The steamboat Ruth left St. Louis bound for Vicksburg in the afternoon carrying a full cargo and a large group of paymasters with pay for the Union Army. Near Cairo, Illinois fire broke out aboard just before midnight. The blaze spread with remarkable speed and within minutes fifty-three lives were lost, including paymasters and troops assigned to guard the reported 2.6 million dollar payroll. The Ruth, and the money, was completely destroyed. (By John Osborne)