Subject: Lyr Add: Sultana (steamboat disaster 1865) From: GUEST,Rick Pollay Date: 24 Apr 23 - 03:01 PM

The Sultana, Art Thieme. Tune: "Blue Mountain Lakes” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADW7JhfmVz0

It was April 24th of 1865.
On the Father of Waters, side-wheelers did glide.
From New Orleans to St. Louis town,
Right on her schedule, she glided on down.
       Burning down, down, down. Burning down.

She landed at Memphis on April 26th,
Gave care to the wounded and care to the sick.
Some stronger soldiers unloaded her hold,
Carried out canned goods and bodies so cold.
       Burning down, down, down. Burning down.

The steamboat Sultana, built for 376 passengers, was severely overcrowded at Vicksburg with over 1,953 paroled Union solder/prisoners, 22 guards from the 58th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, over 70 fare-paying cabin passengers, and 85 crew members, for a total of 2,130 people. Seven miles above Memphis, the patched boilers exploded and fire ensued. The official death count by the United States Customs Service was 1,547.

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Link to post above THE SULTANA