The SS Sultana Disaster

[bountyhunter]

150 years ago today the greatest disaster in U.S. maritime history occurred when the steamboat SS Sultana exploded on the Mississippi.

Now this disaster has a War of Northern Aggression (Civil War) tie and folks that are really fond of Ole Honest Abe, like Coachlaw will love to see this History Detectives investigation.

http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/investigation/civil-war-sabotage/

[kenny]

That's a big claim. It would negate Pearl Harbor and the Texas City explosion.

[Oleander Kayaker]

The comments at the bottom of the website are worth a read.

Lincoln had been assassinated a couple weeks before, and Booth killed the day before this.
So, a lot was happening historically at the same time, which "overshadows" this event.

But yea, it was the worst U.S. maritime loss.

[bountyhunter]

That's a big claim. It would negate Pearl Harbor and the Texas City explosion.

Pearl Harbor was an act of war and not classified as a disaster, though that is not to negate the loss of many brave lives that day which was truly tragic.

SS Sultana had an estimated 1800 deaths vs 581 in Texas City so it's not a claim at all. Again any disaster that claims lives is nothing small.

[coachlaw]

I sat down to write a historical rant, but I'm too tired. Lincoln = Murdering War Criminal Scum. Is that succinct enough?

[bbquman]

A little more history

https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/boilers/the-true-harnessing-of-steam

[bountyhunter]

I sat down to write a historical rant, but I'm too tired. Lincoln = Murdering War Criminal Scum. Is that succinct enough?

But Sandy, if you watch the video it shows that old Honest Abe was nothing more than a self serving politician not unlike what we have today. His under the table dealings may have been part of why 1800 folks died on the SS Sultana. I was only jesting you about your fondness of Lincoln.