Raymond S. Spears

“ By countless catastrophes from fire and steam, the millions of people in the great valley were driven to shun the rivers and to eagerly grasp the first opportunity of avoiding river travel—the most comfortable traveling in the United States to this day. ”

“ The destruction of the Moselle and the scalding of the Oronoco's passengers were typical instances of disasters which made traveling on the Mississippi basin waters the most dangerous traveling in the world. An indication of the jeopardy of a voyage on a river steamer is indicated by the fact that the insurance rate on the river boats was seldom or never less than twelve per cent, and sometimes was as high as forty per cent, and that the estimated “life” of a steamer was only three years. Snags, fire, and boiler explosions were the causes of excessive insurance rates. ”

“ Some of the worst explosions on the Mississippi were:
Only two years ago the W. T. Scovel was blown up at Gold Dust landing. She was taking on freight when the boilers exploded. Many of the timbers were blown hundreds of yards, and some of the persons aboard were hurled almost as far. The pilot-house and the front part of the cabin were smashed to splinters, and the hull of the boat was so badly damaged that she began to sink. The death roll was estimated at sixteen, while as many more were injured. ”