Those old riverboats were gorgeous and an important part of American history. They connected small towns and large cities at that time, much more than trains did in the mid-1800s. Trains were expanding, but boats had a longer reach. Many towns popped up along riverbanks and served as connections for western expansion. They acted as the closest hubs steam-powered boats could reach from civilization. Early trains were often considered less comfortable for long-distance passenger travel than the large, luxurious steamboats (sometimes called “floating palaces”) that operated on major rivers. Think about it: no highways or airplanes, and trains were not everywhere at this point.
The steamboat Pennsylvania was one of the large and fast riverboats that traveled the Mississippi River during the golden age of steam. Built in 1854, she carried passengers and cargo between cities such as St. Louis and New Orleans. Like many riverboats of the era, speed was important. Competition between boats was fierce, and owners wanted to make quick trips to attract more passengers.
The Pennsylvania is remembered today because of her connection to Mark Twain. Before he became a famous author, Samuel Clemens worked on the Mississippi River and learned the trade that would later inspire books such as Life on the Mississippi. In 1858, his younger brother Henry Clemens was working aboard the Pennsylvania as a clerk. Twain himself had helped Henry get the job, believing it would be a good opportunity for him.
On June 13, 1858, tragedy struck near Memphis. The Pennsylvania suffered a massive boiler explosion. The blast tore through the vessel and killed or injured dozens of people. Henry survived the initial explosion but was badly burned and injured. Twain rushed to his brother’s bedside, hoping he would recover. Instead, Henry died several days later from his injuries.
The loss haunted Twain for the rest of his life. He often wrote about the event and carried a sense of guilt because he had encouraged Henry to take the position aboard the riverboat. The disaster also highlighted a growing problem on America’s rivers. Boiler explosions were far too common during the early steamboat era, often caused by poor maintenance, faulty equipment, or the pressure to keep boats running fast. Today, the Pennsylvania is remembered not only as a Mississippi River steamer, but as the ship connected to one of the most painful chapters in Mark Twain’s life.
I’m reading Life on the Mississippi right now by Twain, and he goes over this horrible time in the book. In time, the boilers were made safer by rules and inspections, both of which had been invented only after several people had been hurt and killed. Before that, the river was a huge teacher, though her lessons were costly. Lifeboats were scarce, regulations were almost nonexistent. As Twain said at one point, passengers often entrusted their future to the judgment of men who possessed much more confidence than experience. By the 1900s, you rarely heard of a boiler explosion. I’ll say this again in future posts: maritime regulations were written with blood.