz Mercantile company was damaged to the extent of $10,000. The Coronado railway suffered all the way from Clifton to Metcalf. It will be several weeks before trains will be running. The first train out of Clifton started today, but it is doubtful if it will reach Duncan….So many restaurants and hotels have been destroyed that it is almost impossible to find a place to eat or sleep, but there is no shortage of provisions, as many stores escaped the flood.

“It is reported that the Arizona Copper company will remove its plant to some other location, but no announcement has been made by the company. The president and several directors are there now.

Bridges All Out

“All trains are held and the railroad bridges are so badly damaged that it will be impossible to use them for some time. The Herald office was swept away and the Era plant was put out of business for several weeks. The Era building was flooded to a depth of six feet and the plant badly damaged.

“Solomonville, December 5.–As a result of thirty hours of steady rain in southern Arizona at Clifton, where the storm was especially heavy, hundreds of people took to the mountains for safety. Owing to disabled wires, details are hard to obtain. It is know that eighteen are dead as result of the flood in Chase creek, the victims being principally Mexicans and other foreigners living in squalid huts which were inundated.

“The town is built in three sections, Chase Creek, North and South Clifton.

“The catastrophe was caused by the breaking of a reservoir in the mountains above precipitating a vast flood in Chase Creek. The principal streets at the base of the stream were completely destroyed and it was here that the fatalities occurred. The flood came down in a head several feet high, engulfing the people without warning.

Dead Mostly Foreigners

“The dead are mostly foreigners and their names have not been learned. Two Americans are known to have perished.

“North and South Clifton are swept by the waters of the San Francisco river.

“The new school building was washed away, as were the floors of many houses. The railroad bridge is tottering.

“All information is sent out from a telephone office which is surrounded by water.

“The loss to the Arizona Copper company’s smelting works is very heavy. The Arizona & New Mexico Railway company is also a heavy loser, the yards and shops being inundated.” (Assoc. Press. “Details From Clifton Flood.” Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-6-1906, p. 1.)

____

Dec 6: “The following message was received late yesterday afternoon by the Silver Belt from Morenci via El Paso and Phoenix, being transmitted by telephone from the latter city, and was the first direct information received here of the flood:

“Morenci, via El Paso and Phoenix, December 5.–Early reports of flood damage at Clifton are fully confirmed. Fourteen lives are know to have been lost and several hundred thousand dollars damage to property is considered a conservative estimate.

“Most of the damage in the town has been done to the east side, where many stores and business houses have been ruined. The building of the Gila Valley bank is seriously damaged. The Casino club hours and bowling alley is completely wrecked.

“Many people are encamped on the mountainside and the water may enforce the removal of the greater portion of the town to higher ground. Wires out of Clifton are down.” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “The First Report.” 12-6-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 6: “Morenci, December 6.–The Clifton flood was the most disastrous ever known here, over half the town being demolished. About twelve houses and ten other buildings were swept away and between fifteen and twenty persons drowned, mostly Mexicans.

“The water in the river is still very high. The high water mark was two feet higher than ever before. Many people lost their houses and slept on the hillsides around fires last night. The Chase creek district was almost wiped out. Great damage was done by the breaking of the concentrator dam in Morenci.

“The Coronado railroad between Clifton and Metcalf was almost entirely washed out, and it will take four weeks to repair the damage to the track. Several Mexicans were shot for looting stores and houses. The smelter and works of the Arizona Copper company were badly damaged. The Herald printing office is a complete loss. The Copper Era printing office was buried half way in mud and concentrator tailings.

ʹDobe Buildings Collapsed

“Nearly all the adobe buildings in the city collapsed. Franz’s store, the Gila Valley bank, the Clifton hotel and several warehouses, all adobe, suffered partial collapse. The damage is estimated at close to a million dollars.

“The town will probably now be moved to higher ground.

“The Arizona & New Mexico railroad was badly washed out and it will take several days to get a train out. Telephone and telegraph wires are all down.

“The Patterson addition is still under water and has been almost entirely ruined. The rain lasted four days, melting the snow in the mountains. It is said that fifteen houses have been destroyed in Metcalf, but no one was drowned. Morenci was not damaged. The Gila river is now booming, and it is feared that more damage will be done along the railroads.” (Associated Press. “Clifton May Never Rebuild. Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-7-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 7: “Solomonville, Ariz., December 7.–Reports from the flood-stricken city of Clifton indicate that while the water has subsided the town is paralyzed by deposits of mud and smelter sediments. It is still impossible to reach many sections and no definite list of the dead can be obtained. It is now know that the calamity was principally caused by the breaking of a reservoir up Chase creek.

Big Store Flooded

“The first rush, which came soon after dark Monday night [Dec 3], formed a dam of wreckage and threes fierce currents over the town. The store of the Arizona Copper company, carrying a half million dollars’ worth of stock, was flooded five feet deep. The smelter works built over the stream were wrecked. Other large firms suffering heavy losses were the Gila Valley bank, Becker-Franz Co., S. J. Forbes and Hosfield & Hagerauer.

Track Under Slime

“Six miles of the track of the Coronado branch is destroyed. The tracks of the Arizona & New Mexico railway are under three feet of slime. The city is under strong guard to prevent vandalism. Much suffering among the poorer classes is becoming manifest, business is at a standstill and one telephone wire is the sole connection with the outside world.

No Bodies Recovered

“No bodies have been recovered and the complete death list can never be ascertained. An estimate places the damage at $200,000. A great deal of pillage is now going on and several Mexicans have been shot. The town of Metcalf, north of Clifton, was also damaged but no lives were lost. The two newspaper offices were buried in the mud.” (Associated Press. “May Never Know All of Victims.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-8-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 8: “Solomonville, Ariz., December 8.–Conditions in the flood-stricken city of Clifton are now somewhat improved. Clear and mild weather now continue to the advantage of the refugees. The work of clearing away the mud and debris is progressing slowly. The city is still without water, lighting and telephone service, and walking over town is difficult and dangerous.

Find Six Bodies

“A party of searchers found a human arm protruding from the ground, and digging away, recovered the bodies of six unidentified Mexicans. It is certain that the death list will be large, although but two Americans are known to have perished.

“A strong guard is still maintained and four men have been shot for looting. Efforts will be made to run a train out of the train tomorrow.” (Associated Press. “Recover Six Clifton’s Dead.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-9-1906, p. 1.)

Dec 18: “The people of Chase creek, who lay their troubles to the breaking of the dam of the Detroit Copper Mining company, where many thousand tons of tailings and water were stored, have held several meetings since the flood to devise means for the recovery of their losses from the company, says the Copper Era….[A] committee was…appointed to interview the company in regard to recompensing the people for their losses….C. E. Mills, manager of the company, arrived and was asked to participate in the meeting, which he did, but no definite conclusion was arrived at. On the following day the committee, or a part of it, visited Morenci and viewed the dam, and discussed the matter with Mr. Mills, but still without arriving at any conclusion as to a settlement. On Saturday night [Dec 15] another meeting was held at which the committee reported. Another committee…was appointed to serve legal notice upon the company that it would be required to pay for all damage done by the breaking of the dam. This committee was also empowered to employ attorneys, if necessary.

“A committee to appraise the losses and to present them to the Detroit Copper company was then selected…claims were subsequently filed and were then presented to the company.

“The sufferers as a whole are in favor of a fair settlement rather than litigation, but will stand together to the end, even if it be necessary to carry it to the supreme court of the United States.

“It seems to be the prevailing opinion that the company will do the square thing, but if not there will be something doing in a legal way very shortly.” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “Chase Creek Wants Damages.” 12-18-1906, p. 3.)

Dec 23: “While removing the sand from the railroad yards near the car house Friday afternoon last [14^th] the body of a woman was found which was afterward recognized as that of Mrs. Josephine Throm, says the Copper Era. The body had been buried in the sand and debris from the night of the 3d until the afternoon of 14^th, but was easily recognized by many people. Even those who uncovered the body at once recognized it as the earthly habitation of the spirit of Mrs. Throm and later it was generally recognized by all who viewed it….

“Justice Neff summoned a coroner’s jury, which on Monday returned a verdict to the effect that deceased came to her death through the breaking of the dam of the Detroit Copper company, which loosened an immense amount of tailings and water upon the flooded districts of Clifton. This verdict was not a surprise to the people of Clifton, who had apprehended it from the time the body was found.

“The responsibility of the company in the construction of the dam will now be brought before the next grand jury. It is said by those who have visited the dam that it was constructed entirely of tailings, with no retaining wall of any kind. Such a dam could not be expected to withstand a flood of any magnitude.” (Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “Body Is Recovered.” 12-23-1906, p. 7.)

Sources

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “Body Is Recovered. Remains of Woman…” 12-23-1906, p. 7. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-23-1906-p-7/

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Cannot Confirm Report.” 12-5-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-05-1906-p-1/

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “Chase Creek Wants Damages.” 12-18-1906, p. 3. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-18-1906-p-3/

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Heavy Rains, But No Damage Reported Yet.” 12-4-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-04-1906-p-1/

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. “Reports Sixty Drowned.” 12-5-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-05-1906-p-1/

Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. “The First Report.” 12-6-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-06-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “Clifton is Swept by Big Flood…Eighteen Thought Dead.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. 12-5-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-05-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “Clifton May Never Rebuild. Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-7-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-07-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “Details From Clifton Flood.” Daily Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-6-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-06-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “Heavy Rains Cause Flood.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe, AZ. 12-4-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-04-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “May Never Know All of Victims.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-8-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-08-1906-p-1/

Associated Press. “Recover Six Clifton’s Dead.” Arizona Silver Belt, Globe. 12-9-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/globe-arizona-silver-belt-dec-09-1906-p-1/

Baltimore Sun Almanac for 1907. 1-1-1907, Google preview accessed 7-6-2019 at: http://books.google.com/books?id=mBoXAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Briggs, David F.. History of the Copper Mountain (Morenci) Mining District, Greenlee County, Arizona (Contributed Report CR-16-C). Arizona Geological Survey, November 2016, 79 pages. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: http://repository.azgs.az.gov/sites/default/files/dlio/files/nid1695/cr-16-c_morenci_0.pdf

ComeToClifton.com. “Floods.” 2018. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: http://www.cometoclifton.com/history/floods.php

Hjalmarson, H. W. (USGS). Flood of October 1983 and History of Flooding Along the San Francisco River, Clifton, Arizona. (Water-Resources Investigations Report 85-4225-B, prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation). Tucson, AZ: U.S. Geological Survey, January 1990. Accessed 2-21-2017 at: https://pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1985/4225b/report.pdf

Western Mining History. “Clifton, Arizona,” 2010. Accessed 3-18-2011 at: http://www.westernmininghistory.com/towns/arizona/clifton/

World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109. Google preview accessed 7-5-20019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=cZjNAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[1] There appears to be a consensus that at least eighteen people died due to the flood. The AP report noting 15-20 deaths noted the true number would never be know in that most of the victims were poor Mexicans. Given descriptions of the flash flood, we view the high-end of the AP range of twenty deaths very conceivable. This number does not include the 3-4 Mexicans “mortally shot” for alleged looting.

[2] We note in the newspaper coverage below early speculative loss of 50 or 60 lives, later corrected by the press.

[3] “Although many sought refuge on higher ground, eighteen lost their lives that day [Dec 3, 1906].”

[4] “….18 people were known to have lost their lives.”

–39 Logansport Journal, IN. “39 Lives Lost in Lake Storm.” 11-24-1906, p. 1.

–38 Blanchard tally from breakouts below.

–32 World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109.

Lake Erie [not included] ( 7) Barge found safe several days later with all alive.

–7 Barge Athens, towed by steamer Pratt, broke loose and foundered about 10:00 p.m.[1]

–7 Barge Athens.[2]

Michigan ( 4)

–4 Holland Harbor Cribwork, Holland, MI. Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm…” 11-22-1906, 1.

Ohio ( 1)
–1 Cedar Point marsh, Nov 21. Skiff capsized in storm while hunting; Ottomar Zistel.[3]

Wisconsin ( 1)

–1 Marinette area, Lake MI. Tug O.M. Field crewmember hit in head by loose timber, Nov 21.[4]

Canada, Ontario (26)

–26 Steamer J.H. Jones, foundered Nov 22 off Cape Croker, Georgian Bay (off Lake Huron).[5]

Canada, Toronto Harbour ( 6)

–6 Steam barge Resolute, Nov 22, Toronto Harbour, Lake Ontario.[6]

Narrative Information

World Today: “November 21.–Thirty-two lost their lives in consequence of a fierce storm on the Great Lakes.” (World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109.)

Nov 22: “Quebec, Nov 22.–A vessel supposed to be the bark Madga, is reported lost on Red Island reef [off Newfoundland] with all on board. She carried a crew of fourteen men.

“Grand Rapids, Mich., Nov. 22.–Four men who were caught by last night’s storm on the crib work of the new breakwater at the entrance to Holland harbor on Lake Michigan, were washed away by the waves and drowned. The dead are:

Tom Bennett of Muskegon, contractor for the crib work.

George Lechase, of Holland.

Alvid Nelson, of Muskegon.

Martin Woodward of Fennville.

“The four men with Ed. Bennett went out to the crib work in a launch and a scow in the afternoon shortly before the storm broke. Then the wind struck the crib the scow with Bennett aboard was torn loose. It drifted up the lake and was finally cast ashore north of Ottawa beach [north shore of Lake Macatawa, which opens onto Lake Michigan] with Bennett safe, although in an exhausted condition. The four men left on the crib could not gain the shore because of the immense sea. The life saving crew attempted to aid them, but the waves were so high that no boat could live. Attempts were made to shoot a line to them, but the hurricane hurled the line back. A tug was requested from Grand Haven, but no boat dared go out in the storm. When night closed the men were still clinging desperately to the crib work. At daybreak today they were gone….[Later report: “When the life saving crew succeeded in reaching the crib today the dead bodies of Bennett, Lechase and Nelson were found in a pocket of the crib. The body of Woodward had been washed away.”]

Fatally Injured.

“Milwaukee, Nov. 22.–A special dispatch from Marinette, Wis., says:

“During last night’s storm Joseph Kimper, a member of the crew of the tug O. M. Field was struck on the head by a timber and fatally injured. The storm was the worst of the year here, the wind blowing at the rate of sixty miles an hour, accompanied with sleet.

“The schooner Ottawa from Sturgeon Bay reached here today after a harrowing experience. The sails had been blown away and the crew was exhausted from their battle with the waves. Many trees have been blown down and several barns unroofed. On the whole the storm did a great deal of damage in this city.

Ashore, But In No Danger.

“Detroit, Mich., Nov. 22.–The steel steamer Chauncey Hurlburt bound for Buffalo was blown out of her course on Lake Erie last night by the terrific gale and is aground off Leamington. She is reported to be undamaged and in no danger, although it will be necessary to lighter part of the cargo, before the steamer can be released. Her tow is anchored off Colchester, Unmanned.

Captain And Six Die.

Sandusky, O., Nov 22.–The barge Athens in tow of the steamer Pratt went down in Lake Erie in the storm last night.[7] The captain and six men of the crew were probably drowned. Captain Mackey of Milwaukee was in command of the barge. He has sailed on the lake for forty years. The Pratt was bound from Escanaba to Buffalo with iron ore. The storm struck the vessel, the tow line parted. The Pratt was able to ride the storm, but the Athens soon foundered. Captain McPherson of the Pratt says that the sea was running so high that he was unable to render any assistance to the Athens and the barge went down about 10 o’clock at night. Captain McPherson says the storm was one of the worst that he has ever experienced.”

Six Passengers Drowned.

“Toronto, Ont., Nov. 22.–Early this morning the Steambarge Resolution from Erie, Pa., to Toronto, sprang a leak in heavy seas, just outside the harbor here and sank. The crew under the command of Captain Sullivan, put off in two boats. One containing five people reached the shore safely while the second was swamped, her six occupants being drowned. They were: John Harrison, Deseronto, Chief Engineer: Thomas Toppin, Deseronto, Assistant Engineer; Dave White, Prescott, deck hand; Harry Gregory, Port Colborne, Neilson – Christiana, Norway.” (Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm Ravages the Great Lakes; Many Lives Lost.” 11-22-1906, 1.)

Nov 23: “(Journal Special Service.) Detroit, Nov. 23.–Seven more lives are believed to have been lost in the furious storm on the great lakes, raising the total to thirty-nine. Damage to shipping piers and docks, it is estimated, will reach $1,000,000.” (Logansport Journal, IN. “39 Lives Lost in Lake Storm.” 11-24-1906, p. 1.)

Nov 24: “Wednesday’s [21^st] storm does not seem to have been confined to this locality alone. Reports from further north and on the great lakes were to the effect that the gale reached the velocity of sixty miles an hour and did much damage….” (Cayuga Herald, IN. “Storms and Flood.” 11-24-1906, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Disasters on the Lakes. Two Vessels are Lost,” Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh, WI, 11-22-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oshkosh-daily-northwestern-nov-22-1906-p-1/

Cayuga Herald, IN. “Storms and Flood.” 11-24-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cayuga-herald-nov-24-1906-p-1/

Logansport Journal, IN. “39 Lives Lost in Lake Storm.” 11-24-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-journal-nov-24-1906-p-1/

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “J. H. Hones (Propeller), C90769, sunk, 22 Nov 1906. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: http://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/56293/data

Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Resolute (Propeller), C88241, sunk, 22 Nov 1906.” Accessed 7-5-2019 at: http://images.maritimehistoryofthegreatlakes.ca/62394/data

Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm Ravages The Great Lakes; Many Lives Lost.” 11-22-1906, 1. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/racine-daily-journal-nov-22-1906-p-9/

Weekly Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL. “Died of Exhaustion.” 11-23-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bloomington-weekly-pantagraph-nov-23-1906-p-2/

World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109. Google preview accessed 7-5-20019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=cZjNAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[1] Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm Ravages The Great Lakes; Many Lives Lost.” 11-22-1906, p. 1.

[2] Assoc. Press. “Disasters on the Lakes. Two Vessels are Lost,” Daily Northwestern, Oshkosh, WI, 11-22-1906, p. 1.

[3] Weekly Pantagraph, Bloomington, IL. “Died of Exhaustion.” 11-23-1906, p. 1.

[4] Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm Ravages The Great Lakes; Many Lives Lost.” 11-22-1906, p. 1.

[5] Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “J. H. Hones (Propeller), C90769, sunk, 22 Nov 1906.

[6] Racine Daily Journal, WI. “Storm Ravages The Great Lakes; Many Lives Lost.” 11-22-1906, p. 1; Maritime History of the Great Lakes. “Resolute (Propeller), C88241, sunk, 22 Nov 1906.”

[7] Reported on Nov 24 that the barge “with all on board is safe and the captain and crew are well. The barge has been found near Northeast shoal.” (Daily Messenger, Athens, OH. “Safe With All Hands.” 11-24-1906, p. 7.)

— ~50 Helena Semi-Weekly Independent, MT. “Captain Lermond Blamed.” 1-8-1907, p. 13.[1]

— >50 Philadelphia Inquirer, PA. “Says Mate Was Cause of Wreck.” 12-2-1906, p. 14.

— 50 Fairbanks Evening News, AK. “More of Dix Horror.” 11-25-1906, p. 1. [Nov 22 report]

— 50 Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Mate Was Not Competent.” 11-23-1906, p. 6.[2]

— 49 Oregon Sunday Journal, Portland. “Will Sink Like Gas Pipes.” 11-25-1906, p. 1.

— 47 Daily Californian, Bakersfield. “Death List Increasing. Five More Victims.” 11-20-1906.

— 46 World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V12, N1, Jan 1907, p. 109.

–42-45 Blanchard estimated range.[3]

— 45 Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. 1972, p. 208.

–39-45 Gibbs. Shipwrecks of the Pacific Coast. 1957, p. 90.[4]

— 44 Blanchard tally of named dead or missing (or nationality) listed in newspapers.

— 42 Anaconda Standard, MT. “General Chronology of Events…Year,” 12-30-1906, p. 34.

— 42 Harrell. “Ceremony to Mark Worst Maritime Disaster in Puget Sound History.” 2006.

— 42 U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. Annual Report 1907, pp. 13 and 321.

— 41 Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Master Below Taking the Fares.” 11-19-1906, p. 5.

— 41 Captain Lermond statement to press Nov 19 (79 on board, 38 saved).[5]

— 40 U.S. Dept. of Commerce and Labor. Reports of the Department…1907. 1907, p. 373.[6]

— 39 Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Dix Sunk in Collision on Sound.” 11-19-1906, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Harrell: “It was not a dark and stormy night on Nov. 18, 1906. The moon had risen. There were no whitecaps and no wind as the Dix steamed from a Seattle dock to Port Blakeley on Bainbridge Island….

“The Dix was piloted by a confused and unlicensed ship’s mate who steered the Mosquito Fleet steamer into the much larger steamship Jeanie.[7] The Dix rolled like a log, split in two and sank, all within five minutes. Forty-two people died. ‘They didn’t have a chance,’ local maritime historian John Kelly said of the collision, which occurred two miles west of Alki. ‘It was a major catastrophe. There hasn’t been anything like it since.’

“The Dix remains 600 feet underwater in Puget Sound. While 35 people were rescued by the Jeanie, victims’ bodies never were recovered from the chilly waters, nor were pieces of the vessel….

“”The Dix tragedy was a shocking thing to happen; it came at a time when the Mosquito Fleet was the only way to travel because of the dense forests in the area, and 2 million people a year took these steamers,” said Andrea Mercado, director of the Log House Museum, home of the Southwest Historical Society. “Steamers were so safe and reliable, they went everywhere in Puget Sound, yet out of the blue this very tragic, very quick event occurred. It impacted small communities, and all of Seattle.”

“The Dix, smaller but fast and, according to newspaper articles, “more commodious,” was built in 1904 and replaced the Sarah M. Renton on the Seattle-Port Blakely run.

“The reason for the collision, Kelly said, is that “the captain was in the process of collecting fares.” It was common and often required of steamship captains to perform this service…

“Although ultimate blame fell on First Officer Charles Dennison, who was not licensed to pilot inland waters, Dix Capt. Percy Lermond also was faulted for failing to provide a lookout. Lermond’s license was revoked and later reinstated, and he continued to work as a ship’s master, though only on cargo ships…” (Harrell 2006)

US Dept. of Commerce: “November 18. — The steamers Dix and Jeanie, 130 tons and 1,071 tons, gross, respectively, were in collision just outside of Seattle Harbor, resulting in the sinking of the Dix and the loss of 40 lives. Dix valued at $20,000. Investigated November 21, 22, 23, 24 , 26, 27 , 30, and December 3. Decision December 15, revoking the license of Percy Lermond, master and pilot, in command of the steamer Dix, for negligence.” (U.S. Dept. of Commerce and Labor. Annual Report of the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. “Report of the Steamboat-Inspection Service.” p. 373.)

US SIS: “The collision between the steamers Dix and Jeanie on Puget Sound, on the night of November 18, 1906, when 42 of the 76 persons on board the Dix[8] lost their lives when that steamer sank…” (U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service. Annual Report 1907, p. 13.)

Newspapers

Nov 18: “Seattle, Wash., Nov. 18.–(Special)–The steamer Dix was run down and sunk off Alki Point tonight by the Steamer Jeanie, and 41 persons, including all but two members of the Dix crew, were lost. Tug Bahiti is cruising over the scene of the wreck, searching for bodies. The Jeanie and the steamer Florence K. are also out.

“The steamer Dix, bound from Seattle to Fort Blakely, attempted to cut across the bows of the steamer Jeanie, bound for Tacoma, when the steamers were off Alki Point. The steamer Dix does not carry a purser, and Captain Percy Lermond placed Mate Charles Dennison in charge and was going through the boat collecting fares. The Survivors of the wreck say the night was clear and that they could see the Jeanie bearing down on their starboard side, but the mate gave no indication that he saw the danger.

“The Jeanie drew so close to the Dix that Captain Mason made himself heard to man on the upper deck of the Dix as he called the warning: ‘Where in hell are you going?’

Dix Staggered by Blow.

“Mate Dennison might possibly have saved his vessel then if he had turned off but he attempted to clear the Jeanie. A moment later the crash came that knocked passengers to the floor and staggered both steamers. Panic-stricken passengers on the Dix rushed to the port side and she turned partially over, then righted herself and came up. Then the Dix slowly began to fill through the gaping hole in her starboard side and slowly went down aft.

“The nose of the Dix stuck clear out of the water and held there for five minutes. Passengers on the Dix fought like mad men and women to reach the decks and plunge overboard. From the cabin men smashed window lights and dragged themselves out into thee water. Those on the decks jumped, panic-stricken, into the Sound, while those on the lower decks and the men on the engine-room were caught like rats in a trap and were unable to help themselves.

Captain Leaps Overboard.

“Captain Lemond, busied in counting his cash, was seated in an upper cabin, and he leaped overboard. A deckhand followed from the Dix. Both were saved later, but all the other members of the steamer’s crew were lost.

“Only one girl, of a half dozen or more women aboard, was saved. She is 15-year-old Alice Simpson, of Port Blakeley, who was picked up by a lifeboat sent out from the Jeanie.

Numbed by Icy Water.

“As soon as the Jeanie had struck the steamer Dix, Captain Mason stopped his vessel and lowered two lifeboats. They picked up about 35 men struggling in the water. For three hours the Jeanie cruised about the spot, using her searchlight to aid in the life-saving work. The tide was running out and the men and women struggling in the water were rapidly carried out toward the open sea. The water of the Sound is bitter cold and the people in the water slowly gave way to numbness and sank before help could reach them.

“A few pieces of wreckage and some lifebelts from the Dix, as well as life-belts thrown overboard from the Jeanie, floated near the people in the water, but only a few of the Dix passengers could reach them.

“That the Dix was solely responsible for the accident is the story told by the survivors and the officers of the steamer Jeanie. Captain Mason insists that the Dix persisted in trying to cross his bows and this is not disputed by Captain Lermond. He was not at the wheel when the collision occurred, and is not in a position to explain the wreck.

“Passengers on deck say that for ten minutes the lights of the Jeanie could be seen and that the night was clear enough to have enabled Mate Dennison to have seen his danger clearly. That he paid no attention to the Jeanie is insisted on from both steamers. All versions of the wreck coincide in the statement that no signals were given.

Tide Carries Bodies to Sea.

“With the rapid flow of the tide out to sea the search for bodies will be an exceedingly difficult one. There is a fog hanging over parts of the Sound and the bay is full of debris that has floated down from the flooded rivers of Western Washington. Navigation is precarious and with the rapid flow of the tide many bodies will probably be washed away before they can be recovered.

“Early this morning the tug Tyee joined the search for missing bodies and the fleet of vessels now out will cruise down the Sound as far as Whidbey Island and look for the lost. It is not within reason to expect that any more persons will be saved. Though the collision between the Dix and the Jeanie occurred at 7:20 o’clock it was not reported in Seattle for nearly three and a half hours.

“The Jeanie remained at the scent to search for survivors and stayed about the wreck as long as it was reasonably certain that any one lived in the water. Then she put in to Seattle to announce the catastrophe.

Little Time Given to Escape.

“Passengers on the Dix agree that not more than five minutes elapsed between the time she was struck and her sinking. In the meantime the boat had turned over on her port side and then righted herself before gong down aft. The sinking was so sudden that scarcely any time was given the passengers and crew to save themselves.

“The suddenness of the sinking is shown by the fact that no one escaped from the engine-room and not even Mate Dennison, in the pilot-house, had time to get out and jump into the water. Most of the passengers on the deck were saved, for they leaped overboard immediately. Those in the upper cabin had a fair chance for safety, but those below were penned in and drowned before they could make a move toward safety.

“Captain Lermond’s collections from the passengers showed 70 travelers, in addition to the six members of the crew, were aboard the boat. Thirty-six persons were saved. The list of saved and missing collected tonight fails to account for six persons. It is probable among these are the parents of Dan McEachren, but no one else has reported their loss.

“A brother of William Jones, one of the most prominent stevedores on the Sound, was said to have been aboard the boat, but this cannot be confirmed.

List of the Survivors [we omit]

“….James Smith, who was drowned, was the stepfather of Leonard Masters. Young Masters mother was also among the lost. Two years ago Masters’ father was drowned off a ship lying at the coal bunkers in Seattle, and his body was not recovered for seven weeks. Mrs. Masters afterward married Smith and tonight was drowned with her second husband and son….” (Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Master Below Taking the Fares.” 11-19-1906, p. 5.)

Nov 19, Account of Captain Mason of the Jeanie:

“I got away from Smith’s Cove a little before 7 o’clock, and laid a course for Tacoma. I had no passengers aboard. I saw the Dix headed for Port Blakeley and signaled to her. The mate was at the wheel. Suddenly the Dix came up astern of me to port. As soon as I saw the Dix was so close I called to the man in her pilot-house to know what he was doing. He put his wheel over to starboard and she started directly across my bows. I signaled to the engine-room of my vessel to back at full speed, but we could not get out of the way in time. The Jeanie was backing a little when we struck. I guess it was pretty well abaft of amidships, and the shock wasn’t enough to have injured an ordinary launce. The Dix listed heavily to starboard, righted herself, and then sank, stern first.”

Account of Captain Lermond of the Dix:

I don’t know how it happened. Charles Dennison, mate of the boat, was at the wheel. We were just about two miles due north of Alki Point, and running at the usual speed. There was nothing to hinder us. It was a fine, clear night and the water was like a mill-pond. I had seen the lights of a steamer on our starboard quarter some time before, but had not paid any attention to them. I went below to collect the fares. The boat was crowded. There were 70 passengers on board, and it was quite a task to get all the fares. I have been on the run for the past 13 years, and knew almost everybody aboard.

When I was in the ladies’ cabin, I heard the bell signal to stop. In a moment I thought that something must be wrong and rushed forward to see what was up. Just as I got on deck, on the starboard side, I saw the bow of a vessel loom up. Almost instantly she struck us. The jib boom crashed through just aft of amidships and heeled the Dix over like a top. She careened like a flash on her port bow and lay there for a minute or two with the water rushing in and all over.

I was thrown against the deckhouse. For an instant the wind was knocked out of me and I was almost paralyzed. The steamer lay for almost two minutes on her port beam. This was exactly at 7:24 o’clock, as my watch stopped then. In a moment I recovered by breath and sprang up on the house.

Just then the steamer heeled back to starboard. There was another rush of water, cries and screams of men, women and children. From below came sounds such as human ears have seldom heard. Many of the passengers were penned below and could not possibly escape. Then the steamer turned her bow up. She filled and her stern went slowly down, until the bow was standing straight half out of water.

For an instant I clung to the railing. The sight fascinated me by its horror. Lights were still burning and I could see people inside of the cabin. The expressions on the faces were of indescribable despair.

People on deck slid off into the water and went down shrieking and desperately clutching at the water or at the Jeanie, which still loomed only a few yards away. Within the sinking steamer pandemonium reigned. There were cries, prayers and groans from men and women, and the wail of a child and the shouts of those who were fighting desperately to gain the deck….

I leaped into the water, and managed to keep myself afloat. Others from the sunken steamer were floating near me. Every once in a while one who had been swimming until his strength gave out, would throw up his hands and, with a last despairing cry, sink. This happened time after time.

All around were floating heads which called for help and watched the Jeanie as she slowly came towards us and dropped boats, which moved here and there, picking up men in every direction. Finally a boat came to me. By that time I was indifferent and didn’t care whether I was saved or not. It must have been at least 25 minutes from the time the Jeanie struck us that the boats were got out, and I guess I was in the water another ten minutes. We were taken on board.

There were 38 of our 79 people on the steamship. The rest were drowned. There was no sign of my little steamer. She was gone completely, and before we left there was not even a ripple on the surface to mark the spot where the terrible tragedy had occurred.

I don’t think the vessel was very badly damaged by the collision. It was the heeling over on her port beam that caused her loss. She filled with water as soon as she went ovr, and this took her down.

“As to the cause of the accident, I cannot say. I was not on deck and don’t know how it happened. I heard my mate signal either one or two whistles. I am not sure which. I also heard him ring a stop bell.

I cannot understand myself how it could have happened. The night was almost as clear as day, and the sea was smooth. This is the first accident that has happened on any ship of mine during the 13 years I have been running on the Sound.

“Captain Lermond is a well-know navigator and has the reputation of being one of the ablest Sound pilots leaving Seattle. He is a man of about 45 and has been at sea since a boy. The Dix sank in 100 fathoms of water….” (Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Dix Sunk in Collision on Sound.” 11-19-1906, p. 1.)

Nov 20: “Seattle, Wash., Nov. 20. – The death list of the wrecked steamship Dix is creeping gradually up…making a total of 47 known dead as a result of the disaster. The body of Albert McDonald, one of the victims floated ashore at Al-Ki Point yesterday and was taken to Port Blakeley. Parties are still searching along the shores in the vicinity of where the Dix went down.

“Local United States marine inspectors will commence an investigation of the wreck tomorrow. Captain Mason of the Jeanie, which collided with the Dix, will be the first witness. To the list of missing compiled yesterday, the following have been added:

Jos. Bucher, ship caulker, Seattle;

George Burns, longshoreman, Port Blakeley;

Frank Gordon, mill hand, Port Blakeley;

Rogers, blacksmith, Port Blakeley;

1. W. Guel, caulker.

“Several others reported missing last night were found today alive and uninjured.” (Daily Californian, Bakersfield. “Death List Increasing. Five More Victims.” 11-20-1906, 1.)

Nov 21: “ Seattle, Wash., Nov 21.–A rigid investigation of the wreck of the steamer Dix through collision with the steamer Jeanie in Seattle harbor Sunday night was begun this morning by United States Inspectors Bion B. Whitney and Robert Turner. The community is appalled at the heavy loss of life and is almost in the mood to urge drastic action by the inspectors, which will prohibit captains of Sound boats from leaving the wheel during the voyages for the collection of fares.

“Captain Mason of the Jeanie was the first witness called and was on the stand the major portion of the day. He declared all the Jeanie’s lights were on. He saw the Dix coming. He hailed the Dix, but got no reply. When he saw the Dix heading for the Jeanie’s bows he called out to find what it was doing. Getting no reply he gave three sharp whistle blasts, indicating that he was going to reverse the Jeanie’s engines. No return signal came.

“The Dix struck the Jeanie a glancing blow and keeled over. The Jeanie did not strike the Dix, as she was backing at the time.

“The rule for inland navigation, article 1930, statute at large 101, says:

When two steam vessels are crossing so as to involve the risk of collision, the vessel which has the other on her own starboard side shall keep out of the way of the other.

“The Dix had the Jeanie on her own starboard side. This new point caused a sensation, and marine men unite in saying it clears the Jeanie’s master beyond doubt.

“Captain Mason said: ‘I had two quarter-boats in the water within four minutes of the time of the collision and several minutes before the Dix went down.’

“Captain Lermond will probably be the next witness and may be called late this afternoon.” (Oregon Daily Journal, Portland. “What Made Dix Go Down?” 11-21-1906, p. 2.)

Nov 22: “Seattle, Wash., Nov. 22.–A charge of manslaughter may grow out of the Dix disaster. Investigation of the records in the office of the United States Steamboat Inspectors has developed the fact that Charles Dennison, who was at the wheel of the Dix at the time of the collision, and who lost his life with 49 others, had a license simply to act as mate, not as pilot. Dennison had been under the command of Captain Lermond for more than two months. In his testimony yesterday before the inspectors Lermond declared that he did not think Dennison was capable of taking care of the vessel, and that he tried to discharge him, but that the owners came to the mate’s rescue and would not let him go.

“Secretary Metcalfe sent word this morning that the local civil authorities would handle the prosecution of the guilty persons and not the Federal Court. A deputy from the Prosecuting Attorney’s office will be present at the hearing, and if the evidence justifies issuance of a warrant, Prosecuting Attorney Mackintosh declares he will issue it. Gross ignorance of marine laws was displayed by Captain Lermond on the stand yesterday, and should a charge of manslaughter be placed against him, action will also be taken against the owners of the ill-fated craft for forcing Lermond to retain Mate Dennison.

“The boat was under lease by the Port Blakeley Mill Company, in which many wealthy men are stockholders.

“At the investigation of the Dix disaster this morning it developed that there was but one engineer on board the steamship Jeanie the night of the collision. Chief Engineer Grant remained ashore, leaving Engineer Jackson in charge. He did not notify Captain Mason, however. The second assistant engineer had resigned just before the vessel sailed, and Captain Mason was not aware there was but one engineer below until the morning after the wreck.

“The owners of the Dix have libeled the Jeanie for $35,000 as the result of the accident.

“Captain William Todd, master of the schooner Invincible, was called by the Marine Inspectors to give evidence in the investigation into the sinking of the Dix last Sunday evening. The substance of his testimony was that a collision could have been avoided if both vessels had kept on their course. He sighted the Jeanie five minutes before the collision. He escaped by climbing up the bobstays of the steamer and later threw a line to little Leonard Masters and drew him on board.

“The evidence of the afternoon session tended to show that there was a laxity in the handling of the Dix and it also involves other Puget Sound boats. Tomorrow the captains of three other Sound steamers are to be called. Captain Mason alleges that two steamers passed him while he was signaling for assistance, but paid no attention to the calls.” (Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Mate Was Not Competent.” 11-23-1906, p. 6.)

Nov 22: “Seattle, Nov. 22. – a charge of manslaughter may grow out of the wreck of the Dix. It has developed that Mate Dennison was not a licensed pilot and it was a violation of law to leave a man in charge of a vessel not holding such a license. Prosecuting Attorney McIntosh has commenced an investigation and warrants for the arrests of persons responsible for the disaster may be issued.” (Daily Californian, Bakersfield. “Manslaughter May Be Charged…Dix Disaster.” 11-22-1906.)

Nov 23: “Seattle, Nov. 23…At today’s session of the inquiry into the Dix disaster, the testimony showed that…the Dix had no ‘lookout’ on duty at the time of the accident….” (Fairbanks Evening News, AK. “More of Dix Horror.” 11-25-1906, p. 1.)

Nov 24: “Seattle, Nov 24.–(Delayed in transmission)–Today’s investigation of the Dix accident revealed the fact that the masters of steamers plying on Puget Sound often leave the mate of their vessel in command of them.

“It was stated today at the investigation that while the Jeanie was whistling for help three Sound steamers passed by her, and paid no attention, although the whistle could be heard plainly on Alki point.”[9] (Fairbanks Evening News, AK. “More of Dix Horror.” 11-25-1906, p. 1.)

Nov 25: “That every one of the numerous small passenger steamers plying on Puget sound, with one exception, is liable to the same fate as the Dix and with the same awful loss of life in case of accident is the opinion of Fred A. Ballin, the marine architect who is drawing the plans for the boat that is to take the place of the Dix. ‘I have heard of only one of the mosquito fleet that is bulkheaded,’ said Mr. Ballin last evening. ‘The Dix was unusually cranky, to be sure, but the other steamers would have sunk just about as rapidly, as only one has bulkheads to keep the water from rushing in and filling the entire hull….The law is to blame. It requires that every seagoing vessel carrying passengers shall have at least three water-tight bulkheads. But this regulation does not apply to steamers on sounds and rivers. Yes, there should be such a regulation applying to the river steamers here, too. The Puget sound steamers run over 600 and 1,000 feet of water, and it is the same as the ocean as far as danger of sinking is concerned. They certainly should be required to have bulkheads.’

“The Port Blakely Mill company, lessee of the Dix, was aware of the unsuitability of the Dix, and asked Mr. Ballin to visit the corporation officers for a consultation on plans for a boat to take her place. He was delayed by the flood on the Northern Pacific line and reached Seattle Sunday night just half an hour after the Dix had pulled out on her last trip. In the collision with the Jeanie that night 49 passengers were lost. Had Mr. Ballin’s train been on time he would almost certainly have been on board when the accident occurred.

“It is possible that the board of supervising inspectors, which meets in Washington, D.C., next month, will make a change in the regulations as to bulkheads for passenger steamers. The fate of the Dix, which filled and sank almost in the twinkling of an eye, will be held up as an example of the need of revision. ‘They are all liable to fill and go down like gas pipes,’ said Mr. Ballin of the Puget sound steamers.

“As soon as Ballin had consulted with the managers of the Port Blakely Mill company he was commissioned to draw plans and specifications for a steamer to take the Dix’s place. He is now engaged in his Portland office in doing this work. The new boat will be 130 feet long as compared with the 100 feet of the Dix and will be 22½ feet beam instead of 16. Triple expansion engines are expected to generate 700 horsepower.

“The Dix was so cranky that she had to carry 15 tons of lead ballast. The inspectors refused her a license until this ballast was put in. [apparently top heavy]. Her passenger limit was comparatively low. The new boat will have a passenger capacity of 250 against the Dix’s 150, and can also carry 25 to 40 tons of freight.” (Oregon Sunday Journal, Portland. “Will Sink Like Gas Pipes.” 11-25-1906, p. 1.)

Nov 26: “Seattle, Nov. 26.–The investigation of the steamer Dix disaster is nearing the end….It developed today that the compass was located on the port side of the pilot house on the Dix. It is the custom to have the needle on the starboard side. The theory is advanced that if Mate Dennison was watching the compass he could not observe the Jeanie approaching on the other side until too late to avoid the collision.” (Morning Astorian, OR. “Investigating Disaster.” 11-27-1906, p. 8.)

Nov 26: “Seattle, Nov. 26.–The testimony of Second Mate Gustafson of the steamer Jeanie directly contradicts that of his captain. He stated that no whistles were blown by either boat and also that the Dix swung to port and not to starboard, thus placing the large part of the blame for the disaster on his own ship. The testimony came as a surprise. Gustafson was on the bridge with Captain Mason. The logbook of the Jeanie was introduced in evidence. The inspectors found several erasures in the time of leaving Smith’s cove and the time the accident happened. It will be investigated further. Tomorrow the captains of the two Sound boats will be asked to explain why they did not answer the signals of distress of the Jeanie. The investigation will probably end tomorrow.” (Morning Astorian, OR. “Jeanie Investigation. Contradictory Statements…” 11-27-1906, p. 8.)

Dec 1: “Seattle, Dec. 1.–That Mate Dennison of the wrecked steamship Dix was wholly to blame for the loss of the vessel which caused the death of more than fifty men and women is evident from the testimony taken before the United States marine inspectors this morning.

“Captain Lermond, master of the Dix, who was among those saved by the steamer Jeanie, testified that he had warned Dennison never to attempt to cross in front of another vessel, but to pass the steamer’s stern.

“Both Captains Mason and Lermond were before the inspectors and told of the wreck. Captain Mason, of the Jeanie, told of the efforts he made to avoid a collision.

“Lermond testified that he was acting as captain and purser of rthe Dix and was in his room counting the fares when he heard the mate signal for the boat to slow down. When he went on deck the Dix was under the bow of the Jeanie and in a moment he was in the water. He said he called to the mate of his vessel and asked him what he was trying to do. He received no response.

“Captain Mason told how he had been overtaken by the Dix and that when he saw there was to be a collision he reversed his engines, but the Dix struck him a glancing blow and went down stern first.” (Philadelphia Inquirer, PA. “Says Mate Was Cause of Wreck.” 12-2-1906, p. 14.)

Dec 17: “Seattle, Wash., Dec. 17.–The United States inspectors who investigated the recent sinking of the steamer Dix, in which many lives were lost, have finished their report. It exonerates Capt. P. H. Mason, master of the steamer Jeanie, which sank the Dix, and revokes the license of Capt. Percy A. Lermond, master of the Dix. In was held that the sinking of the Dix was due entirely to the negligence on the part of those handling her. The practice of steamship companies in compelling their captains to act as pursers, thus taking them away from their duties was severely censured.” (Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “Captain of Dix Blamed.” 12-17-1906, p. 2.)

Names of Identified Dead or Missing

1. Belair. Mill worker. Port Blakely, WA Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
2. Bouler [unclear], Fred Port Blakely, WA Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
3. Boyler, C. Store manager Port Blakely, WA Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
4. Boyler, W. Brother of C. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
5. Bracefield, William. Longshoreman. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
6. Bucher, Jos. Ship Caulker Seattle Daily Californian, 11-20-1906, p. 1.
7. Burns, George. Longshoreman. Port Blakely Daily Californian, 11-20-1906, p. 1.
8. Buzzattle [unclear], Peter. Barber, Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
9. Clark, Ralph. Store clerk, Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
10. Dennison, Charles. Dix Mate Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
11. Ford, Mrs. T. C. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
12. Garcia, Bazzintia. Lately from Manila Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
13. Gordon, Frank. Mill hand. Port Blakely Daily Californian, 11-20-1906, p. 1.
14. Granger, Mrs. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
15. Guel, J. W. Mill caulker. Daily Californian, 11-20-1906, p. 1.
16. Hansen, Martin. Mill caulker. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
17. Keating, John, St. Paul, formerly of Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
18. Kenney, C.J., Army hosp. steward, Fort Ward Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
19. Larsen, Peter. Oiler. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
20. Meyers, William. Mill caulker. Port Blakeley Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
21. McDonald, Albert. Lumber surveyor. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
22. McDury, Albert. Lumber surveyor, Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
23. McQuerie, Frank. Ship officer. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
24. Nelson, Mr. August. Port Blakely. Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
25. Nelson, Mrs. August. Port Blakely. Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
26. Parker,____ Steamer Dix engineer. Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
27. Pigati,____. Mill filer. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
28. Price, Roland. Postmaster’s son. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
29. Rogers,____. Blacksmith. Port Blakely Daily Californian, 11-20-1906, p. 1.
30. Roland,____ Dix crewman Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
31. Smith, James. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
32. Smith, Mrs. James. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
33. Smith, son of James. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
34. Swanson, Sven. Mill worker. Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
35. Wenater [unclear], A. Lumber surveyor, Port Blakely. Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906.
36. Unknown Steamer Dix deckhand. Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, p1.
37. Unknown “Chinaman” bound for Blakely for work. Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, 1.
38. Unknown “Chinaman” bound for Blakely for work. Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, 1.
39. Unknown “Chinaman” bound for Blakely for work. Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, 1.
40. Unknown Japanese going to work at Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, 1.
41. Unknown Japanese going to work at Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, 1.
42. Unknown Japanese going to work at Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, 1.
43. Unknown Japanese going to work at Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, 1.
44. Unknown Japanese going to work at Port Blakely Morning Oregonian. 11-19-1906, 1.

Sources

Anaconda Standard, MT. “General Chronology of Events During This Year,” 12-30-1906, p. 34. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=54805955

Berman, Bruce D. Encyclopedia of American Shipwrecks. Boston: Mariners Press Inc., 1972.

Daily Californian, Bakersfield. “Death List Increasing. Five More Victims.” 11-20-1906, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=156500945

Fairbanks Evening News, AK. “More of Dix Horror.” 11-25-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/fairbanks-evening-news-nov-26-1906-p-1/

Harrell, Debera Carlton. “Ceremony to Mark Worst Maritime Disaster in Puget Sound History.” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 11-16-2006. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/292571_dixdisaster16.html

Helena Semi-Weekly Independent, MT. “Captain Lermond Blamed.” 1-8-1907, p. 13. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/helena-independent-record-jan-08-1907-p-13/

Logansport Daily Reporter, IN. “Captain of Dix Blamed. Inspectors Revoke His License…” 12-17-1906, p. 2. Accessed 7-6-2019: https://newspaperarchive.com/logansport-reporter-dec-17-1906-p-2/

Morning Astorian, OR. “Investigating Disaster…Board of Inquiry…Dix.” 11-27-1906, p. 8. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/astoria-morning-astorian-nov-27-1906-p-8/

Morning Astorian, OR. “Jeanie Investigation. Contradictory Statements Made…” 11-27-1906, 8. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/astoria-morning-astorian-nov-27-1906-p-8/

Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Dix Sunk in Collision on Sound.” 11-19-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portland-morning-oregonian-nov-19-1906-p-1/

Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Master Below Taking the Fares.” 11-19-1906, p. 5. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portland-morning-oregonian-nov-19-1906-p-5/

Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Mate Was Not Competent.” 11-23-1906, p. 6. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portland-morning-oregonian-nov-23-1906-p-6/

Oregon Daily Journal, Portland. “What Made Dix Go Down?” 11-21-1906, p. 2. Accessed 7-5-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portland-oregon-daily-journal-nov-21-1906-p-2/

Oregon Sunday Journal, Portland. “Will Sink Like Gas Pipes.” 11-25-1906, p. 1. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/portland-oregon-daily-journal-nov-25-1906-p-1/

Philadelphia Inquirer, PA. “Says Mate Was Cause of Wreck.” 12-2-1906, p. 14. Accessed 7-6-2019 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/philadelphia-inquirer-dec-02-1906-p-14/

United States Department of Commerce and Labor. Reports of the Department of Commerce and Labor. Wash.: GPO, 1907. “Report of the Steamboat-Inspection Service.” Digitized Google: http://books.google.com/books?id=lqQXAAAAYAAJ&dq=steamer+Dix+jeanie+collision+puget+sound+nov+1906&source=gbs_navlinks_s

United States Steamboat-Inspection Service. Annual Report of the Supervising Inspector General, Steamboat-Inspection Service to the Secretary of Commerce and Labor for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1907. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1907. 374 pages. Digitized by Google. Accessed at: http://books.google.com/books?id=slcpAAAAYAAJ

World Today. “The Calendar of the Month. United States.” V. 12, No. 1, Jan 1907, p. 109. Google preview accessed 7-5-20019 at: https://books.google.com/books?id=cZjNAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

[1] “Washington, Jan. 2.–A report of the steamboat inspection officers who made of investigation of the collision between the steamers Dix and Jeanie on November 18 last, near Seattle, by which about 50 people lost their lives, has been received by the department of commerce and labor.”

[2] “…Charles Dennison, who was at the wheel of the Dix at the time of the collision, and who lost his life with 49 others, held a license simply to act as mate, not as pilot.”

[3] Fatalities cannot be nailed down to a specific number apparently because it was unclear how many Japanese and Chinese laborers were onboard. For the low end of our range we rely on the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service Annual Report. For the high end of the range we rely on Berman and Gibbs, both usually reliable sources.

[4] “Thirty-nine were dead or missing. Other accounts placed the toll at 45 dead, for among the passengers were an undetermined number of coolie millhands hired for employment at the Port Blakely Mill Company.”

[5] Morning Oregonian, Portland. “Dix Sunk in Collision on Sound.” 11-19-1906, p. 1.

[6] Perhaps this is a mistake. The same report, as page 321 has the fatalities at 42.

[7] Larger and heavier, in that the Jeanie was a freighter loaded with iron ore. (Gibbs)

[8] Gibbs writes there were seventy-seven on board.

[9] Elsewhere on the page two of those were identified as the steamers Multnomah and Manette.