April 27, 1865: The Wreck and Disaster of the SS Sultana

APRIL 27TH, 1865:  The river steamer SS Sultana blew up in the Mississippi River above Memphis, Tennessee, killing 1,450 out of 2,000 passengers -- all but 50 of whom were former prisoners of war.  She was en route to Cairo, Illinois, when a violent explosion ripped her apart and turned her into a sheet of flame.

The cause of the explosion has never been determined, but one of the theories advanced was that of a coal torpedo -- such as the one that was suspected of having destroyed Army steamer Greyhound on 27 November 1864 -- had been slipped into the steamer's coal bin.

This was largely overlooked with all the Lee surrender, Lincoln assassination and pursuit of Booth.

A True Disaster.  --Old B-R'er