6. The worst maritime disaster in United States history, the explosion of the Sultana near Memphis, Tennessee killed 1,169 passengers, mostly Union prisoners of war, less than a month after the end of the Civil War.
Intended for the lower Mississippi cotton trade, the Sultana was a side-wheel steamboat constructed in 1863 with a capacity of just 376 passengers. Commissioned during the American Civil War to transport troops up and down the Mississippi River, in the conflict’s aftermath in April 1865 she was frequently used to assist with the repatriation of freshly released Union prisoners. Upon hearing the news of Lincoln’s assassination on April 15, fearing resumption of hostilities, Union commanders sought to transport as many former prisoners away from possible recapture as soon as possible.
Offering above-rate fees to coerce the ship’s captain, on April 27 it is estimated 2,138 people were packed aboard the Sultana when it exploded near Memphis. Sinking into the freezing waters, with many succumbing to hypothermia, approximately 1,169 of those aboard lost their lives. Although initial speculation centered around potential sabotage, subsequent investigations apportioned blame between three primary factors: poor quality boiler materials, inadequately maintained boilers, and the design of the boilers themselves. Combined, these faults in the boilers triggered a chain-reaction and caused them to explode simultaneously. Despite clear human error, including the forced overcrowding, nobody was held accountable for the worst maritime disaster in American history.